You’re Allowed to Enjoy Things: 7 Benefits of Having Hobbies

With inflation increasing the price of everything from food to housing to everyday items, it’s valid to be concerned about your finances. For many of us, just having one full-time job is not enough to support the lifestyles we want or even cover our basic needs. So, when we get the opportunity to pick up a new skill or hobby, the question “Can I monetize this?” Often comes to mind. Why can’t we just have hobbies because we enjoy them?

Having hobbies allows us to take a break from the mundane routines of everyday life. The goal of a hobby should be to create joy and stimulate you creatively, intellectually, or physically. They can also present opportunities to build positive connections with other people and build a community based on mutual interests. When you are aware of what you like to do, you can join groups or communities to help you foster those connections and become more engaged in what you’re interested in.

Engaging in hobbies has various benefits, such as:

1. Improved mental health, increased happiness, decreased depression, and higher life satisfaction

2. Improved problem-solving abilities and performance in your professional endeavors

3. Increased sense of well-being long-term, especially into old age

4. Lower blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels (the human stress hormone)

5. Improved mood and better focus

6. Increased brain activity and self-confidence

7. Enhances communication skills and ability to build relationships

   
   
   

   

People are often scared of doing something new because they don’t want to fail, but that shouldn’t be a concern when you have a hobby. Find something to do that makes you happy, and you can naturally improve your skills over time as you continue to learn and grow. Consistency helps, but the main goal is stimulating your mind and body.

You can have motivation to paint without seeking to become a world-famous artist. Your only motivation for learning an instrument shouldn’t be to become a well-known musician. You don’t need to make an entire fashion line just because you’re learning to crochet. Nothing you create needs to be monetized or even presented on social media. Focus on bringing the joy back into your life.

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