8 Ways Pursuing a Hobby can Transform Your Life

What are the key components of a happy life? Most would say that a good job, a happy family and financial stability is all you need for happiness. You might have even invested in a term insurance policy, guaranteed income plan, health insurance policy etc. to further safeguard your loved ones. You have taken care of all your financial risks to ensure that your family will remain protected in your absence. 

But is this all enough to ensure your own personal happiness? Are you really enjoying the freedom you get from a risk-free life? 

In spite of having a reasonably stable and financially secure life, you don’t know how to spend your free time. Simply taking care of all our responsibilities is not enough to guarantee a happy life. We need something that is our own personal goal… a hobby that we can enjoy no matter what.  

“There’s got to be more to life than fighting for fish heads.” Jonathan Livingston Seagull. 

Eighty-five percent of workers worldwide admit they hate their jobs when surveyed anonymously, according to a Gallup poll. If 85% of the people hate their jobs, and they have no hobbies to enjoy in their personal time, imagine how stressful their life would be in the long run. 

“Hobbies are an important form of creative expression. Just as exercise releases and increases energy in the body, creative energy also needs a form of expression. Whatever hobby we choose, it is an important aspect of our wellbeing. It can enhance our ability to relax, rest our brain and recharge our spirit.” Claire Hall, the principal life coach at Authentic Empowerment. 

Benefits of Pursuing a Hobby 

There are several benefits to pursuing a hobby: 

Stress Buster 

Doing something non-routine is a good way to deal with the stress. Non-routine activities pull your mind away from the mundane daily tasks of everyday life. Doing activities that we genuinely enjoy relieves stress and distracts us from our life’s problems. Hobbies replenish your energy and recharge your brain. 

Makes You Happy 

Anything that helps you relieve stress will also make you happy. Even looking forward to doing something you will instil positive thoughts in your mind. For example, you feel happy when you are planning for your holidays or when you look forward to going to an entertaining event. Research has shown that anticipating something positive unleashes positive emotions. Hence, adding your hobby to your weekly schedule will give you something to look forward to, ensuring that you have a source of positivity even during stressful times.

Builds Confidence 

When you learn something new and pursue it as a hobby, your overall confidence level goes up. You feel happy and confident about what you know. This has a positive impact on your career and personality.  

Makes you a more Interesting Person 

When you are skilled, knowledgeable, and passionate about something, you master that activity. Masters are the ‘go to’ person for others who want to learn more about hobbies. People love to talk to people who are passionate and insightful about the things they life.  

Helps you deal with boredom 

This is a very big challenge. Recent surveys indicate that anywhere from 30 to 90 percent of Americans report feeling bored at some point in a typical day. Young people seem particularly vulnerable, with surveys showing 91 to 98 percent reporting daily bouts of boredom. We Indians are no different. Finding a hobby that you enjoy is a good solution to this boredom phenomenon. 

Makes You Waste Less Time 

If you have nothing to look forward to doing in your free time, you will waste your free time doing nothing. We all know a free mind is the devils workshop. Rather than wasting free time for useless activities and engaging the mind in negative thoughts, keeping yourself engaged in activities that you enjoy a good investment of your free time. 

Good for your mental health 

Engaging your mind in an interesting activity boosts your concentration and improves your overall mental health. Anything that distracts us from life’s problems is an antidepressant that wards us against negative thoughts. And your mental health is as important as your physical health. Pursuing a hobby is a good way to deal with anxiety and work-related stress. 

Good for your physical health 

If you pursue a hobby that requires physical activity, such as sports or swimming, you will not only improve your mental health but also maintain your physical fitness. Hobbies and activities beyond your routine chores give you an important perspective on life. Some people pursue volunteering as their hobby. If you love nature, you can also pursue trekking or camping as your weekend hobby. Physical hobbies are a great way to distract yourself from your daily routine while maintaining your physical health.  

How to Pursue a Hobby? 

The first step to finding a hobby is to just look for something that seems fun.  

Find Things That You Enjoy 

Different people enjoy different things in life and finding the activity that you personally enjoy is the key to finding your ideal hobby. Say you saw a dance video online and really enjoyed it. Then why not consider learning how to dance yourself? All you need to do is take the initiative.  

Find Classes/Hobby Groups Near You 

Once you find a hobby that looks fun, your next step should be to find a class or hobby group that pursues said hobby. For example, aspiring dancers should look for dance classes in their area so that they can learn the basics of the art. Some hobbies are group activities that require a gathering of like-minded people. If you love reading, consider joining a book club where you can discuss your latest read with others who share your passion for literature. Hobby groups and classes are also a great place to meet new people and make new friends.  

Never Get Discouraged 

Maybe your chosen hobby is an activity that is hard to master. And perhaps you aren’t naturally talented at said activity… But so what!? It doesn’t matter if you are good at your hobby, all that matters is that you’re having fun! If you enjoy what you do, you shouldn’t be disheartened just because you aren’t good at it. You should keep pursuing your hobby as long as you are having fun.  

Don’t Hesitate to Switch Hobbies 

Not having fun with your current hobby? Then just switch to a new activity that looks interesting to you. You do not need to force yourself to pursue a hobby. The only thing that matters is whether or not you are happy. If something doesn’t make you happy, then there is no shame in moving on to something else.  

Remember That Your Hobby is Not a Job 

The entire point of pursuing a hobby is to relieve the stress of your daily work routine. Avoid taking your hobbies too seriously. Of course, it feels great to be an expert and master your personal hobby. But this expertise should never come at the expense of your enjoyment. If your hobby starts to become too stressful, it might be wise to pull back a little and take it more casually. Do not overexert yourself. And most importantly, do not treat your hobby as a second job! 

Conclusion 

Dr. Kevin Eschleman, an assistant psychology professor at San Francisco State University, said, “Anything that provides you with a real cognitive shift in how you see the world, that’s going to be an asset in terms of your overall health and wellbeing, and also how you solve problems, whether it’s in personal relationships or in a work environment.” (Source: Fast Company) 

Find time for a hobby. We all are time-starved due to our personal and professional responsibilities. But the free time we do get is often wasted in inactivity, and this inactivity just leads to further negative thoughts. Hobbies are the perfect way to spend your free time. Hobbies help you deal with the stress of life, which in turn, helps you maintain your mental health.  

The change of perspective a hobby can bring has the power to transform your life. At Edelweiss Life, our vision is to help people fulfil their dreams and mitigate the hindrances. Live your dreams. Find time to pursue a hobby. 

Hobbies are like flowers on a plant. They make the plant look beautiful and feel proud.