Hobby For Your Health

Nov 18, 20203 min read

When I’m asked why I cross stitch, I tell people that it’s a way I can repeatedly stab something over and over again. Yes - I cross stitch. I create my own patterns for nerdy, snarky, and subversive ideas and then stitch them up! I love making them for friends too. So I was sitting here on my couch looking at some of the many I’ve completed during this pandemic when I wondered if it was crazy that I’ve been stitching so much lately!

Spoiler alert: Hobbies are insanely beneficial for your mental health, mind, and body!

I have to say, this was one of the most fun topics I’ve researched. It made me so happy to see all of the positive benefits of hobbies! They’re awesome and everyone should have at least one. So to help entice anyone that doesn’t have a hobby or to validate those that do, here are a few benefits they offer.

Hobbies create an upward spiral.

I think we all know what a downward spiral can look like, especially for those living with depression. But what goes down can also go up! Although hobbies aren’t a miracle cure, engaging in them can increase dopamine (aka the “happy” hormone) production. Even if it’s a little shift, changing the spiral direction can have a positive ripple effect.

Journaling can help you sleep?

It’s true! Studies show that journaling, a common hobby, in whatever form you want can help you sleep, reduce anxiety, and improves memory. Once those thoughts that bounce around in your head have somewhere to go, your mind and body are able to begin to relax and refresh. I haven’t journaled in years, so maybe it’s time to pick it back up!

Do you work out?

No - not really. BUT doing that hobby thing you do for about an hour a day can actually improve your physiology! These benefits include lowered blood pressure, lower body mass, and better blood circulation than those without hobbies.

Hobbies can make you more successful in daily life.

One of the most significant reasons is because of the problem solving and critical thinking skills they develop. Think about it- if you have limited materials or need to create a pattern, you have to figure out how to make it work. Now, if you have a project at work with limited resources, your brain is already used to problem-solving so that muscle memory kicking in gives you an advantage.

You’re not an island.

Especially in this pandemic, we are feeling more isolated than ever! I won’t get into that too much because you can read about isolation in my post “Quarantining, Social Isolation, & Why My Dog Is Acting Weird.” When you participate in a hobby, social interactions naturally occur! You have a shared experience with others with the same interests. So when you share those posts on social media or go to a hobby store, you can immediately strike up a conversation or get tips or even find a mentor. These interactions reduce that feeling of isolation and loneliness.

This is just a sampling of how hobbies can help you every day. Don’t worry about prerequisites or your skill level - everyone starts somewhere. If you don’t feel like you have anything that’s considered a hobby, how about getting a notebook & starting journaling? The possibilities are endless! This may be the best time to get started on that thing you’ve always wanted to learn. So do it! Your mind, body, and heart will thank you.

Just for funsies, here are a couple more I've done...