Mental Health Benefits of Hobbies-a self care practice

  I have had at least one hobby going for as long as I can remember. These hobbies have changed over the course of my life but my need for an outlet has not. Hobbies are a source of relief from the pressures of life. and a way to disengage from daily stress.  When my children were young I did weaving, spinning, and knitting. Later I spent time dabbling in cross-stitch, quilting and basketry. More recently I have gotten into watercolor and photography. There are intrinsic benefits to hobbies. They provide needed time to unwind from stress and responsibility and engage the mind in a different way. Being engaged fully in something takes people away from overthinking and dwelling on negative thoughts. My tendency to shift my hobbies fulfills my need to learn new things and often puts me in contact with like-minded people.

   Hobbies can lead us to connect with others often out of our daily environment. Most hobbies have opportunities to join clubs, take classes, or go to exhibits and shows. Collectors get out to search for special items to make their collections more complete attending shows, auctions and sales. Most hobbies involve a quest for more materials or knowledge. One does not need to be creative. Flying model airplanes or gardening get people out of doors in sunlight.

   Anything that involves self-expression is especially therapeutic. Writing, painting, photography, use of color in decor or design give opportunities to discharge pent-up emotions. Language often fails us when we struggle with change, troubled relationships, stress, or grief. The process of expression or creativity is typically at least as important as what is produced. Anything that takes you away from the day-to-day and function as a distraction from problems that can allow your mind to resent.

   If you have a hobby that you have neglected, it might be time to give it another go, or try something similar to what has interested you in the past. Even if you have not had a previous hobby perhaps there are interests that you have never had the opportunity to explore even if you can only spare a few hours a week.

 A chance to learn something new can give you a break from stress and can stimulate our senses and open new pathways socially. Not everyone felt creative but we all need to engage with others in a different way. there may be opportunities that you have not been aware of. Look around!