Everyone has a hobby of some description – whatever you like to get up to in your own time, that’s your hobby!
Some people make music, others like to play sports and some prefer to take their talents to video games.
No matter what you like to do, doing it can have some serious benefits.
It’s good for your mental health
Doing things that you enjoy can unlock ‘happy hormones’ and make you feel better in the process.
Turning to your hobbies is a great way to beat stress. If you’ve had a tough day at work, doing something that you enjoy and take pleasure from is a great way to put those everyday stresses and strains into context.
It’s good for your physical health too!
If your hobby involves physical exercise then it can help you get fit as well. Being physically active can also have a knock-on benefit to your mental health so it’s a double whammy!
You might play a team sport like football or rugby, practise yoga, like to go walking in the countryside or go for something exhilarating like white-water rafting.
As long as it raises your pulse and gets you moving, you will feel a big benefit.
You could improve your career options
Having a passion for something more than likely means that you will develop an understanding and skills that could be applied to other situations.
For example, if you like to tinker with circuits and microcomputers like the Raspberry Pi in your spare time, have you considered how that could be turned into a career?
There’s a noted shortage of developer expertise across the world, so now could be the perfect time to turn that knowledge into a full-time job!
You can meet new people
Whether your hobby is a solo activity or done in groups, it will give you the perfect opportunity to meet likeminded people – having a shared interest is the perfect icebreaker if you are thrown in with new faces.
You might just find the online co-op partner you’ve always been looking for, someone to share a passion project with or a new best friend – all thanks to your hobby!
Think about your hobbies and the benefits they all bring to you. Now you can see the good that you’re doing to yourself in your spare time, it’s time to get back to your hobby and feel the benefits all over again!
