Time for Hobbies
“In our leisure we reveal what kind of people we are.” ~Ovid (Roman Poet)
As we all rush into the holiday season with a whirl wind of self-imposed deadlines for buying presents, going to parties, having parties, Christmas programs, decorating, baking, writing and sending cards…the list can go on and on…(unless you’re a Scrooge). My point is that we all bury ourselves in our work, in our community, in our church or other projects we feel obligated to for one reason or another and at the end of the day we feel exhausted and more stressed than we should. We over commit our time to the point where we almost begin to loath the holidays and we build resentments in the things we once enjoyed…STOP IT! Life is busy, I get it. We all have things we need to do that are important to our co-workers or to the organizations we belong to…I sell Christmas trees for my local Lion’s Club, but I do it in moderation. I still leave time for myself to enjoy distractions that I share with my kids.
Life is about balance. It is ok to tell someone, “No, I can’t do that today.” It is important to take time and invest it in yourself for your physical as well as your mental health. Today, I want to take a minute and talk about the importance of hobbies. A hobby is anything that is a healthy distraction to your daily routine that allows you to just sit and enjoy yourself in a creative manner. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a hobby as a pursuit outside of one’s regular occupation, engaged in especially for relaxation. There are hundreds of studies and reports that discuss the positive benefits to not only one’s physical health but also a person’s mental health if they can engage in a hobby as a distraction from the daily grind of life. In light of my recent posts on Alzheimer’s disease and the dementia that ensues, it has been shown that having a hobby can reduce stress, and lower the risks of depression and dementia.
“Great! Which hobby can do these magical things for me?” you’re thinking. Find what you’re passionate about. Excited about stamps? Start collecting them. Curious about the summer nesting habits of the common Red Breasted Robin? Get a pair of binoculars and get ready to do some bird watching. A hobby is anything you find relaxing and not part of the normal routine. The perfect hobby trifecta is a hobby that distracts (not part of the normal routine), creates passion (something you love to do), and develops a sense of creative purpose. Hobbies allow us to connect with others of similar interest and provide social outlets, something we may not find in our daily work life. Hobbies allow us to explore different skills and ways in which to express our thoughts and feelings. Allowing yourself time to engage in a hobby doesn’t always mean crafting or building something, remember, a hobby is something that is a break for your normal routine so it could be playing basketball or singing in the choir. It could be whatever you’re interested in and passionate about. The beautiful thing about hobbies is that it’s ok to look forward to trying new things. Just because you learn how to knit doesn’t mean you can’t learn how to rebuild an engine.
As for myself, I have a passion for learning about anything new (I love being creative and working with my hands). I try and keep my hobbies to activities that I can share with my kids and the joy of sharing that time is priceless to me. My interests and hobbies have also allowed me to connect with people from all across the spectrum of life and what a joy it is to hear them share their passion for the hobby we share. Wood working, knitting, creative writing, photography, gardening, exploring the woods, quilting, painting, building, creating, cooking, baking, collecting…the list just keeps going and I have to balance what I’m doing when I’m doing it otherwise my family and work would suffer. But balance goes both ways…All work and no play make Jack a dull boy. If you sit back and remember something from your youth that you miss doing, make time and try it again, you might be surprised how much fun you’re having! Thanks for reading, I hope everyone has a great and safe week. Take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.
Wm Reid
Best Home Care Services
325 N Eastern Ave
Connersville, IN 47331
765-827-9833
wmreid@bhcshealth.com