Having a hobby is the perfect way of taking a time out from everyday life and unwinding from your usual routine. Not only does it allow you to improve on skills that you love, but it enables you to spend some time in your thoughts and process what’s been going on in your world.
Studies have shown that those who spend lots of time doing things they love have improved mental health and wellbeing, and are much less likely to suffer from anxiety and depression. Group activities like sports have also been proven to improve social skills and communication.
Whether you choose a team building activity or one that you can do in the peace of your own company, having a hobby that you find meaningful is sure to boost your self-worth and make you appreciate the joys of life.
Start Small
Taking up a new hobby can be daunting, but try to set yourself achievable goals to get yourself started. Don’t expect to create a huge sculpture on your first week of art class, but take pride in showing up and putting in the effort no matter what the outcome is.
Schedule and Plan
If you’ve got an action packed lifestyle, it can be hard to find the time to enjoy something for yourself. Treat your hobby as an appointment and put it in your diary so that you don’t forget about it or push it to the side. Although life can be busy, it’s extremely important to take time for yourself and do things that you love in order to be happy.
Separate From Normality
Try to pick a hobby that is different and unrelated from your work or normal activities. By doing so, you will be improving on skills that you didn’t know you had, and will not just see yourself as being in ‘one box’ when it comes to your skillset in life. Tapping in to different activities will also engage parts of your brain that you might not usually use as much, making you a fantastic all-rounder!
Make It Count
Don’t just show up to your hobby and do the bare minimum because you feel like you have to. Make every second count and put your efforts into developing a great new skill and talent, whether it’s working out or playing a new instrument, you should always be looking forward to getting stuck in.
There are thousands of apps out there that will help you develop a skill in learning a new language. DuoLingo is one of the top rated apps out there, and most of the games have been created by native speakers which helps with the accuracy of what you learn and how the language is really spoken in that country.
Healthy Recipes – By SparkRecipes is a free app that allows you to browse thousands of healthy recipes and cook them from the comfort of your own home. It’s clean, and really easy to use, with recipes to suit your abilities and help you develop more skills.
For those of you that are feeling anxious, meditation could be a great new practise to help you cool down and relax after a stressful day. Stop, Breathe & Think is a free app that guides you through what meditation really means. Every time you log in it asks how you are feeling, creating a more personal and meaningful experience.
So, whatever your interest is, there’s a hobby out there for everyone, and plenty of new skills for you to learn and enjoy. We’re sure that picking up a hobby is a great way to make friends, boost your confidence and have some genuine fun. What hobby would you like to learn? Let us know in the comments below.
