Make time for the things you enjoy doing! Here are reasons why you should follow through with your hobbies.

Friday: Mindfulness by Miles

Every Friday, I feature topics related to work, wealth, and our overall well-being. My hope is that you’ll find these articles helpful in enhancing both your personal life and professional life.

Today, I’ll discuss one of the topics that I like talking about with others.

Keep reading to know why hobbies are important in helping you live a truly happy and meaningful life.

CEO, MBO Partners
Chairman of the Advisory Board, The I Institute

Make time for the things you enjoy doing! Here are reasons why you should follow through with your hobbies.

What makes you feel truly happy and satisfied?

Is it when…

You’re spending a half hour into your favorite yoga class?

Getting absorbed in your latest cooking endeavor?

Reading a new book you just got your hands on?

This week, what I want to place emphasis on is the  importance of having and following through with our hobbies . It’s easy to put these things on the back burner especially when we’re busy. However, hobbies are what makes us relax and destress, so I believe we should NEVER neglect them.

Hobbies are defined as  “activities that people engage in for pleasure or to pursue personal interests.”  This means they include more than those fitness and wellness trends people often associate with self-care.

Allow me to make a point here: There’s nothing wrong with following these self-care trends… but you have to keep in mind that self-care looks different for everyone.

It may not always be in the form of sipping your favorite juice or smoothie, taking a magnesium bath, or attending the latest fitness class everyone is talking about. Sometimes, self-care means taking time to enjoy yourself as you do your hobbies.

I know some who think hobbies are a luxury or waste of time. However, I personally believe they are an essential part of a healthy and fulfilling life. That’s why in this article, I’ll highlight the importance of having hobbies and the benefits they provide:

• Stress Relief

  Hobbies are a way to unwind and relax, thereby helping reduce your stress levels and improve your overall well-being. Engaging in an enjoyable activity will help you take your mind off of work, school, or other stressors, and provide you with a much-needed break.

  In my case, one of the ways I effectively eliminate stress is not by lighting a scented candle or doing meditation, but by attending my Krav Maga class.

  I admit. It hurts to get thrown down on a mat by my opponent… but who cares? It’s what works for me!

• Improved Mental Health

  Hobbies also have a positive impact on your mental health. Doing activities that bring you joy and fulfillment can help boost your mood, reduce your anxiety, and improve your self-esteem.

  When my daughter entered adulthood, I learned all about self-esteem and the pressure girls are experiencing so they could “fit in.” It actually surprised me to find out that one of the reasons she keeps doing ballet, even though she’s in her late 20’s now, is because she loves being reminded of how the music and dance make her feel.

  She believes if she can show up at least once a week wearing her leotard and tights, there’s nothing else in her life that will make her feel unconfident.

• Increased Creativity

  This is something I personally struggle with. As someone who hasn’t been in a “creative” job role for most of my life, I really try to push myself to get creative.

  That’s why I am so glad to have come across an article that states hobbies help stimulate creativity and innovation! According to the piece, pursuing a personal interest can inspire new ideas and ways of thinking, which can then be applied to other areas of life.

  To apply this to my life, I’ve made a decision to eat more home-cooked meals at home and get creative in the kitchen. I honestly enjoy challenging myself to get creative with using different kinds of spices and cooking dishes that I’ve always wanted to try!

• Improved Physical Health

  Some hobbies include physical activity. In fact, many of my friends and family participate in hobbies such as hiking, swimming, or playing intramural sports.

  Engaging in these kinds of hobbies can improve your cardiovascular health, increase your strength and endurance, and promote your overall health and well-being. However, like I said earlier, your hobbies don’t have to be what society defines as “self-care fitness trends.”

  An enjoyable physical activity for you might be rowing, cross-country skiing, or birdwatching. If it’s a hobby that gets you moving somehow and you like it, then own it!

• Personal Growth

  This is one of the most obvious benefits of hobbies. Many know that such activities provide opportunities for personal growth and development.

  Learning a new skill, pursuing a passion, or trying something new can help you build confidence, develop new perspectives, and expand your horizons.

  One of the hobbies I had growing up was helping my dad at his upholstery shop. There, I learned not only how to remake furniture, but also how to run a business and provide effective customer service.

• Social Connections

  Hobbies provide new opportunities for social connections and community building. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am big on finding a community. This is because for me, it’s important to have a group of people you can rely on and have fun with.

  So, as someone who’s experienced the benefits of being part of a community, I encourage you to join a group or club that shares a common interest with you, helps you meet new people, and build meaningful relationships.

There you have it—my top 6 reasons why I think hobbies are important!

What I want you to take away from this is that hobbies are essential in living a happy and meaningful life. They provide you with ways to unwind, reduce stress, boost your creativity, improve your mental and physical health, foster personal growth, and build social connections.

That’s why it's important to make time for these activities and pursue your interests!

Whether or not they are the picture-perfect “Instagram” self-care trend or not, doing things you truly enjoy will have a significant impact on your overall quality of life.

I hope you enjoyed reading today’s  “Mindfulness by Miles!”

Feel free to leave a comment on what else you’d like to read in my newsletter. Enjoy the rest of your day, everyone. Have a great weekend!