| As kids, a lot of us are heavily into hobbies, be it arts and craft, calligraphy, ballet, flower arrangements, puzzles, martial arts or collecting stamps or coins. However, as we grow up and real world responsibilities set in, we gradually let go of our favourite pastimes. That is not good, say researchers, because hobbies have been shown to have a strong positive impact on the quality of our lives. In this article, we take a look at five benefits of pursuing hobbies Hobbies Help Manage Stress After a long day (or week) of client meetings, working non-stop at your desk and demanding projects, hobbies can help alleviate some of your stress and take your mind off work. Pursuing hobbies like gardening or fishing over the weekend or reading for pleasure every evening makes for a welcome respite and prevents burnout. |  |
 | Hobbies Give You Joy Hobbies make you happier and more content as a person. Not only is this good for your general health and wellbeing, it also increases your satisfaction with life and brings you pleasure and excitement. Hobbies Help You Refocus on Work Taking some time to pursue hobbies helps you refocus on work with more energy and enthusiasm. Problems that seem unsolvable and situations that seem hopeless at work suddenly seem manageable after you have stepped away from the situation and focused on a hobby. Hobbies Help You Bond with Others Depending on your hobby, you can form a social network with similar-minded individuals. You can find a club for just about any hobby, cycling, nature walks, bowling, reading, mountain climbing, movies, you name it. Hobbies connect you with other people who have interests similar to yours and can sometimes lead to lifelong friendships! Hobbies Improve Your Health Several research studies have shown that people who engage in hobbies are less likely to develop memory problems. Hobbies are also known to stave off depression and lower blood pressure. So not only do hobbies help you psychologically, they are also good for your body. |
| Hobbies Give You Joy Hobbies make you happier and more content as a person. Not only is this good for your general health and wellbeing, it also increases your satisfaction with life and brings you pleasure and excitement. Hobbies Help You Refocus on Work Taking some time to pursue hobbies helps you refocus on work with more energy and enthusiasm. Problems that seem unsolvable and situations that seem hopeless at work suddenly seem manageable after you¿ve stepped away from the situation and focused on a hobby. Hobbies Help You Bond with Others Depending on your hobby, you can form a social network with similar-minded individuals. You can find a club for just about any hobby, cycling, nature walks, bowling, reading, mountain climbing, movies, you name it. Hobbies connect you with other people who have interests similar to yours and can sometimes lead to lifelong friendships! | |
| Hobbies Improve Your Health Several research studies have shown that people who engage in hobbies are less likely to develop memory problems. Hobbies are also known to stave off depression and lower blood pressure. So not only do hobbies help you psychologically, they are also good for your body. Choosing a Hobby Your hobby should be something that brings you happiness. Consider whether you would want to pursue a hobby that brings you solitude and peace and quiet or one that facilitates talking, discussions and social connections. Do you want your hobby to be something that involves competition (e.g. sports) or one that simply helps you relax? Answering these questions will help you zero in on a good hobby. There are no right hobbies, just hobbies that make you happy. You could blog, volunteer, write poetry, tend to your garden, play a musical instrument, go camping, roast and brew coffee, do artwork or learn new languages, just to mention a few. |  |