Blog
Hobbies: Food for the Mind and Soul
Written by Aakifa Shafeer
We’ve always been encouraged at school or while growing up to have hobbies. But how often do we stop to ask ourselves,
What are our hobbies?
When wasis the last time you picked up a new hobby?
How many of us can give a direct answer? The world we live in is so fast-paced and busy, and it forces everyone to toil so hard that it makes you disregard having time for yourself and engaging in any leisure activity, often taking it as a waste of time. While we need to work hard for a comfortable life, it would be so sad to miss out on the joys of life, and we would be forgetting to truly live.
The True Purpose of Hobbies
The human brain thrives on new experiences. Engaging in new activities can help build neural pathways. This may stimulate neurotransmitters such as dopamine associated with reward and motivation.
Hobbies are meant to be enjoyed; they make us feel relaxed, curious, and content. They allow room to make mistakes without pressure. A hobby does not require external validation, monetary gain, or being perfect at it. In a world full of expectations, hobbies bring relief; a calm in the midst of the storms we navigate in our daily lives. (Invest EAP, n.d)
Why Should You Engage in Hobbies?
- Improves overall mental health
- Strengthens cognitive abilities
- Lowers the risk of long-term illnesses(UCLA clahealth,2025)
- Reduces stress
- Prevents boredom and exhaustion
- Diverts attention from negative thoughts
- Encourages relaxation and calmness
- Offers a chance to recharge and refresh
- Supports creativity and personal expression
- Gives a feeling of achievement (NCESD, 2024).
Making Time for Hobbies
Time is often the biggest obstacle to doing what we love. Work tends to hold the number one spot in our lives, and sometimes we even feel guilty trying to engage in leisure activities, so they are often skipped.
However, we can reframe this by finding hidden time in our day-to-day lives when we pause and look at our schedules. Dedicating a few hours a week to refresh and recharge can help us slow down and truly experience moments instead of letting life pass by quickly.
We can also delegate and share our workload and start practicing saying “no.” Being reflective about how we spend our time is important. Sometimes we scroll for hours without realizing how much time has passed, and that time could be used for a hobby.
Using break time wisely can even improve efficiency at work. Therefore, it is smart to use these breaks to do something we truly enjoy, which can be food for our souls. (Parkhurst.E, 2021)
Hobbies and Research
Crocheting- A 2021 study in Perspectives in Public Health found that crocheting is an inexpensive, portable hobby that can improve overall well-being. wellbeing
Bird watching-A 2022 study in Scientific Reports discovered that watching and listening to birds daily provides substantial mental health benefits, including for people with depression (Lascala.M, 2024)
Reading and writing- A 2010 study examined 942 participants to explore the link between reading and other hobbies and the risk of dementia later in life. It found that engaging in reading for at least an hour each day could help ward off dementia in later years.
Gardening- Research published in the American Journal of Public Health shows that spending time outdoors in green spaces, which can include gardening, may help reduce ADHD symptoms. (Walker.B, 2021)
Hobbies are more than just fun; they help us relax, stay creative, and boost our mental and physical health. By making time for the things we enjoy, we give ourselves a chance to pause, recharge, and truly live.
Hobbies are more than just fun; they help us relax, stay creative, and boost our mental and physical health. By making time for the things we enjoy, we give ourselves a chance to pause, recharge, and truly live.
References
Invest EAP. (n.d.). Just for joy: Rethinking hobbies and mental wellbeing. Invest EAP. https://www.investeap.org/mental-health/positive-mental-wellbeing/just-joy-rethinking-hobbies-and-mental-wellbeing
Lascala, M. (2024). Why “grandma hobbies” could be the secret to better mental health. Good Housekeeping. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/a70107362/grandma-hobbies-mental-health/
NCESD. (2024, January 3). How do hobbies help mental health? NCESD. https://www.ncesd.org/behavior-health/hobbies-mental-health/
Parkhurst, E. (2021). How hobbies improve mental health. Utah State University Extension. https://extension.usu.edu/mentalhealth/articles/how-hobbies-improve-mental-health
UCLA Health. (2025). 3 proven health benefits of having a hobby. UCLA Health. https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/3-proven-health-benefits-having-hobby
Walker, B. (2021). 5 productive hobbies that are beneficial for your mind. Step Up For Mental Health. https://www.stepupformentalhealth.org/productive-hobbies-that-are-beneficial-for-your-mind/
