Three Reasons Why I Think Hobbies Are Self Care
We all know that doing the things that make us happy will make us, well, happy. So why is it so hard to do those things?
If you told me back in March 2019 that I would be writing again, knitting, baking bread, playing the ukulele, and getting back into the beloved video games of my childhood, I would have laughed. I would have scoffed. I would have given you a condescending pat on your head.
“And with what time?” I would have asked rhetorically because I didn’t have any.
When I look back over the past two years or so, I can see tangible change in many aspects of my life.
One of the clearest is how much free time I have made for my hobbies.
Instead of feeling more stressed, more time-poor, more tired than when I thought I had no time, I feel happier, more confident, and stronger than ever.
Over consecutive lockdowns, I suddenly had a lot more time to pursue things I’d never tried. Post lockdown, I realized I had to try to make time. I had to use the doom scrolling, instacreeping, procrasTikToking time for something else that brought me more satisfaction and contentment.
As the anxiety and not-so-seasonal depression crept in, like houseguests that just won’t leave, something had to change if I was going to get better.
So why should you pick up that instrument collecting dust in your living room, those stiff and dry paint brushes lying in the cupboard, or the garden shears and potting soil in your shed?
Hobbies = Creative, Creativity = Flow, Flow = Happy
In a previous post about oatmeal, I talked a little bit about flow. Flow is the state in which you are totally engrossed in an activity, completely focussed on what you are doing. Time melts away, and you find you don’t notice anything else going on around you.
I talked about a study at Harvard that found that when people achieve a flow state, their dopamine levels noticeably increase.
Hobbies are things we enjoy, so it’s easier to achieve a state of flow. Cue dopamine, bringing in the feeling of being happier and more energized than when we started the activity.
And lots of the research suggests that this isn’t limited to any one type of activity. Some pastimes, like sports, are better supported by the current body of research. But whether it’s cooking or crocheting, painting or pottery, gardening or golf, your favourite hobby will lift your mood and renew your energy for the things you have to do.
Those Who Make Time for Their Hobbies Tend to Be Less Depressed
More and more research out there supports the link between our hobbies and reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression.
An Australian study even found that people who regularly play sports are less likely to be depressed than people who don’t. This same study found that people who began to play sports at the start of the year reported significantly lower stress and anxiety levels at the beginning of the following year.
Maybe it’s the endorphins from physical activity, or the sense of accomplishment when you master a pass or play, or the sense of community you build from team sports. Maybe it’s getting in a state of flow.
Whatever it is, it’s clear that hobbies can improve your mental health.
Hobbies Make Us Healthier
Our creative (or active) pursuits not only have psychological benefits for us but have additionally been shown to reduce the stress hormone cortisol in the body, lower blood pressure, and improve our cardiovascular health.
And I don’t know about you, but when my body feels better, I feel better mentally and emotionally.
Final Thoughts
We don’t all have the luxury of freelance work, which in turn provides us with the luxury of time. I know that is a privilege that I enjoy. And sometimes, our mental health has spiraled to a deep, dark place that hobbies alone can’t pull us out of.
But if you’re being honest with yourself, how much time do you spend checking your socials, reading or watching the news that stresses you out, or just worrying about what’s coming?
All of that time could be and should be better spent. It could be invested in your overall happiness and health.
To me, my hobbies are self-care. And self-care is one of those things that never equates to time wasted.
