What’s a hobby?

hobby : a pursuit outside one's regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation. Merriam-Webster.com

I don’t have any hobbies! Have you ever said that to yourself?

I totally get it! I spent years not understanding what these people who enjoyed participating in hobbies were talking about. Who has time for hobbies? Who has money for hobbies? Who has the head space for hobbies?

That’s what I would think back in the day. I have so much to do. I can’t focus on that right now. I don’t know how to do that? These were the other thoughts I had.

Then…

About 9 years ago I set out on a journey to change my health and life. I decide to lean into this holistic natural health thing that I heard helped some lupus patients. People who were struggling with their health just like me.

So many things changed in my life. I made a lot of changes and one of them was adding hobbies to my life.

I started to meet new people and they were healthy, and they were happy, and they were positive, and they had these things called hobbies.

They would mention some of the activities that they participated in regularly, and how it made them feel. I would get excited learning about their journey. Seeing them brighten up as they talk about their hobbies and passions motivated me to try new things.

They would mention things like:

Running
drawing
costume making
art creation
baking
cooking
bird watching
hiking
scrapbooking
knitting
gardening
photography
lego building
filming and editing
Writing
Sculpting
dancing
singing
sewing
learning new things

I’m like, how cool is that? Really, running for fun? How did you become interested in costume making? What’s your favorite thing to bake? What kind of birds do you watch? What kind of equipment in needed? Is it expensive?

These are some of the things that would come to me, that I would ask as I was getting excited to learn more.

Quick hobby tip: Ask someone about their hobbies.

I’ve learned that when I get excited about someone else’s hobbies, it usually means it’s a hobby for me to try.

So, I started doing the hobby thing. Especially after I learned about some of the health benefits.

Health Benefits of Hobbies:

Help you cope with stress.
Help you feel calm.
Help you feel accomplished.
Help build confidence.
Healthy distraction from stressful thoughts.
Help you sharpen your attention to detail.
Help you connect with others with similar interest.

A few of the hobbies I now enjoy are painting, photography, singing, and time in nature.

They help me feel calm, inspired, motivated, powerful, creative, fun, relaxed, mindful, joyful, connected, and more.

I started painting a little more than a year ago, that hobby has taught me to have more patience, and has sharpen my attention to details. It’s helped me calm my mind and body. It’s helped me cope with grief.

This is a coping with coronavirus inspired creation.

It’s helped me creatively express myself in fun ways.

Hobbies don’t have to cost a lot of money, and you can do many at home. I find they help me connect to my authentic, free, flowing self. Hobbies can be good for your physical and mental health.

In these times of Coronavirus and social distancing, it’s more important than ever to add a few hobbies into your schedule to help you feel positive, hopeful, and joyful. Hobbies may help you avoid boredom and darkness.

Now’s the time to try a new hobby. It can help you structure your day, reduce stress, and boost your immune system.

Go try a new hobby, and let me know how it goes. You got this!!

Love always,

Lydia Romero Johnson, RN, CHC

https://www.lydiaromerojohnson.com/

Sources:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/happy-trails/201509/six-reasons-get-hobby

https://hbr.org/2019/02/why-you-should-work-less-and-spend-more-time-on-hobbies