For some people, they naturally stumble into a hobby and fall in love with it and stick with it their whole lives. For other people, their interest in a particular hobby may fade and or grow with time. Still other people, need to actively seek out a hobby as an outlet for stress or as a way to have a good time. Today I will share a bit about why it is important to have a hobby as well as a list of hobbies you may enjoy. New hobbies just may add some excitement to a hum drum routine!

Why Is It Important To Have A Hobby

“Everybody needs a hobby, right?”

That’s what a good friend told me when I confided in her that trying to maintain a house, a family, and a job was turning me into a stressed-out version of my mother. Of course, the idea of dealing with stress by adding one more thing to my schedule, enjoyable or otherwise, seemed ridiculous at the time.

Then she brought in reinforcements. In the form of the World Health Organization, no less. Back in 1948, the WHO had the insight to observe that, “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” In other words, I needed to find a way to occupy my mind, move my body, and get out of the virtual cave I’ve put myself in if I wanted to keep my brain on straight.

In other words, it was time for me to find a hobby. Need some proof that a hobby will benefit your life? Well WebMD, is pretty convincing when they say, “One of the main reasons why hobbies are important is that they can provide the benefits of doing group activities, especially those that you enjoy doing. This could help overcome any sense of loneliness and also reduces your chances of mortality by as much as 50%.”

If I were to heed my friend’s stress relief tips and evaluate hobbies accordingly, I would want to be able to control the expense and schedule associated with those hobbies. With that in mind, I think I could seriously consider gardening, scrapbooking or playing the piano as effective stress relievers. So, they are first of my list of hobbies below.

Fun Hobbies List

These hobby ideas are meant to provide you with a fun way to spend your time. The perfect hobby for you will depend on your interests and areas you may want to work on like physical health or personal growth. Choosing a new hobby is a great way to enjoy yourself and make free time for you!

Good Reasons for Gardening As a Hobby

Planting and maintaining a garden won’t be a substantial change for me, as I already do yard work regularly. Of course, there is a huge difference between raking leaves because you have to and planting flowers because you want to. Gardening has a long history as a hobby for the poor, the privileged, and the over-stressed, because of these benefits.

Sunlight and oxygen are as good for people as they are for plants. Weeding a flowerbed isn’t the same as running a mile, but it involves much more exercise than watching television. Planting seeds teaches patience, and picking roses teaches gratitude. So go ahead and get some fresh air and outdoor activity!

I think that, for the price of a few seed packets and a bit of dirt on my hands, this could be a very nice hobby to take up. Check here for beginner gardening tips

The Sweet Side of Scrapbooking

I am slightly more familiar with scrapbooking than with gardening, because I actually used to make scrapbooks before life became too demanding. Having completed two family books, I am well aware of the advantages of scrapbooking.

It is the most enjoyable way to organize that big box of photos in my closet. It is only as expensive as I want it to be; I can make up for a lack of funds with a wealth of creativity. Scrapbooking will help me produce something which will be here, and valued, long after I’m gone.

It may be that dealing with stress is as simple as setting up a card table in the den and playing with paper!

The Pleasures of Piano Playing

As with scrapbooking, I have had experience with the piano, but I stopped playing for very different reasons. I played for a little while in high school, but I quit rather quickly, and have regretted it ever since.

I didn’t really care for the scheduled practices, the pressure of the recitals, and basically having to build my schedule around someone else’s. Perhaps the difference now is that I could bypass the teacher and the schedules by learning how to play the piano online.

That alone would provide this hobby with several new benefits. It will be easier to commit time to practice if I can do it at my own pace and on my own schedule. I won’t be forced into recitals that I’m not ready for, so the learning will be pleasurable rather than stressful. When I do finally become proficient, I’ll have something to share with family and friends.

Maybe there is still time to make up for the regrettable decision to quit playing the piano!

More Hobbies To Try:

• Journaling
• Reading
• Coin collecting
• Running
• Gaming
• Crafting
• DIY projects
• Upcycling
• Thrift store shopping
• Learn a foreign language (learning a new skill is a good way to stay mentally sharp)
• Hiking
• Camping
• Stamp collecting
• Vintage board game collecting
• Learn a musical instrument
• Crocheting
• Knitting
• Sewing
• Cooking
• Baking
• Drawing
• Painting
• Sculpting
• Photography
• Public speaking (my mom enjoys doing this for her church bible studies)
• Volunteering
• Mentoring
• Bullet journaling
• Yoga
• Working out
• Fiction writing
• Cards (games like Bridge or even solitaire)
• Chess
• Team sports
• Martial arts
• Checkers
• Origami
• Soduku
• Volunteer at your local library
• Bird watching
• Video games
• Rock climbing (a good way to get out of you comfort zone and add some adventure to your life)
• Board games
• Learn and practice magic

More Than One Hobby At Once

It is OK if you can’t commit to just one hobby. Try to limit it to about three hobbies though so you can maintain a focus and develop your new talent. I can’t garden in the winter, and I won’t want to spend a sunny summer day scrapbooking, so I’ll switch off these hobbies according to the season. I can practice the piano any time of the year, whenever the mood strikes and I know I’ll enjoy that. Plus, I have made a list of hobbies including ones I used to enjoy and ones that I want to try in the future.

Hobby List Conclusion

So go ahead and try something new off this list of hobbies! Your new hobby may allow you to express your creativity. You may find it freeing or fun or even relaxing. Your hobby can really be almost anything you want to do. Try different hobby list ideas until you find the right one. Do you have a fun hobby now, or did you enjoy one in the past? We’d love to hear your hobby suggestions. What would you add to this hobby list?

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