Over the past few days we’ve taken a look at how we spend our time, what we spend it on and what may be sucking time away from us. In other words, we started to be more intentional on how we spend our time and what we spend it on. That leaves quite a few hours each week open to new things. When we’re no longer watching TV mindlessly, or let social media suck us in, we have time to do the things we thought we simply didn’t have time for.
Today I want to encourage you to embrace your hobbies and interests. Do you remember having all afternoon, weekends, and school holidays to do what you loved to do? Without the obligations of adulthood, it’s easy to enjoy a hobby or explore other interests. When we become adults, it can become tougher to sneak in those activities between everything that has to be done. We often let go of the things we enjoy doing to the most. It’s time to take back that joy and pick up those hobbies and interests again …or even find something new to try.
Hobbies are an important part of living with purpose. They give balance to our lives and allow us to spend some much needed time on something we enjoy. They help us distress and are fun. For example, if you work in an office job where you spend most of your time working away at the computer all day, it can be tough to see the fruits of your labor. You work hard, but at the end of the day, you don’t see anything in front of you that shows what you’ve accomplished. To balance this out, consider a hobby like gardening, sewing, knitting, or woodworking. Spend an hour in the evening on your favorite hobby and you can actually see, feel, and touch the progress you’ve made.
Hobbies can also help us unwind and let go of all the stress and anxiety that has built up over the workday. This in turn is good for our health and mental wellbeing. People with relaxing hobbies like playing music, crafting, painting, or gardening to name a few tend to sleep better and feel more refreshed when they can engage with their favorite past time.
Hobbies also give us a chance to connect with other like-minded individuals. There are classes, groups, clubs, and even guilds for all sorts of different things. Or you can simply form your own group. Find a few other cycling enthusiasts and start organizing group rides on the weekends. Start a monthly book club for a chance to discuss your favorite works of fiction with other readers. Embrace your hobbies and interests and make them part of your everyday life again.