The desire to escape from the daily grind, combat stress, fatigue and improve your mood can become a reality. The secret is to identify the hobbies you like the most and dedicate the time they deserve to them.
When it comes to breaking away from routine and looking for time to do other activities, people often encounter obstacles: lack of time, tiredness, lack of money and fear of failure are some of the arguments that frustrate plans. However, if there were an awareness of the importance and benefits of having a hobby, both for physical and emotional health, these supposed problems, which have their origin in the mind, would have a solution.
Dancing, cooking, reading, visiting museums, knitting or farming, there are hundreds of hobbies. The most important thing is that the one you choose is a lifeline that rescues you from everyday life.
A hobby is any activity that sparks your creativity and allows you to forget about your obligations for a while. Doing so is good for your health because it prevents your life from being solely about work, childcare and obligations. Instead, it opens up space for joy and enjoyment.
The first thing you should keep in mind is that it is never too late to start. It doesn't matter how old you are or how inexperienced you are, the essential thing is that the activity you choose sparks your curiosity and becomes a way to have fun.
Thinking that you need to have several hours a week available to do an activity well is a myth. In the case of physical exercise, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends devoting a minimum of two and a half hours a week to it, which only represents 10% of the 168 hours in seven days.
Hobbies that require a certain level of physical effort have a double benefit: in addition to emotional well-being, they contribute to your biological health and reduce the risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes and some types of cancer.
Although their contribution is great, due to the effort and discipline involved, many people fail to create a habit. This is demonstrated by a study published by the British magazine Lancet, in 2018, which states that with 44% of inactive adults, Colombia is one of the Latin American countries with the highest rate of sedentary lifestyle.
Allies of mental health
Because of the stimulation they produce in the brain, hobbies help improve memory and prevent the deterioration of cognitive functions. Dancing, gardening, writing, meditation and playing a musical instrument prevent degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, one of the most common forms of dementia that affects nearly 221.000 people in Colombia.
In addition to being an option for distraction, they are an inexhaustible source of happiness. When you are doing something you like, your brain is programmed to secrete a greater amount of the so-called happiness hormones, such as serotonin and endorphins, and, to a lesser extent, those that weaken your immune system. This feeling of well-being reduces the risk of suffering from depression, anxiety, stress, irritability and other emotions that influence your mood and ability to face the day.
Discipline is a key element in building a habit that, in the long term, becomes a hobby. The secret to making this possible is to remove obstacles, overcome fears and know that it is possible. All you need is a positive attitude and to break down the limits you impose on yourself.
Hobbies don't go against work
Spending most of your time at work has consequences: it means easily losing control of your life. When this happens, according to clinical psychologist and coach Mónica Cárdenas Palacio, your ability to form relationships is affected because interpersonal ties are limited to work.
Workaholics are constantly worried about fulfilling their duties. As a result, they have less time to spend with themselves, their family, their partner and friends. The result of this behavior is a life devoid of emotions.
The hours you spend working are just as important as the hours you spend in leisure time. Although one of the main reasons for not having a hobby is the lack of time, sometimes this argument is not so true. Keep in mind that time is what is spent only on what is important, but what is more important in your life than you?
Beware of cheating hobbies!
Although many people believe that watching television, series or movies is part of the long list of hobbies that exist, it is important to clarify that these are nothing more than cheating hobbies because, unlike any other hobby, they do not allow introspection or interaction and force you to project yourself into the characters and prioritize their lives.
According to research by Streaming Observer, an organization that analyzes digital content, Netflix, one of the most popular entertainment platforms, has nearly 139 million viewers worldwide, who consume 164.8 million hours of content daily.
That is to say, this astonishing number of people, instead of experiencing feelings of liberation, relaxation and tranquillity, such as those produced by creative leisure activities, are left with a feeling of tiredness, dullness, exhaustion and discomfort after finishing watching this content, the complete opposite of those produced by a hobby.
Finding a hobby is not difficult. If you have found that certain actions give you a feeling of well-being, pleasure and relaxation, you may be looking for it.
The content is part of the 5 Sentidos magazine and was created by: Mónica Cárdenas Palacio, clinical psychologist and coach.