Get Happier and Healthier through Creativity and Hobbies
Research has shown that having a hobby makes us happier, healthier people. It helps us curate better mental and physical health, and when you’re doing something you enjoy, it makes your life feel more rewarding. Keeping yourself healthy both mentally and physically through hobbies is essential to living your best life.
If you don’t have a hobby, there’s no time like right now to get one going. You don’t need to be good at it, you just need to have an interest in pursuing it.
Need some inspiration? Here are some hobbies to try out!
Artistic Expression
One of the most mentally-liberating activities you can ever engage in is art. If failure holds you back, art is the perfect hobby to dive into. Failure doesn't exist in art -- everyone's interpretation is different, and the definition of art is the expression of human imagination. There's no right or wrong, and having that kind of freedom means you can pursue painting, drawing, sculpture, and countless other artistic forms of expression. You can keep things simple by setting time to yourself daily to color in a mandala, or you can join a class.
Movement
Perhaps you’ve always loved watching the ballet, or you simply would love to learn to waltz like a pro. Dancing is a great way to express yourself in motion with an artistically-fluid feel. There are many forms of dance, even workout dance classes such as Zumba so you can flex your creativity AND get your heart rate pumping.
Cooking and Baking
If baking interests you, you can join a class to learn how to express your creativity in the kitchen. For those that find harmony in the kitchen, trying out classes on how to cook different types of cuisine is a fun way to bring your love of cooking to the next level. Whether you seek out cooking or baking classes, both will give you an artistic outlet to learn how to bring creativity into your everyday life through the food you eat daily.
Reading
Reading doesn’t have to be a solitary hobby. There's hardly anything better than getting wrapped up in a good book, but when you join a book club, you get to add an element of socialization to your favorite hobby. There’s nothing like sharing the joys and pains of the characters in a book you love with others that love it just as much as you do.
Sewing, Embroidery, Knitting, and Crocheting
The “fiber arts” aren’t just for your grandmother anymore -- they have become quite popular in recent years. If you’ve always wanted to learn how to sew, embroider, knit, crochet or something else, find an online course you can go through and learn at your own pace. Check out Youtube for free videos and Blueprint for high-quality paid ones. Both took me from zero-to-crocheter in less than a week.
Whatever hobby you choose, make sure you feel curious about it so you'll have the stamina to engage with it. You don’t need to be an expert at it, but as long as it makes you feel good, keep making it a part of your schedule.
