Hobby Talk

Long time no talk beyond the threshold!

I have finally finished this semester and am soooooo close to graduating, so I’ve finally found the time to sit down and write a blog for you all!  If you read my blog about work-life balance, you know that I have two jobs that are both management positions, as well as 4 classes on top of that, requiring me to be in person on campus, online for courses, and back and forth between both jobs. It’s a lot!

So, in saying all of that, I’ve slacked off writing blogs, which was not easy for me, but my brain power was taken up by other responsibilities.

Leading today’s blog to be about HOBBIES. I want to talk to you all about the importance of hobbies and being true to yourself. And yes, the two coincide.

If you had asked 12-year-old me what I thought I'd be doing at nearly 21 years old, being the owner of a blog would never have crossed my mind. (which is shocking because I’ve won countless awards for my writing). I started this blog because not only is it my way of keeping a journal, as I’m sure most of you do, but it also allows me the creative outlet to potentially connect with others who share similar experiences to what I’m writing.

My biggest purpose in life is to create a safe space where people can feel heard and understood. So if sharing my experiences in blog format can connect with someone, you best believe I’ll be here, on my little corner of the internet, writing my heart out!

There are so many people in the world who question if situations and experiences that have happened to someone else, and if my stories can connect or help even one person feel seen, then it is all worth it :)

Regardless of what I want this blog to do for someone else, it’s also important for what it does for me. I get to write my thoughts out, engaging my brain to think harder, and really explore my feelings and emotions surrounding the topic I’m writing about. This blog is my hobby, but it is also so much more than that.

So let’s talk about hobbies!

Everyone’s got them, whether it’s stargazing, scrapbooking, or playing a sport; these are all considered hobbies, and there is an ABUNDANCE of them. Finding a hobby that suits you can be hard. If I’d been more true to myself years and years ago, maybe this would’ve been something I’d thought of and explored sooner. Hobbies are important for mental health, clarity, enjoyment, and so much more. 

I took the liberty of researching some things for this post, as learning new things is fun for me. I also like to provide the most factual information I can so that it's not all just opinions based. 

According to Utah State University, the Mental Health Education department composed a paper on how hobbies improve mental health. Evidence shows that hobbies can reduce stress, stating that “participating in activities during leisure or spare time has been shown to reduce stress levels. For instance, one study showed that approximately 75% of participants’ cortisol levels (one of the most widely studied hormonal markers of stress) were lowered after making art.” A study in New Zealand also concluded that hobbies can give an overall enhanced well-being. Participants felt a higher positive affect or mood and a sense of flourishing after days when they engaged in a creative activity. “ 

Not only do hobbies help with reducing stress and enhanced well being, but they also affect how we interact with others. Having a hobby gives the opportunity for growth in social connections and building friendships. We connect with others through things we enjoy, meaning hobbies create a great outlet to meet people with similar interests. Mental health improves greatly by doing things we enjoy. It is important to do something we love, even just 10 minutes out of the day. This can help boost mood, productivity, and more. 

It feels great to be writing for you all again. I love doing this and am so glad to have found a hobby that makes me happy and helps me find that social connection, even if it’s not face-to-face. I hope you all enjoyed and maybe even learned something new! 

Goodbye for now, see you in the next one(which will hopefully be sooner rather than later)!

References 

Ewert, A., & Chang, Y. (2018). Levels of Nature and Stress Response. Behavioral Sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 8(5), 49. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs8050049

American Psychological Association https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/01/break

University, U. S. (2023, December 14). How hobbies improve mental health. USU. https://extension.usu.edu/mentalhealth/articles/how-hobbies-improve-mental-health