The importance of Hobbies as an Adult
When we are children, we are usually engaged in various activities, sports and hobbies that help keep us active and entertained. They also teach us new skills and help shape us into the people we become.
Many of us would say our time spent participating in sports or clubs are some of the best memories we have and those experiences have taught us more significant life lessons than classroom learning ever could. Many friendships and personal connections are also made through participating in sports or other activities with those who share an interest.
However, as we near adulthood, enter college or the workforce and become more focused on responsibilities such as advancing our careers, paying bills and caring for our families, our interests and hobbies can often fall by the wayside. But it’s important to maintain your interest and involvement in the activities you love or develop new interests, hobbies and activities throughout your life to stay active, engaged and healthy.
The time many of us have had to spend at home during 2020 as a result of COVID and other world events has changed many aspects of how we conduct our daily lives and how we spend our time. Some of us have continued to have the same busy work schedules and obligations as before yet may still have more time on our hands because we no longer have to get ready for work and commute to an office.
Some of us may have been out of work or on a reduced workload for extended periods. The absence of a regular work schedule or other daily routine can leave a person with more free time than they know what to do with. Even with other responsibilities such as childcare or maintaining the home, it’s more than likely we have all had periods where we thought, “What did I used to do for fun?”
It can be more difficult to get back into the things we loved to do when we are adults, but it is well worth exploring your old hobbies or developing new ones. You can look into recreational adult leagues for sports you used to enjoy playing or always wanted to try.
YouTube and other online videos, books or articles can be a great source of inspiration and guidance for hobbies like dance, cooking, yoga, martial arts, weightlifting, gardening, knitting, home improvement projects, crafts and many other activities you might want to resume or try. Book clubs and other clubs dedicated to personal interests are now often conducted via videochat or online forums and can be a great way to engage in discussion with others who share your interests and hobbies even when you can’t meet in person or are short on time.
Even though our studies, careers, families and home lives are very important, it’s also important to take the time to engage in things you personally enjoy. It helps to alleviate stress, learn and develop new skills and friendships, increase your physical fitness and health -- as well as your mental well-being -- and expand your world and lifestyle.
So if there’s something you haven’t done in a while -- or something you’ve been wanting to try but haven’t gotten around to it yet -- now is the time!
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