6 Hobbies That Will Make You a Happier Person

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This post is brought to you by Carrie Spencer from thespencersadventures.net who has a family mini-farm and is passionate about living self-sustainable and environmentally conscious.

“Valuing your time more than the pursuit of money is linked to greater happiness.” That’s what the experts at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology say, and they have the research to back it up.

It’s not really news that hobbies as part of a mental health getaway are good for you, though. Scientists have known for a long time that the mental and physical benefits hobbies offer to make the activities we do just for fun a very important part of our lives. In addition to making us happier for the moment, studies cited in Shape magazine show hobbies have worthwhile long-term effects as well, like making us smarter and more interesting and helping us meet people.

A few minutes a day of pleasurable activity can even help mitigate or avoid mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Here are 6 hobbies to bolster your mental health.

Physical Activity

From individual activities like running or swimming to organized group sports like soccer or kickball, physical activity is one of the most popular and beneficial ways to spend your free time because it engages both your body and your mind. And no matter what type of physical activity you choose, the benefits are the same. In addition to better overall health, physical activity causes your brain to release endorphins and serotonin, leaving you happier and less stressed.

Podcasting

Whether you want to educate, share knowledge, or entertain, a podcast is a terrific way to provide high-quality content for listeners. To get started, you’ll need to come up with a creative name for your podcast and invest in some equipment such as recording software and a high-quality microphone.

Gardening

When most people think of gardening, rows, and rows of veggies come to mind. But like physical activity, there’s a type of garden for everyone. If you don’t have much of a green thumb, an herb garden might be a good place to start. Just a few small spots on your kitchen counter can be a big boost to your mood.

Want to take it a step further? Depending on how much space you have, you could do a few fruits and veggies in a raised bed, a vertical garden, or just a few hanging pots. Or, if you’d prefer to share the responsibility, community gardens are popular in urban and rural areas alike. Any way you do it, making things grow can give you a real sense of accomplishment, another one of the keys to happiness.

Arts & Crafts

There’s a reason “adult coloring” has become so popular. Self-expression through creativity is a top stress-reliever. As an added bonus, arts and crafts are typically easy and relatively inexpensive to access. For the do-it-yourself type, you can find free online courses on just about anything from hand-lettering to home renovation.

If you want a little more structure and direction, try your local community college’s continuing education program. Just remember that hobbies don’t have to be fancy or expensive to be beneficial. Even putting a pencil on a piece of paper for a few minutes counts.

Reading

If you’re looking for a hobby you can do anytime, anywhere, reading is for you. There are several apps that allow you to download and read just about anything right from your smartphone or tablet. It’s never been easier to get lost in a fictional world, learn something new, or thumb through the latest issue of your favorite magazine. Of course, if you prefer the weight of a book in your hand, local libraries and bookstores are still an option. It’s even possible to make reading a social activity by joining a book club, either virtually or in real life.

Collections of All Kinds

It doesn’t have to be stamps, comic books, or baseball cards, though those are excellent choices. You can collect just about anything, and searching for your next piece online or in-person is part of the fun. Seriously. A friend of mine collects action figures. He sold a third of his collection last year and made enough money to pay for his wedding!

Tools to Help You Getting Started

Gardening Toolbag

USB Podcast Microphone

Kettlebell

Concluding Thoughts

And that’s just the start. Thankfully, anyone can experience these positive side effects because a hobby can be literally anything that brings you joy. It can be something you’ve enjoyed your whole life or something entirely new. It can be something you enjoy with a group or something you do entirely by yourself. It can take on any form and be done at any time of day.

You can even turn your hobby into a profitable side business or even a full-time career. If you need more space for a home office or studio, you may need to upgrade your residence. Just be sure you incorporate good time management practices to ensure you don’t overdo it. As long as you’re doing it because you want to and not because you have to, you’ll experience the positive mental and physical health benefits a hobby can provide.

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29 thoughts on “6 Hobbies That Will Make You a Happier Person”

  5. Yes!!!!!!! These are the activities that will improve our mental health. Arts is one of my hobbies besides writing and blogging. Drawing really makes me happy. It’s also a good way for me to share my imaginations and express myself to others. And I do believe I need to indulge myself in at least one physical hobby. That’s important too.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Fadima ❤️ It’s really nice to have your feedback on it. Adding some physical activity as an hobby is also a game changer for mental health. I hope you can find something of your liking so you may give it a try soon 🏋️

      Like

      Reply

  9. Collections are truly fun and absorbing! I used to collect stamps and figurines and books and, while I do not collect as avidly as I used to, I still love adding to a collection here and there. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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  15. Great post! Exercise is a brilliant way to feel good, and blogging is a hobby for me that makes me feel good and helped me overcome a lot of depression. I should look into podcasting next, it sounds fun. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. Thank you so much for saying that. Not sure I’d have anything valuable to podcast about, but nice to know I’d have at least 1 listener. 🙂 ❤

        Like

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