We’ve talked a lot about the importance of different aspects of mental health before. For example, mental health check-ins and setting boundaries. However, another important thing that can contribute to better mental health is having hobbies. Generally, this is not something that is talked enough about but they can help mitigate symptoms of depression or even prevent depression in some people!
Why Are Hobbies So Important?
Hobbies provide a good outlet for many people. Creative ones can be especially helpful with allowing us to tap into other parts of ourselves and reset. Physical activities can help reduce stress and release endorphins, a chemical that our brains really love. Hobbies in general can also help stimulate the reward center of our brain with dopamine.
Regularly engaging in these types of activities can help reduce symptoms of depression like anhedonia. Anhedonia is a loss of pleasure in the things we like to do. By continuing to engage that reward center of our brain, we can help ease these feelings and even get back to enjoying things.
What Kind Are There?
Physical hobbies include things like working out, hiking, walking, or swimming. While meditative ones include things like yoga, meditation, and mindful or meditative journaling. There are also some things that count as both physical and meditative. Yoga is a great example! So is going for a meditation walk.
Creative hobbies include reading, listening to or creative music, writing, or creating or looking at art. These can help reduce stress and anxiety.
What Other Benefits Are There to Hobbies?
Physical hobbies can, of course, help with our physical health. The more active we are, the healthier our bodies are. Walking is especially good for cardiovascular health! This is also especially important if you work a very sedentary job.
Hobbies that help lower our stress do great things for us, too. Lower stress can result in better sleep, a healthier immune system, and a more positive outlook. Meditative exercises help us to be more mindful overall, so we may be more likely to know when we’re feeling bad or why.
The Mental Health Benefits of Hobbies
