Why Hobbies Are Important In Midlife * Spotlight My Health

Why Are Hobbies Important?

Why are hobbies important in midlife? Because they take us out of our everyday life for a bit and give us a chance to forget about all the day-to-day tasks that are waiting and pulling at us. A hobby can also help keep your brain in good working order and help reduce your stress levels.

With just a few hours a week, a hobby lets us enjoy something we may love and be passionate about while teaching us a new skill, give us a mental break or even allow us to socialize.

It doesn’t really matter what you end up choosing to try as your hobby. That’s because whatever hobby you decide on, as long as you like and enjoy doing it, will definitely help keep your stress level down and give you a sense of accomplishment.

Why Hobbies Are Important in Midlife

Midlife comes to everyone and can kinda hit you right between the eyes. We spend all our earlier years establishing a home and raising our kids while most of the time not really thinking much about ourselves.

And then the time comes when you turn around to realize your practically grown kids don’t need you much anymore; they can do what you taught them—take care of themselves.

So, what do you do with all this time on your hands? Who are you now, apart from the title “Mom?” The worst thing would be for you to become down on yourself, unhappy, unfulfilled, and not know which way to turn.

This happens even if you have been working a full-time job. You still seem to have too much empty time on your hands. So what do you do?

Yes, I know you can come up with all kinds of projects you’ve been meaning to do around the house, but that’s not really quality time for you. And by that, I mean, making you feel good about yourself and like you’ve accomplished something.

Projects around the house, while yes, they need to get done, they scream “chores!” to me. Not relaxing by doing something that you really want to do.

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Reasons For A Hobby

Why am I suggesting a hobby, whether an old or new one? It will give you something to fill the empty time with; something that will excite and motivate you. Having a hobby would be a distraction to all the changes going on around you during this time. A hobby can also help you find yourself again while you go about building a new “normal” in your life.

More Reasons For A Hobby

*Good for your mental health

*Now’s the time to get into a really good self-care routine

*Helps keep your brain in good working order

*Less likely to suffer from stress, low moods, and depression—helps to unwind

*Provides a purpose to your life

*Gives you a sense of accomplishment

*Time to spend with other people

*Helps make your creative side happy

You should try to make your hobby or interests a part of your everyday life until it becomes something you include in your life without even thinking about it.

Depending on what hobby you take on, you could end up spending a lot of time outdoors or making new friends from a team sport you join, both being great for you mentally and for your health.

Choosing A Hobby

Unless you already have a hobby that you know you like, finding a new one can be tricky. And you have no idea how to figure out what that might be or where to start. It may take time and some experimentation.

You can always start out by asking some of your friends or family what their hobbies are. Ask them if they have any ideas for you.

Figure out or make a list of your wants and needs for your hobby. What would make you excited and make you want to keep up with and doing the hobby? Or what definitely would not.

Put what skills you have on the list or what skills you would like to learn and would give you a sense of accomplishment and pride.

Then write down some hobby ideas that correlate with your list of wants, want nots and likes.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT WHEN CHOOSING A HOBBY

Stress

Remember you are taking on a hobby to help lower your stress level. Don’t take on a hobby that would be stressful for you.

As I stated above, that would be skydiving for me, as an example. Or learning an intrument. Both would stress me out, so I won’t even think about them as something enjoyable for me to do.

It’s really important to take into consideration the level of stress that a hobby has. You don’t want the hobby you choose to add stress to your life rather than helping to lower your stress.

Stimulating

Find something that gets a little harder as time goes on. But not so hard you never have the urge to do anything with the hobby you chose. When your hobby gets a bit harder as time goes on, it stimulates your brain, helping it stay healther.

This is why I don’t quilt. Being very intricate and time consuming; it would not stimulate me. For me quilting takes too long to see results and I’m result oriented, so I have never quilted. However, if this is something you are interested in, see the tons of supplies you can find here.

Your Strengths/Weaknesses

List things that you are good at. What do you have a natural ability for? I don’t like heights, so you will never find me bungee jumping or skydiving. But I’m ok at colors and patterns, so I make jewelry. Jewelry making is fun to me and if it sounds like something you would like, you can see what types of supplies would be needed here.

Two other consideration would be your fitness level and your finances.

Your fitness level could be a weakness or strength, especially if you want to take on something like mountain biking.

One last thing to consider is your finances. You don’t want to take on something that is out of your financial range. Choosing something that is more expensive than your finances can handle will only make it hard for you to continue the hobby. And would just give you more stress.

Think Outside The Box

Luckily, there’s a hobby for everyone and you may want to try some traditional hobbies such as baking, painting, or hiking.

But why not try thinking outside the box. Could you see yourself doing some metal detecting or spelunking (I’ll let you look this one up 😉, find books on it here) Who knows what you could discover with either of these hobbies.

You could explore different neighborhoods and shoppes, or you could try photography. These are all great hobbies, which could get you out of the house and involved with other people.

If you can’t come up with anything that seems interesting to you try some research. You can always look up “hobbies on pinterest, google or YouTube. And don’t forget about “Meet-up” groups.

Google “Meetup Groups,” then enter what you may be interested in and your location. All kinds of groups related to your interest will pop-up. I know because I’ve done this several times. I’ve actually joined a few of the groups and met several people that have become pretty good friends. I’ve looked up dancing, spirituality, hiking and bible study just to mention a few. Find a meetup group here.

FINAL THOUGHTS

As an empty nester or almost empty nester, its good to be intentional with how you spend your time for a while. Or at least, until you can fill some of the newly empty gaps of your time.

And by intentional, I mean focus on you. As your kids are older and needing things from you less and less, its time for you.

In the end, what matters is that you find something you enjoy doing that makes you excited and motivated to get out and/or have fun. Choosing the right hobby gives you a chance to ease your stress, keep your mind and body healthy and bring fun and joy to your life.