Developing a hobby can really make you happy

We all have something that we like to do with our spare time, however little time that may be.  We all have some kind of hobby, even if we don’t call it that.  Some people like to make things with their hands; some people like to absorb themselves in a book or collect things. Others may enjoy playing an instrument or taking part in a sports team.  Whatever your pleasure having a hobby can make a big difference to your life.

Where did it come from?

Back in the 18^th century ‘to ride ones hobby horse’ was a term people used when somebody was pursuing a pastime that they enjoyed.  It meant they were pursuing something that would take them nowhere, such as riding a hobbyhorse, purely because they enjoyed the activity.  The term was shortened over the years to become the ‘hobby’ that we know today. We practice a hobby for our own pleasure and nothing else.  They make us happy when we take part or see the end result.

Time out!

The point of a hobby is to give you a break from your everyday life doing an activity you love; perhaps with people you enjoy spending time with.  They are wonderful for helping you relieve stress by giving you a break from reality.  While you are knitting that sweater you concentrate on the pattern, the stitches and your wool; you aren’t thinking about those bills you have to pay and all those family worries you have.  It gives you a chance to recharge your batteries.   At the end of it you also (hopefully) have a lovely sweater that you can proudly wear, or give to a loved one as a present.

That sweater has given you a sense of achievement

That feeling that you produced something of value at the end of your labors is something very few of us get in our working lives anymore, so having that finished product in your hands is proof that you are smart and can achieve something.

Your hobby has no deadline

Your hobby has no restrictions on how long you have to enjoy the activity or for you to complete a task.  A hobby lets you plod, or race, along at your own pace.  It would be no fun if you only had a week to read that book, you would skip bits of the story in order to get finished in time and might miss some of the best parts of the story.  Imagine you are reading a detective novel and in an effort to speed things up you miss out on chapter 3. Then when you come to the detective explaining why the victim was killed it makes no sense to you. That’s because there were vital clues as to who did it in that chapter and you missed it all! Hobbies are there to be enjoyed when you want to enjoy them, for as long as you want to.

Why not take up a book or those knitting needles and take pleasure in the time you have to enjoy your hobby.  There’s a lot of happiness in those hours.

What is your hobby?

Debbie