Hobbies and Mental Health

In the fast-paced and demanding world we live in, maintaining good mental health has become an essential aspect of our overall well-being. As stressors and pressures continue to mount, finding effective ways to achieve mindfulness, relaxation, and positive mental health has gained prominence. One such avenue that holds incredible potential is engaging in various hobbies. From gaming and cooking to gardening, sports, art, and music, hobbies offer a diverse range of activities that can profoundly impact our mental well-being.    Mindfulness, the practice of being fully present and engaged in the current moment, has proven to be a potent tool for enhancing mental well-being. Engaging in hobbies provides a natural environment for cultivating mindfulness. Whether you’re meticulously painting a canvas, sculpting clay, or learning to play a musical instrument, the act of focusing on the task at hand allows you to momentarily detach from the worries and distractions of daily life. This immersion in the present moment can break the cycle of rumination, reduce stress, and promote mental clarity.    One of the most well loved and celebrated hobbies is art. Be it painting, drawing or colouring. You do not even need to be an artist to benefit from or enjoy art. Engaging in creative exercises has been shown to decrease levels of cortisol, a chemical in your body that’s released in response to stress. Individuals who encounter emotional trauma or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can utilize art to release emotions, express torment and diminish stress. Making art has also shown to increase dopamine levels. Dopamine is known as the ‘happy hormone’ and is released in your body after partaking in a pleasurable activity and lead to alleviation of depression and anxiety symptoms and the feeling to take part in the pleasurable activity again. This makes it the perfect opportunity to start creating art as a hobby to alleviate any stress in your life. The best part of it is you have all the creative freedom to make whatever you want, helping you engage in self discovery.    This may be a surprising one, videogames have shown to have a huge potential in showing a positive affect on one’s mental health. People suffering from loneliness can play online multiplayer games that can provide a platform for social interaction and combat those feelings of loneliness. There are also many games designed to promote mindfulness, positive mental health and inspiration be it by their gameplay or story. Games like the animal crossing series, life simulators and farming simulators with slow paced open ended gameplay, repetitive tasks and a sense of progression can be soothing and therapeutic. Games such as Journey and Flower with beautiful visuals and calming gameplay can promote a sense of tranquility and connection while helping to reduce stress and anxiety. Strategic and immersive games can stimulate cognitive functions such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity. They offer a unique blend of challenge and entertainment that engages the mind, potentially reducing stress and providing a mental escape.     Gardening is often hailed as a sanctuary for mental well-being. Tending to plants, nurturing them, and watching them thrive provides a deep sense of connection to the natural world. The act of planting, weeding, and cultivating can serve as a form of meditation, allowing individuals to slow down, breathe deeply, and appreciate the beauty of nature. The tangible results of gardening, whether it’s a blooming flower bed or a bountiful harvest, offer a sense of achievement and purpose. Beyond the immediate benefits, the physical exertion involved in gardening releases endorphins, further enhancing mood and reducing stress.    On the topic of physical exertion, exercise and physical activity has shown to decrease levels of depression and stress through the body’s release of endorphins, natural happy chemicals, when its sweats as well as serotonin which is a neurotransmitter that regulates mental health. Being a part of a sports team also decreases feelings of loneliness and helps one make friends, naturally uplifting one’s mood. Focusing energy on playing sports also reduces the risk of substance abuse and other reckless behaviours. Physical activity can also start a domino effect and lead to the improvement of other areas in life that can positively affect your mental health, for example more time is spent oudoors getting the benefits of nature and your quality of sleep is drastically improved, which is also essential for maintaining mental health. Many studies have reported correlations between physical activity and lower levels of anxiety.    In an era where mental health is paramount, hobbies have emerged as a beacon of hope, offering a haven for mindfulness, relaxation, and positive mental well-being. Engaging in creative arts, connecting with nature through gardening, embracing physical activities, and even participating in strategic gaming can all contribute to a healthier mind. By dedicating time to pursuits that bring joy and fulfillment, individuals can carve out essential moments of respite from the demands of modern life. Hobbies are not mere pastimes; they are transformative tools that can empower individuals to cultivate a more balanced and resilient mental state. So, whether you’re strumming a guitar, planting a garden, or immersing yourself in a virtual world, remember that through hobbies, you have the power to nurture your own mental well-being.  

References:

Morris, Abbey. “The Power of Creativity – How Art Can Benefit Mental Health.” Lifeology, 8 June 2022, https://lifeology.io/blog/2022/06/08/how-art-can-benefit-mental-health/

Murphy, Jessica, et al. “Exploring the Association between Sport Participation and Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression in a Sample of Canadian High School Students. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, vol. 15, no. 3, 9 June 2021, pp. 268–287, journals.https://us.humankinetics.com/ Accessed 1 Nov. 2021.

Lin, Rebecca. “The Potential for Video Games to Improve Mental Health Care Access | Department of English.” English.umd.edu, University of maryland, 2021, https://english.umd.edu/research-innovation/journals/interpolations/fall-2021