When I was younger I had many hobbies. Singing, playing instruments, musical theatre, reading, writing, camping, cooking, etc. I thought about this today as I walked into a bookstore and decided to pick up a book to read for the first time in far too long. It also made me realize how I have completely neglected many of the hobbies and passions that I once treasured as I have grown older. As a kid, I would spend hours with my nose in a book, completely enthralled to the point where I could finish novels in no more than one or two days. Now, most of the reading that I do are for classes or research, but I almost never read just for enjoyment anymore. Most of the things that I truly enjoyed doing and had passions for as a kid, I rarely even think about anymore. I sometimes wonder if this is part of the reason why sometimes, life as an adult can feel slightly mundane, and how life will only get busier from here on out.
Pexels
This is part of the reason why I have been trying to engage with the things that I truly enjoy doing again. Our life as students often passes us by so quickly, a lot of it filled with stress, and finding passion in the things that I love again may be the key to truly making the most of my time as an undergraduate student. Studies have shown that engaging in hobbies made participants less susceptible to fatigue, low blood pressure and cortisol (the stress hormone), waist circumference and higher levels of psychosocial states. Scientists have even said that it doesn’t matter what the hobby is, but if it is something that an individual truly enjoys, doing it will produce these positive effects. It helps people to step outside of their worlds of work and stress and instead focus on something they truly enjoy doing. It gives more purpose to our lives as we can engage in something that we genuinely look forward to doing, instead of aimlessly scrolling on Instagram for hours without a second thought.
Pexels
Personally, I find that I am the most stress free when doing things like cooking or baking with my housemate, taking a walk outside with my dog on a sunny day, reading a book or doing embroidery. I have been trying to rediscover the things that I was passionate about as a kid and re-engage with those activities in order to bring some purpose and joy back in to my life. I think that this is so important, as life only gets more stressful as you get older and having a hobby can be an amazing outlet to help you reduce stress. I want to continue trying to get involved with the things I used to love, and maybe even find some new things I truly enjoy on this journey. Overall health is does not only involve physical health, it involves mental health too! I encourage everyone to do at least one thing that they truly love today, it will only benefit you!
Pexels