If you’re looking to try something new, meet new people, get involved in something, or just engage in an activity in your free time, you may be thinking, “Okay, yes, knitting could be fun, but does it actually make me a better person? Will journaling help me improve my day-to-day and quality of life? Can I put this on a resume? Will someone be impressed by this?” Look no further! Hobbies can improve your life and your resume in a variety of ways; keep reading to find out!
Hobbies widen and strengthen your social circle
Through having a hobby, you can meet many like-minded people. Let’s say you’re into knitting and embroidery: you can join an arts and crafts club, or volunteer with kids or a long-term care home helping with arts and crafts. You’ll be meeting potential new friends, or just spending time interacting with all different kinds of people, which helps build your social and people skills. If cooking is your hobby, you can try giving some of your creations to friends and family. They’ll definitely appreciate the thoughtful fruits of your efforts!
Hobbies Help You Become A More Well-rounded Person
Hobbies make you more interesting—and an interesting person is a fun person! Through your hobbies, you are gaining experiences and stories you can share with the people in your life.
Listing some hobbies you have on your resume can also set you apart from other candidates and may catch a potential employer’s or admissions committee’s eye. They demonstrate that you are interested in a variety of things, have multiple skills, and that you have discipline. You wouldn’t continue doing your hobby if you didn’t like it and if you didn’t have discipline! If you choose to volunteer through a hobby, it’s a great thing to list on your resume too, as it shows that you are helping others through a common interest, and are part of something bigger than yourself.
Hobbies are an outlet to channel your stress
Sometimes you just need a break from work or school, and focusing on something non-stressful can help you relax and unwind as you are engaged in something you enjoy. If you can give yourself an hour of “out of sight, out of mind” of your daily life stresses, you will be able to manage your stress better and not become overwhelmed. Bonus points if your hobby is a sport or going to the gym, as you are also staying healthy and improving your fitness!
Hobbies to try
- Playing an instrument
- Knitting or embroidery
- Journaling
- Painting
- Photography
- Drawing
- Gardening
- Cooking
- Board games
- Hiking
There are many more examples of hobbies, so try one out! Maybe you’ll make some new friends or de-stress before a big exam, and you’ll definitely feel more confident in yourself and enriched, which are some key ways to being a better person overall.
And if you already have many hobbies, stick with them. Keep trying new things, putting yourself out there, and gaining more life experience through them. You might feel like you can can conquer the world, so why stop there?