I bet you remember to charge your phone, tablet, computer, or even electric car — but when was the last time you recharged yourself? Recharging includes getting enough sleep, eating healthy meals and snacks, and taking a vacation or sick day when you need it. But it also includes finding time to do a hobby or something that relaxes you, which will reduce your stress and can provide a mental escape. When you do not take time to recharge, you are just like your phone, operating on low power. During COVID we may have had to stop doing some of our favorite stress relieving activities. I know I miss concerts, college football, and movies with my friends. If this is you, or if you have gotten so busy with work or family that you have forgotten to make and take time for yourself, you may have allowed the stress in your life to build. Hobbies provide physical and mental health benefits by giving us an alternative place to focus our time and mental energy, reinvigorating us. Other benefits from hobbies may include:
- A Sense of Accomplishment – You will gain satisfaction by completing a project like a quilt, a painting, a book, or a faster time on your jog or bike ride.
- Build Your Creative Side – Especially for people who cannot be creative at work, having a creative hobby is great for your brain. Studies have found that employees who have creative hobbies are more satisfied with their jobs and are often more creative with work projects too.
- Prevent Burnout and Provide Balance – A hobby may provide fun and something to look forward to after a hard day at work or a stressful time taking care of family members.
- Improved Physical Health and Even Immunity– Studies show that when you engage in enjoyable free time activities you have lower blood pressure and a lower Body Mass Index (or BMI) even if the hobby isn’t necessarily active. Stress weakens the immune system and by recharging you can help keep yourself well.
Children benefit from hobbies too, by having a higher self-esteem, learning patience and social skills, and developing critical thinking skills and creativity. Remember that children who are involved in hobbies are not spending time on negative activities. Encourage younger children to try several activities as hobbies – something physical, something creative, and something mental (geocaching, crafting, music, cooking, or even magic). While some children may consider gaming to be a hobby, promote other hobbies that do not use a screen. Hobbies may be especially important to children who are missing social interaction and organized sports activities right now.
Hobbies provide both physical and mental health benefits to adults and children. In fact, companies report looking for employees who have hobbies. They feel these employees are more balanced, less stressed, and more creative. What hobby is your favorite? Respond with a comment. Personally, I’m a reader, reading is food for my soul. When I miss more than a day or two of reading I may actually tell my family “give me 30 minutes to read, I need it”.
While I wrap up, remember that part of recharging may be talking to someone. This could be a friend, family member, co-worker, counselor, or helpline. One example is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255). This service is available to anyone who needs to talk; you don’t have to be thinking about suicide. Services may also be available from your employer, through your employee assistance program.
Writer: Lisa Barlage, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Ross County, barlage.7@osu.edu.
Reviewers: Laura Stanton, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Warren County, stanton.60@osu.edu and Misty Harmon, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Perry County, harmon.416@osu.edu
Sources:
Cornell Cooperative Extension, http://cceclinton.org/home-family/parent-pages/leisure-time/childrens-hobbies-have-big-payoff.
Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/joop.12064.
Live Healthy Live Well 
I wonder how winter will be being more confined than we are now. So a good thing to remember is your suggestion to recharge, exploring, trying new hobbies. Try calling people who are more confined than you are, who can’t get in a car and go somewhere. My guitar has been silent too long, so I plan to take it out of its case and serenade myself.