Taking Time for Yourself: The Importance of Engaging with your Hobbies for your Mental Health
Do you often feel as if you have no time for hobbies? Does it seem like you never have enough time or energy to try something new? Although hobbies can feel like a waste of time, a waste of money, or even a pain to start, they provide essential benefits for a person's mental health and wellness.
What are hobbies?
A hobby is something a person chooses to do in their leisure time, often involving a skill, and is something that can be used to connect with others. There are many different types of hobbies. Including;
Mental Hobbies: Sudoku, Word Games, Board Games, Playing an Instrument, etc.
Creative Hobbies: Painting, Drawing, Knitting, Music, Photography, etc.
Cultural and Religious Hobbies: Theater, Certain Types of Art, Some Volunteer Work, etc
And so Many More!
Why are Hobbies Important?
Connection
Although hobbies can be solitary activities for those who prefer them, they can also be one of the driving forces that bring people together. It was found that when engaging in a hobby, you are more likely to connect with like-minded individuals, as groups of people who share a hobby typically have similar personality traits. Connecting over hobbies also allows you to create a community of people who share similar interests with you and can introduce you to more activities you might enjoy.
Mental Health
Hobbies are a great way to help your mental health. They are a safe and healthy way to engage in positive and enjoyable activities. Hobbies have been found to help relieve stress, anxiety, and give people emotional relief. Although all hobbies can be beneficial to mental health, creative hobbies are often associated with improved mental well-being. It has even been speculated that creative hobbies are a buffer against depression.
Quality of Life
Numerous studies have been conducted on adults to investigate the impact of hobbies on individuals. When conducting these studies, researchers have found that many people who engage in hobbies experience an overall improved quality of life, especially as they age. Researchers reported that their subjects who participated in hobbies were more social, participated in more activities, and had better memory.
How can you participate in Hobbies?
There are countless ways you can participate in your hobby of choice. That is what makes hobbies so beautiful; if you want to connect with others, you can volunteer at your local garden and meet other gardeners. If you are alone, you can start crocheting at home. If you want to hang out with your family or friends, you can start a new show together or play some board games. However you choose to engage with your hobbies is up to you, but at the end of the day, engaging with hobbies is beneficial in the long run and is an enjoyable way to improve your day!
Cleary, M., Le Lagadec, D., Thapa, D. K., & Kornhaber, R. (2025). Exploring the Impact of Hobbies on Mental Health and Well-Being: A Scoping Review. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2025.2512006.
Scout Gomez
Scout is an undergraduate intern for Flourish Counseling & Wellness. Scout is currently a third-year student at Colorado State University, majoring in psychology and minoring in political science.
She hopes to continue her education in the future in a postgrad setting and eventually wants to become a licensed therapist.
