{"id":50042,"date":"2025-01-27T03:49:15","date_gmt":"2025-01-27T03:49:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/alternative-medicine\/the-benefits-of-having-a-hobby\/"},"modified":"2025-01-27T03:49:15","modified_gmt":"2025-01-27T03:49:15","slug":"the-benefits-of-having-a-hobby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=50042","title":{"rendered":"The Benefits of Having a Hobby"},"content":{"rendered":"


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In my spare time I like to take pictures. Not just any pictures, but mostly outdoor scenes from nature and awe-inspiring landscapes. I recently bought a new camera and have spent several months reading an expanded manual on how to use its many complicated features. When I travel, I\u2019m armed with a tripod, lenses and a bag full of gear, and constantly scope out the most scenic settings to capture.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>I am also somewhat of a bird nerd, although I\u2019ve gotten a little rusty over the past few years. My binoculars are always handy, and I\u2019m excited to add a new bird to my life list, especially when I\u2019m traveling. I\u2019m also perfectly content to spot the first kinglets to pass through my state in the spring or to note the day when the red-winged blackbirds return to the marsh.<\/p>\n

These are my hobbies, even though I don\u2019t particularly like the word hobby. It sounds like it\u2019s describing something inconsequential that you do to fritter away your time. The origin of the word hobby comes from the term for a farm horse that your ride at your leisure; or hobbyhorse, which is a small wooden toy horse large enough only for children to ride. So not just inconsequential, the word hobby almost sounds childish.<\/p>\n

I actually prefer avocation, which is similar to a hobby as something you do during your free time. It\u2019s a word that\u2019s used in contrast to having a vocation, which describes the work you\u2019re called to do to make a living. The two words seem to be opposites at first\u2014as in work or not work. However they both suggest a calling, having a deeper meaning or even being a part of your identity, except one is your livelihood and the other is not. That said, avocation is a little too fancy when talking about leisure time, so I\u2019ll stick with hobby instead of pastime, diversion, interest or leisure pursuit that my Thesaurus has suggested.<\/p>\n

So why all the back and forth about the word hobby? Because it turns out that having a hobby is important<\/em>. It\u2019s actually good for your physical and\"\"<\/a> mental health. Those hobbies that involve movement, such as keeping a garden, hiking, yoga or a favorite sport are a great way to keep in shape. In fact, research has documented that a physically active hobby can lower your blood pressure, heart rate, waist circumference and BMI (a measure of your body mass).<\/p>\n

However, the effects of a hobby on your mental health and well-being are even more far reaching. Here are a few things to know:<\/p>\n