Having a hobby that we enjoy brings us joy and enriches our lives, but it is easy to forget to take some time out while juggling family commitments with a 9 to 5 job.
As children, we are experts at finding hobbies. But somewhere on the path to adulthood, we stop trying new things and spend less time on our non-career interests. The good news is, it’s not too late.
Short courses are a great way to learn about things you’re actually interested in but don’t have a heap of time to spend doing. Plus it has all sorts of well-documented benefits, from lower levels of stress to an increased sense of belonging and purpose. Here are the top reasons why finding a hobby is actually good for you!
Meet new people. Notably, spending more time on hobbies and leisure pursuits will help you to have a larger and more diverse social network and we all know that a strong social network is a key factor in healthy aging.
Happiness. People who said they participated often in enjoyable activities also had greater life satisfaction and felt their lives had a greater sense of purpose and meaning.
Hobbies force you to take some time for yourself. Hobbies force you to take a break from your day-to-day stresses and carve out time to devote to yourself. The more time you devote to become immersed in your hobby, the more satisfaction and sense of achievement you can get out of it.
Hobbies keep you in better physical health. Physical hobbies can be a great way to keep in shape. Hobbies such as gardening, dancing, and yoga can keep us active without the feeling of an obligatory trip to the gym. Turning exercise into a hobby will also have flow-on effects from increased confidence, increased energy levels and an overall increase in your physical health.
Hobbies increase your confidence and self-esteem. The odds are that if you really enjoy an activity, you are usually pretty good at it. Any activity that you can excel in is an opportunity for you to build your confidence and develop pride in your accomplishments. It is certainly clear that having a healthy, happy mind is linked to having a healthy body so what are you waiting for? If you’re after some inspiration for your next hobby, why not browse Yarraville Community Centre’s full range of short courses? Get hands-on with a range of creative classes at the magnificent, historic building on Francis Street, Yarraville.
“This is an absolutely fabulous community centre that offers a wide range of excellent short courses. The latest one I attended was making Tin Christmas Ornaments! 10/10 amazing!! Fantastic instructors with fantastic facilities. Book a course now, you won’t be disappointed!!” Cathy, short course participant at Yarraville Community Centre.
