A creative hobby - such as crocheting or knitting - not only makes for a fun pastime, it can benefit your health in many ways!
Reduces stress
A hobby can take your mind off the obligations of everyday life. No stress or negative emotions control you. And a nice bonus: the effect lasts for days.
Better performance
Research from San Francisco State University has shown that having a hobby can improve your performance at work. Not only do you learn new skills, but it also helps you think more creatively. Win-win!
Builds confidence
Anyone who often pursues her hobby will find that it gets better and better. You can play just a few more songs on the guitar or become more proficient at crocheting. Time after time you achieve small successes until you reach the point where you can feel confident about what you are doing. How beautiful is that!
Lowers blood pressure
You may not immediately expect it, but your physical health also reaps the benefits of your hobby. In this regard, it doesn't matter what you do, as long as you enjoy it. Research among 1,400 people has shown that engaging in an enjoyable activity leads to lower blood pressure, a healthier BMI, and less cortisol.
Increases Happiness
In 2017, Paul Smeets of the Maastricht University in the Netherlands conducted research on feelings of happiness among six thousand Dutch, Canadian, American, and Danish people. What emerged: although many people think they become happy by watching television in their free time, practicing a hobby or sport provides a much greater feeling of happiness.
Boosts memory
That chess and sudoku can keep your brain healthy are obvious. But did you know that creative hobbies can contribute just as much to a better memory? Using both hands makes your brain work harder. In addition, the chemical dopamine is produced when we do something we enjoy.