Feeding Your Soul: The Joys of Pursuing a New Hobby

Self-care involves those things we do to replenish the soul and make life worth living. Self-care is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle, and it’s important to make time for activities that give you joy. A hobby can be a powerfully restorative means of feeding the soul and satisfying those yearnings we have to put off until our responsibilities and obligations have been met. Pursuing a hobby is a creative outlet and a form of self-expression with many mental and physical benefits.

Gardening

People who love making things grow will tell you there’s something therapeutic about gardening, which involves using your hands to dig in the soil and coaxing something fragile into bearing new life. Gardening is a uniquely creative pursuit, the results of which are not only tangible but nourishing. Gardening gets you out in the fresh air and clears your mind of the worries and stresses that take the joy out of living. Start out by growing a mixture of herbs, flowers, and vegetables so you have a garden that truly satisfies your senses. You can even take on bigger projects like sodding your lawn or planting a tree.

Expand Your Culinary Horizons

If you love to cook or are a budding chef, consider branching into new areas. Try your hand at Chinese, Thai, or Vietnamese dishes. It’ll open up new avenues of cultural and cooking exploration. Or, venture into the world of vegetarian cooking. Consider also the benefits of taking a class online or at a local community center where you can meet others who share your love of cooking. Sometimes, a hobby is even more fun when you share it with others.

Learning as a Hobby

People often find they failed to appreciate the value of learning when they were in school working toward a degree, only to find they wish they could turn back the clock and make the

most of the experience. With the advent of online learning and the ready availability (and affordability) of community college courses, you can enjoy learning for its own sake. Take courses just for the fun of it or consider finishing up that degree you started years ago.

Dive Into Your Family History

Genealogy is one of the world’s most popular hobbies, and it has opened the past up to millions of people worldwide. Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.com, World Connect, and other easy-to-use online resources put your family’s history within reach. The cool part of it is that you never know what surprises are in store. People have traced their line of descent back to nobility or royalty, or to famous (or infamous) individuals who are well-known to history. It’s a thoroughly engaging hobby that sharpens your analytical skills. Genealogy can also bring relatives closer together in a shared venture in which they have everything in common.

Music and Dance

Learning to play an instrument gives you a creative outlet that’s unlike any other form of self- expression. Try an instrument that’s always fascinated you, or take up where you left off years ago with those violin or piano lessons. There are plenty of online resources that can get you started the right way and allow you to learn at your own pace. And if playing an instrument isn’t your thing, try your hand (or feet) at dance! Not only does it have wonderful physical benefits, it can also boost your mental health, particularly for seniors, those suffering from depression or other mental health issues, and people overcoming addiction.

Channel Your Inner “Jock”

Why not take up a hobby that helps you stay in shape, lose weight, and feel great? Sports offer the physical and

of exercise and provide ongoing social interaction with friends who might enjoy a round of golf now and then or playing doubles at the local tennis club. Hobbies open us to new experiences and relationships that help keep life interesting and fulfilling. The internet is a powerfully robust resource for learning new skills and discovering fascinating new pursuits you’d never considered before. It’s the ideal place to start if you’re anxious for a new hobby.