In an earlier post, we talked about some activities that can help you improve your mental health. Now, here are other hobbies that you can try to improve your life.
Activities to Improve your Life through Physical Health
Weightlifting. Exercising, in general, is good for you. Weightlifting is a type of exercise that focuses on building strength and toning muscles. Any type of exercise that targets muscles increases metabolism and boosts fat loss. It also keeps your bones strong and healthy. Take note, weightlifting is not the same as bodybuilding. Just because you decide to lift weights, doesn’t mean you’ll immediately turn into a muscled juggernaut.
- Running. If lifting heavy weights isn’t exactly up your alley, you can try running instead. Running offers many health benefits. Aside from helping you lose weight, it also improves your cardiovascular fitness by strengthening your heart and lungs. As a weight-bearing exercise, it helps build strong bones and strengthen muscles as well. Lastly, it doesn’t cost a thing as you can run anywhere, at any time, and at any place.
- Get into dancing. Dancing is not only a hobby, but it’s also an exciting activity to help you get fit. There are many styles of dance to choose from. In fact, each style can focus on different areas. For example, ballet develops your strength and flexibility. While belly dancing helps in developing your abs. You can also take up dancing just for the sake of having some fun—ballroom, hip-hop, and tap dance are just a few examples.
Activities to Improve your Life through Spiritual Health
- Yoga is not only an exercise; it is a form of meditation as well. Aside from developing your flexibility and strength, it also perfects your posture. All of these while helping you relax not just your body, but your mind as well. One study even found that consistent yoga practice improved depression by increasing serotonin levels. Yoga helps you negate any negative feelings such as regret, fear, anger, and frustration—things that can cause stress. Since stress plays a role in so many health problems, learning how to relax your mind will keep you healthy and even help you live longer.
Activities for Developing Skills
- Enroll in an art class. Art is the best therapy. Although it’s true that creativity is a gift, art is also a skill. And skills can be learned. Enrolling in any art class can help you develop existing skills, or learn a new one. Some art classes you can consider are:
- Painting
- Photography
- Woodworking
- Flower Arrangement
- Learn to play an instrument. If the visual arts aren’t your area, you can always turn to music. Playing an instrument is also a form of deep meditation. It helps develop your sense of rhythm, and it improves your memory. Aside from that, it also helps build your confidence. The most popular instruments are the guitar and piano. But you shouldn’t limit yourself to these choices as there are countless instruments to choose from.
- Learn some needlework. Learning how to sew isn’t reserved for the quiet, creative types. In fact, it’s a hobby that everyone should consider taking. Sewing is also a skill worth learning. Aside from being a stress-reliever, needlework, in general, helps in improving hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Also, everyone can do it—children and adults alike. You have a lot of options to choose from, too. Types of needlework include:
- Crocheting
- Knitting
- Macramé
- Weaving
- Cross-stitch
