Have you ever met someone who is always trying out different hobbies and exploring different interests, more or less constantly, and throughout their lives?
On the one hand, society tends to look suspiciously at people who seem to jump from one interest to another haphazardly, without appearing able to focus on any one thing for a prolonged period of time.
On the other hand, however, there are some good reasons why regularly picking up different hobbies – as long as you stick with each one for at least a while – may be very beneficial in a number of ways.
Here are some reasons to regularly pick up different hobbies.
Because it’s good for your mind, especially as you get older
In the book, “The Brain That Changes Itself,” the psychologist Norman Doidge looks at various remarkable stories of the resilience of people’s brains in recovering from trauma.
One fascinating point he investigates that isn’t related to trauma, however, is the way in which having a variety of hobbies, and switching them out for new ones after a while, appears to be deeply protective of the brain and mind as we get older, in particular.
There’s something about constantly learning new things and developing new skills that seems to contribute directly to cognitive flexibility, while at the same time helping us to feel our best, think our best, and maintain our best state of health, too.
Because hobbies can unlock doors for you in life that you never noticed or considered
There are all sorts of different hobbies which, at first glance, may not seem especially “serious,” or which may begin as a mere passing interest, but then develop into something like a fully fledged career down the line.
Looking into topics such as web coding and basic questions like what is JSON, for example, could simply be something you do in order to get a better understanding of putting together and maintaining a basic website, and enhancing your awareness of the structure of the Internet, in general.
At the same time, however, it’s certainly possible that these kinds of hobbies could unlock doors for you in both your personal and professional lives that you had never previously noticed or considered – and may enable you to seize opportunities that you may previously not have been equipped to take.
Because regularly picking up different hobbies can help to reconnect you with a sense of wonder about the world
As a general rule, we all find the world deeply amazing, fascinating, and magical when we are children – and one the most detrimental things that can happen as we age is that we find ourselves becoming increasingly jaded as we settle into our regular routines and habitual patterns.
Regularly picking up different hobbies, however, can help you to continually renew that sense of wonder and enthusiasm about the world, by giving you various things to explore and engage with wholeheartedly.