Were you in on the puzzle craze during lock-down? Did you sit and wonder why all the games cost twice as much as they used to on Amazon, and most of them were out of stock?
It wasn’t just because people were bored. That was part of it, but the other part was the feel-good experiences people get when they participate in a new hobby.
There’s something about finding that last piece of the puzzle or sinking your quarantine buddy’s Battleship that sets the endorphins alight.
I can’t say I get quite the same excitement scrolling social media, or watching a movie that I never really wanted to pay to see in the theatres. Doing things to “kill the time,” truly do only that, kill time.
We only have so much time, and we can never get it back. It’s a commodity and resource that is genuinely non-renewable. How we use it is entirely up to us, and I don’t know about you, but I want to enjoy as much of it as I possibly can.
Your Time=Your Hobby
This is a really awesome concept. People-pleasers might struggle with this a little bit, but let’s give it a go anyways.
Having a hobby isn’t really about anyone else. You get to choose your hobby. It’s not like there’s an expectation that you have to participate in anything specific. It’s almost like the joy of choosing your electives in high school!
Yes, you could be “smart” and choose one that will benefit your future. But as an adult, you really can choose whatever you want!
Have you been wanting to learn how to draw? Flyfish? Play chess? Face painting? Cat bathing?
Whatever it may be, it truly is up to you. It might be completely meaningless to someone else. Whatever it is, it’s something living inside of you that you’ve been wanting to explore and experience.
This is where purpose blossoms. When you start doing activities that are reflective of your inner landscape, you begin to create meaning out of the world that may have been missing in a career that felt lifeless, or relationships that are missing spark.
Life begins to improve in general when you explore different hobbies. Your brain gets stimulated as you learn new ways to move your body and perceive your environment. You start to create!
Now you may say, how is walking dogs at the local animal shelter a way of creation? Well, you’re creating ways to connect with some animals that may have had a challenging life.
Merriam-Webster defines creation as “the act of bringing the world into ordered existence.” Order is a matter of perspective, as some of you might believe when you see another person’s desk.
I had a friend tell me once about how when there’s “order” as she perceives it, she can actually feel space in her brain and she calms down.
Being able to create is a gift to ourselves, and having a hobby is the chance to do that.
Hobbies Create Lasting Connection
“They” say that social media doesn’t create connection, that it might actually create more disconnect in our lives. While I think it has a lot to do with how you use social media to connect with others, a hobby puts you on a similar learning curve with others that creates a bond of discovery.
Let’s say you’re on social media to find a beginner’s writing group. This can bring you together with those that engage fully and you all learn together. That lasting connection is up to you, just as it would be if you’re learning how to paint watercolors at the local rec center.
You may not accidentally splatter someone else’s painting when you flip the brush out of your hand trying to get the “perfect stroke” while online, but it’s some other challenge like this that another participant will relate to.
Being seen in your faults and weaknesses doesn’t typically create shame. We create shame. When we can relate to someone else’s faults, it actually brings us closer. A reminder that we’re all human. And it happens the same way when we celebrate successes!
Hobbies as a way to cultivate Flow States
There are a number of books written on what a flow state is. I’ll try to summarize in a sentence.
Flow is that place where you’re focused on a task that is enough to engage your curiosity and interest, and it’s difficult enough that you almost become it to figure it out and lose all sense of the world around you, including time.
The best of hobbies can do this for you. What happens when you enter flow? How does it make life better when you’re not in it?
Well, those questions are why there are books written on the subject. But here are a few pieces to mull over.
When you’re in flow you’re learning a new skill, or leveling up one you already have. This enhancement gives life more purpose, your brain, heart, and body sync up, you tap into inspiration, and your self-esteem and confidence grow.
I can remember when I started archery how this happened for me. Archery requires a specific level of focus and body awareness that I don’t need for my other hobby of crafting. It’s layering specific elements of posture, breath, sight, and tension to give the arrow its best flight.
You might say that it’s similar to photography, but only in sighting the camera and arrow. When I miss in photography, it may actually be a huge win when we look at the pictures later. When I miss in archery, it’s obvious and there’s no way to edit the image.
When I’m practicing archery, flow comes easily as I focus on one specific technique. Time stands still as my mind and my breath slow down, and the space between the bow and my hands blend together.
Tension meets tension until they are no longer separate, and my exhale meets the release of the arrow. Rinse and repeat. There’s a rhythm and predictability that happens that can soothe my nerves when they feel raw from life.
Being able to do this helps me to be more focused on my family and my work because it becomes a familiar place to be. I can close my eyes and feel what archery does for my body and mind and I change my mental state just by doing that.
Life is more fulfilling, I connect with others more easily, I can work through challenges with more ease and compassion. Finding this hobby and practicing it has been a gift that I gave to myself.
Interested in Photography as a Hobby?
I had someone reach out a bit back wanting to learn how to use her new camera. It was so much fun to support her in that. If you’re thinking that you’d like to learn some tips and tricks, give me a shout and we can book a time for a 1:1 class where I can show you the basics of using your camera and ways to capture awesome pictures.
This is great as a companion gift alongside that new camera if you’ve got someone ready to pick it up. Watch your teen see the world through a lens and create projects that help you see how they experience the world. Or give a parent ready to road-trip around the country in retirement the opportunity to bring you with them through their photography.
You can also send a quick question over email. If it comes up a lot, I can do a quick video and post it. No question is too silly, someone else may be wanting to know the answer too!!
Thanks for joining me today as we explored hobbies to expand your life experiences. I’d love to see images of you doing your favorite hobby or starting a new one!! Add them to the comments, let’s see what everyone is up to!
Cheers!
~Kim
This peek into Kim’s world was brought to you by Emily Kamala. Emily is a freelance writer and life coach who loves to share stories, write blogs, and experience life so fully she has to bring it to life on the page. If you’re interested in reading more of her work, you can visit: www.EmilyKamala.com
Kim Morgan has brought her passion for connecting and telling stories through photography to life. Her ability to put you and your family at ease is so palpable you don’t even realize she’s behind the camera getting those precious moments for you to carry with you many years later. She lives in Colorado with her husband, son, and dog, where they enjoy exploring the mountains and laughing at every opportunity. Her website is KWDesignsPhotography.com to see her amazing work and set up your session