Monday 30 May 2011

Hobbies Help Keep Women Healthy

Many women today are feeling frazzled and overwhelmed with responsibilities, managing jobs, households, families, and a host of other tiny details that can make them feel like pulling out their hair. Women often assume the role of being the caregiver in their homes, whether or not they work full-time. Women usually end up being the ones who buy the groceries, take care of the kids, run the household, do the laundry, and all the other tasks that are necessary just to keep things running smoothly at home. But by spending so much time taking care of others, women often neglect the important task of taking care of themselves.

It may be hard to believe, but if you are a woman, taking up a hobby is one of the best ways you can contribute to your health and happiness. Life may already seem too hectic and too busy for a you to squeeze another thing into your "to do" list - but when you stop to consider how much time you give to other people and obligations, you will suddenly realize that you can find a way to carve out a little time for yourself as well. Many women don’t even consider taking up a hobby until they reach retirement age, but there’s no need to wait, particularly since a hobby can be such a health booster that your retirement years will be happier and you may live longer as a result. Read more on hobbies for women.

The main reason that a hobby is beneficial to health is that it gives you the chance to unburden yourself of the stresses of the day, so you can revitalize your mind and body. Whatever hobby you decide to pursue, remember that while you’re giving your creative side a chance to flourish, you’re also giving your body a chance to relax, refresh, and renew itself, improving your overall health and well-being. When you focus inward - pursuing your own desires and something you personally enjoy - your mind suddenly lets go of the baggage that comes with the outward focus of caring for other people and other things.

Even if you enjoy your job and find your work stimulating, a hobby can offer stimulation and enjoyment you can’t find anywhere else, because you will be tapping into your creative, imaginative side rather than the rational, ordered side of your brain. Everyone has hidden talents, and without exploring them and opening yourself up to discovery, you may never know what those talents are. Only you can figure out what you’re good at, and although most people are born with some degree of talent, everyone needs to practice and hone those skills in order to develop them. You never know what marvels you can create unless you put yourself out there and experiment, discover what your hidden talents are, and then pursue them.

Although a hobby can give you an excellent opportunity to turn your focus inward, it can also provide you with an enjoyable activity you can share with your family and friends. Spending special time enjoying a hobby with others can create cherished memories and establish traditions that will carry on for years. Hobbies can bring people closer and put them on a level playing field, because no one is responsible for taking care of anyone else - the entire focus is on enjoying the hobby on your own terms, and creating your own memories. If the hobby you choose is a creative one, you’ll also have a physical result of your efforts, to give as a gift or to save and treasure.

Finding a hobby shouldn’t be daunting. If you had a hobby years ago and had to abandon it or set it aside because of other demands of life, then it shouldn’t be too hard to pick it up again. Look at the types of activities you’ve always enjoyed, and take them one step further. If you enjoy exercise, for example, then find a local park where you can go for a relaxing walk every morning, or buy a bike to go riding, or find a local yoga studio to take classes. If you enjoy painting, look for a continuing education art class. Ceramics, glass blowing, and sculpture are also good artistic hobbies to explore. If you enjoy music, you can look into learning how to play an instrument, taking dance classes, or attending concerts. There are also many hobbies you can do on your own at home, such as dancing, knitting, sewing, quilting, crochet, needlepoint, macramé, and many others. The only requirement for pursuing these hobbies is being sure you have enough room at home to store your equipment, particularly a sewing machine. The advantage to hobbies you do at home is that you can more easily fit them into your schedule since you don’t have to go anywhere to enjoy them.

There are innumerable types of hobbies available to women - the only limitation is your imagination and your interests, and what you find enjoyable. All you need to remember is that the hobby should fit your lifestyle and accommodate your budget. Once you discover what your ideal hobby is, cast off your reservations and plunge right into releasing your creative side and lowering your stress level. Then when you reach retirement age, you can just find another hobby to pick up!

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