One of things that 2020 has brought many of us, is a new hobby. A lot of people have been spending more time at home and the spare time has allowed them to explore their interests. But whilst a hobby is often a positive thing to take up for your mind and inner-tranquility, it also has an important part to play in self development.
How can it help me?
We all have our interests, but when we explore them, we might find that we also develop other skills. The skills you develop will obviously depend on your hobby of choice, but you may find that your attention to detail, confidence, or public speaking skills improve as a result of your hobby.
What can I do?
We all have different interests, but most things will help to boost your self development. Here’s some examples of hobbies and the additional skills that may come along with them:
- Cooking and trying new recipes (self esteem and confidence)
- Blogging (organisation and networking)
- Photography (technical skills and patience)
- Painting (coordination and expression)
- Embroidery (attention to detail and concentration)
- Hiking (endurance and perseverance)
- Yoga (strength and mindfulness)
- Upcycling (DIY and design)
- Reading (vocabulary and knowledge)
- Podcasting (speaking and research)
- Foraging (resourcefulness and practical skills)
- Boxing (discipline and inner strength)
- Computer gaming (creativity, imagination, problem solving)
Why is it important?
I’m a big believer in self development and whilst you don’t have to become an expert in something new, I don’t think we should ever stop growing, evolving, changing and working on ourselves. So it’s nice to do that through an interest. It’s also a great way of ensuring that we are happy in our home life.
What if my hobby doesn’t boost my self development?
I wouldn’t advise that you choose your hobby based on the skills you’d like to develop. Time is precious and it’s okay to pursue an interest just because you feel like it. However, it’s worth looking at your hobby and giving some thought to the extra skills you’ve developed as a result.
We should all have a hobby
Having a hobby is great for your mind. You can use it as a self-soothing tool and a way of calming your mind. But you shouldn’t ignore the soft skills that you can develop whilst pursuing your interest. Those skills could help you to progress in other areas of your life. At home, in work and in life.
