Think of your favorite hobby, even if it’s something you haven’t done in a long time, and take a moment to consider how it makes you feel. Now, think back to when you last spent time partaking in your hobby and what your mindset was like. Most likely, it was quite positive and happy. Hobbies can reset your mindset.
When we are focusing on and doing something we genuinely enjoy, our mindset is at ease. During our hectic schedules, it is important to make time for things that we love. This is when our mindset can reset and we can connect with ourselves.
Prioritizing Your Mindset by Making Time for Your Hobbies
Personal time and goals are often the first things we push to the side when we have other commitments for our careers, family, friends, etc. It is so easy for us to say that we will do something another day. The proverbial, “I’ll do it later,” slips off our tongue more often than we realize.
But, when is later? Do we ever really get to it later? Do we find time for ourselves as often as we should? The answer in most cases is probably not.
The effects a hobby has on our mindset are significant. Prioritizing your mindset increases happiness, positivity, and inner balance. And when we focus on something that we love, which is why it’s our chosen hobby, then we bring all of those wonderful things to our mindset.
Pay Attention to Yourself When You Focus On Your Hobbies
Sometimes the things that we love the most are the easiest to not fully pay attention to. When you are present while you are doing your hobby you will notice the benefits it has on you emotionally. And potentially physically, depending on your hobby.
I have several hobbies that I make sure to prioritize for myself at least a few times a week. However, my all-time favorite hobby, and one that I have always made time for over the last couple of decades, is knitting. And sometimes crocheting.
Something about the rhythm of the movement, the challenge, and the outcome of having a wearable piece of clothing that I personally created from strings of yarn made me fall in love with it when I was just out of college. I can get lost in knitting for hours on end.
And on some days I combine my second all-time fave hobby by listening to an audiobook. I won’t get into the debate as to whether or not audiobooks are reading here and now, but I just love getting lost in a good story. Which is super easy to do while knitting!
When I know I need to give myself time to focus on something I love to balance my mindset I make sure I am present in the moment while I am enjoying my favorite thing to do. Other times, I simply let myself get lost in it. But when I turn to my hobby because I need to reset my mindset I make sure to stay in the present moment.
Your Body’s Response to Being Present in a Happy Moment
When you are focusing on something that brings you happiness, you’re in that moment. You aren’t thinking about something that causes stress, or something on your to-do list. Instead, you are being present in the act of happiness.
You’re allowing all of your attention to be filled by something that brings you joy. And at that moment your brain is releasing ‘happy hormones’. Technically, they are serotonin, oxytocin, endorphins, and dopamine.
These chemicals, which I like to refer to as your ‘happy hormones’, help promote positive feelings. And this happens when they travel through your bloodstream after they’ve been produced.
So, while you are spending time on something you love to do, you are literally creating positivity and happiness within your body. I think that’s such an awesome reason to create time for your favorite hobby.
How to Make Time to Reset Your Mindset
I totally get that making time in an already-filled day is not the easiest thing to do. If you follow me, then you know my first suggestion will be to create a morning routine. More on that here.
My next suggestion is to start small. Put aside 10 minutes a day for your hobby. Commit to it. Maybe it’s the 10 minutes before you start making dinner each night. Or 10 minutes before you go to bed. Or you don’t snooze that final snooze in the morning and spend a few minutes before going to work on something you love.
Whenever you decide to commit to a few minutes in your day make sure you commit. That’s the first step – which is usually the toughest. Commit to those few minutes day after day and I know you’ll start to appreciate that time and maybe even try to extend it for a bit longer.
Being present during that time, and focusing on yourself and your thoughts while doing something you love, will bring joy and happiness to you. Give yourself that time, I’m sure you won’t regret it.
Tell me in the comments what your all-time fave hobby is!