Having a Hobby Is More Important Than You Think, According to Health Experts

Reduce Stress and Anxiety

According to licensed psychotherapist Jaclyn Spinelli, tasks that specifically involve the use of your hands (like embroidery or woodworking) activate the brain’s reward system and lower stress hormones. Hobbies in general though are widely known to help reduce stress. “When we do something enjoyable our cortisol levels are lower and our body can relax more easily,” also states mental health professional Michelle Stantial, LPC-A.

Music is another superhero in the world of hobbies. “Music can reduce anxiety, regulate emotions, and stimulate brain regions involved in pleasure and memory,” adds Stantial.

Increases Self-Esteem

According to marriage and family therapist Pat Bathurst, LMFT, hobbies can also give us an increased sense of self-esteem. Mastering a new skill can make us feel good about ourselves and offer purpose.

Spinelli cites journaling as one of the many hobbies, in particular, that can boost self-esteem. “Journaling supports boundary development, emotional clarity, and internal validation, especially for people with a strong inner critic,” she says. “Hobbies give sensitive people a personal boundary—something that’s purely for them, no external validation required.”

Boost Joy and Contentment

“In a world that often rewards productivity over presence, hobbies whisper a different truth,” says Leigh. “You are allowed to do something just because it brings you joy. And joy, it turns out, is essential.”

Engaging in crafts, like drawing or scrapbooking, helps to stimulate the release of serotonin, which contributes to a general sense of well-being. In fact, just putting on your favorite record and dancing, playing or singing along can put a smile on your face. “Even passive listening can reduce stress and elevate mood,” adds Stantial.

Enhance Brain Health

Anyone feeling burned out or suffering from brain fog might want to dive headlong into some favorite hobbies. Notably, puzzle solving—like crosswords, Sudoku, and jigsaw puzzles—is a brain booster in disguise, according to Leigh. “They support neuroplasticity, focus, and memory retention,” she explains.

Stantial adds that hobbies are particularly beneficial for brain health because they challenge us to learn something new.

Increase Moments of Mindfulness and Relaxation

Hobbies invite mindfulness and anchor us in the here and now, explains Leigh. Our brains can get awfully noisy with that insistent internal dialogue, and “tactile hobbies like crochet or painting provide sensory regulation and focus,” she says.

Birdwatching is a perfect example of a hobby that requires presence and provides a break from the mental loop of stress. “A 2022 study in Scientific Reports found that just seeing or hearing birds improves mental wellbeing for hours afterward. It’s simple, it’s soulful, and it reminds us we’re a part of something larger,” says Leigh.

Gardening is another activity that promotes mindfulness. Gardening barefoot can be especially grounding and promote connectedness and a sense of peace. "Research supports that interacting with soil may increase serotonin production due to exposure to Mycobacterium vaccae, a natural antidepressant microbe found in dirt," offers Stantial. "Gardening has also been linked to decreased cortisol levels and improved mood."

Bridge Social Connections

How many times have you sat around a table working on a puzzle with a friend? Hobbies have a way of bringing people together, which can be especially beneficial for those who are prone to isolation or who lack healthy relationships outside of the home, according to Stantial. 

Hobbies allow us to boost our social connections, says Bathurst, which are very important to our overall health. And group-based hobbies, like pickleball leagues or knitting circles, can help us build community. Cooking can also promote social engagement and connection when the kitchen duties or the meal itself are shared.

Process Grief and Trauma

For those working through grief and trauma, hobbies can offer both structure and self-expression, states Stantial. Specifically, creative art hobbies may help process trauma and facilitate healing through nonverbal channels.

“Hobbies can be the bridge between emotional chaos and calm,” says Spinelli. “For many, especially those who’ve spent their lives taking care of others, hobbies are a path back to themselves,” she says.