Hands up if you’re amazing at looking after kids but terrible at taking care of yourself. If you’ve got an arm dangling in the air, you’re not alone. Most parents don’t excel in this area. It’s common, as a mum or dad, to put everyone else first. Of course, this is how it should be, but not all the time. Everyone should embrace a little self-care now and again. The great news is that there are some really simple ways to look after yourself better. One is to take up a hobby. In this article, we’ll discuss all the incredible reasons every busy parent needs a hobby and share some tips to help you make the most of indulging your interests.
Why take up a hobby?
Hobbies are most commonly associated with children and older people, but they’re hugely beneficial for all ages. They come in all guises and cater to a diverse range of interests and passions. There are multiple advantages to having a hobby. Examples include:
Social benefits
How often do you get to hang out with a group of people who have the same interests as you and want to chat about things that don’t revolve around your kids or work? For many of us, social opportunities are limited. Hobbies offer great opportunities to expand your social circle, meet new people, make friends and get to know individuals from different walks of life. Your shared interest gives you common ground and if you commit to weekly or monthly sessions, classes or meetings, you’ll build relationships quickly. Many parents know a lot of people, but sometimes, they don’t have as many close friends as they’d like and relationships are built on quick exchanges at the gates or a brief chat after a baby class. Making friends can have a transformative effect on mental health, especially if you’ve been feeling lonely or more isolated since having kids.
Relaxing and managing stress
In 2023, a United Nations Children’s Fund survey revealed almost half of parents of under 4s felt overwhelmed all or a lot of the time. Raising children can be stressful before you even think about paying bills, running a household, working and looking after other people. One of the key advantages of taking up a hobby is encouraging relaxation and reducing stress.
There are many activities that can help you manage stress and feel calmer and more relaxed. From online games like backgammon that give you a chance to have fun, challenge others, flex your brain power and learn new skills to active pursuits like surfing, playing tennis, netball, hockey or football, swimming, hiking and dancing, taking time out for your interests can make a big difference to your stress levels. Hobbies provide a distraction, a change of focus and the opportunity to escape, even if it’s only for a few minutes. Playing a quick game, going to an exercise class or taking a break to bake a cake, write, or play or listen to music enables you to rest and recharge your batteries while also having fun.
Learning new skills
Parenting is a journey that teaches you something new every single day, but you may also want to learn different types of skills and lessons. Taking up a hobby can help you broaden your horizons and develop new skills. You can enhance cognitive thinking, strategic planning and the ability to think on your feet by playing games like chess, gain new skills by learning a new language or playing a musical instrument, or get your head around the intricacies of taking photographs or baking show-stopping cakes. Having a hobby could also help you increase employability and encourage you to think about alternative career paths. You may discover that you’re a talented chef or decide to set up a side hustle providing amateur photography services, for example.
Taking some ‘me time’
Most parents are in the same boat when it comes to having very little quality time for themselves. If you have young kids, you might not even be able to pop to the loo without your little shadow joining you. If you have older kids, you may not get a minute between pick-ups and drop-offs. Taking up a hobby actively encourages you to take some ‘me time.’ If you manage your diary and set aside time for your interests, you can look forward to a pause in everyday life where you can focus entirely on your hobbies and passions. Even if it’s half an hour or an hour a week, this is an opportunity to do something you love, engage with others or enjoy your own company, relax and take time away from looking after everyone else.
Developing your sense of self
A survey by Peanut showed that a staggering 93% of UK mums feel that they’ve lost their identity since having a child. Bringing up a child is all-consuming and it can come at a price. Many parents feel they lose part of their identity when they welcome a new addition and they struggle to see themselves as more than their child’s mum or dad. It can be difficult to regain confidence and develop other parts of your life and identity when your main focus is a little person, but it is possible. Hobbies are a brilliant way to develop your sense of self. They encourage you to concentrate on your interests and think about what you like to do, how you want to spend your time and what you want to get out of your interests. You can also take advantage of chances to meet people who don’t only know you as somebody’s mum and develop new relationships.
Taking a break
When you tell people you’re having a baby, the most common talking points are tiredness, sleepless nights and never having any time to yourself. As much as being a parent is absolutely wonderful and magical, it is a 24-hour job. Sometimes, there are days that run like clockwork and you can enjoy an evening with your feet up, but often, the schedule can be relentless. Taking breaks isn’t always easy and it doesn’t come naturally to many. If you have a hobby, it can help you prioritise time management, planning and scheduling downtime. Simple things like blocking out an hour on a Wednesday evening to go hiking with a friend or keeping Friday nights free so you can go to a yoga, painting, photography or cooking class, make all the difference. They give you more balance and control over your diary and things to look forward to amid all the thrills and spills of parenting and everyday life at home.
To reap the rewards of having a hobby, it’s crucial to manage your schedule. Try to hone your abilities to say no and prioritise the most important activities, invitations and requests. Treat your personal diary in the same way as your work calendar and don’t be afraid to say no. Many of us feel uncomfortable rejecting invitations or turning down offers, but sometimes, it’s impossible to keep up with everything. Nobody can be in two places at once and we all need time to rest and unwind.
Self-care isn’t always easy when you’re a busy parent. For many people, life can be hectic and everyone else comes first. If you find it hard to take good care of yourself, taking up a hobby is a brilliant way to make self-care a breeze. There are multiple benefits to having a hobby, from improving mental health, having fun and aiding relaxation to encouraging downtime and rest, learning new skills and regaining your identity.
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