It’s impossible, and unhealthy, to be productive all the time, which is why hobbies are crucial. As human beings, we need to regularly engage in leisurely activities that help us unwind, especially after a long, hard day or week.
But did you know that hobbies are not just entertaining, they also make our brains stronger? Many pastimes have the potential of reshaping the landscape of our neural pathways, fostering adaptability and igniting innovative thinking.
Here, FMT Lifestyle explores six hobbies that effectively blend leisure and learning.
1. Gardening
There’s no nicer sight than a well-kept garden full of colourful flowers and healthy greenery. And research shows that by taking care of your plant friends, you also take care of your mind.
According to a 2019 study, those who perform 20 minutes of low- to moderate-intensity gardening every day exhibit significantly increased levels of brain-nerve growth.
Avid gardeners tend to experience lower levels of stress and anxiety, and increased motivation and confidence. In addition, abiding by regular gardening routines can create soothing rhythms that ease stress and improve mental health.
2. Aerobics
All sports and physical exercise benefit your brain as much as your body. And aerobic activities such as walking, swimming and cycling, can be done without much specialised equipment, fitting easily into any kind of lifestyle.
Research by BMC Public Health has shown that those who engage in regular aerobic exercise have a lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia. This activity also increases the size and functionality of key brain regions, reduces brain inflammation, and increases resistance to oxidative stress.
An added advantage of aerobic exercise is that it often results in improved sleep, which does wonders for both the mind and body.
3. Colouring
It’s probably a given that all kinds of artistic pursuits boost your brain. So let’s turn the spotlight on an oft-overlooked, but just as efficient, form of creative expression: colouring!
Studies have shown that coloring reduces stress in adults. Just 20 minutes or more of this activity daily can be an effective way to lower your heart rate and decrease feelings of anxiety.
Colouring also activates different parts of your brain’s cerebral hemispheres, providing a boost to creativity and logic.
Having to shade in small spaces and colour within the lines further improves one’s motor skills and hones hand-eye coordination.
4. Mental games
Whether it’s Sudoku, checkers, crosswords, jigsaws, or Wordle, there’s nothing as mentally stimulating (or as fun) as these popular games, which offer numerous brain benefits including greater focus, increased vocabulary, improved problem-solving skills, and better memory.
These games may have different rules and styles, but they all have one thing in common: they enhance the brain’s neuroplasticity, or the ability to create new neural connections.
In an International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry study of adults aged between 50 and 93, subjects who did these types of puzzles more than once a day performed best when tested on 10 measures of cognitive function.
5. Knitting
A stitch in time saves nine – and, according to science, boosts your mind, too!
On the surface, knitting may seem like a simple activity, but a 2014 National Library of Medicine study has connected it with improved cognitive function. Scientists at the Mayo Clinic also believe it reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
The activity has also been known to promote mindfulness and help with depression. Its rhythmical, repetitive motions have been linked to increased releases of serotonin, the hormone that regulates mood, learning, and sleep.
6. Playing a musical instrument
Learning a musical instrument engages every area of the brain at once. It has also been linked to higher grey-matter volume and increased neural connections.
Picking up music at an early age has been shown to help students excel at both linear math work (algorithms, equation solving) and mathematical problem-solving (modeling, optimisation, problem research).
And it’s not just the young who can benefit: musical mastery boosts cognitive function and memory, and – according to a five-year study by the New England Journal of Medicine among seniors – has been associated with an overall reduced risk of mental decline.