I’m concerned about my husband’s mental and physical health.
As the sole breadwinner for our family right now, the stress gets pretty intense at times. It’s not that I want one more item added to his workload. Quite the opposite.
Having a healthy hobby I believe could extend his life.
As adults, I think we lose sight of the importance of hobbies. How could we not?
We spend most of the hours in a week at a job trying to make money. Money is what pays the bills, buys us food to eat, and provides the basics for our families.
By the time the work week comes to an end not a whole lot of time is left for hobbies.
Or is there?
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Hobbies are the leisure our souls crave
I bet when you were a kid you had hobbies.
I had a few myself.
My rock collection was a notable one my mom happily passed down to my kids. I even had a rock tumbler that I used to polish my treasures.
Some of the greatest and busiest people in history had hobbies.
Winston Churchill was one.
In his lifetime he held many honors. Among his titles were soldier, war correspondent, writer, and Prime Minister (twice). He also won the Nobel Prize in Literature.
He was a man of many accomplishments, and yet he made time for hobbies. Most notable was his love of painting, but he loved his walks to feed the fish every day where he lived and enjoyed bricklaying as well.
“The cultivation of a hobby and new forms of interest is a policy of first importance to a public man.” — Winston Churchill
When we start to lose sight of how important it is to integrate leisure into our lives, there’s a small part inside of us that gets a little dimmer.
Hobbies, quite simply, keep us happy.
Hobbies can be good for your mental and physical health
If we aren’t taking time for a little healthy leisure in our lives, what are we working for exactly?
I realize there are some seasons in life that require us to put our heads down and just keep going.
That’s where my husband is right now. He is working hard, trying to get promoted, and supporting our family so we can have what we need. And I love him for that.
But when exactly does any one of us in this same position stop to look up for a little joy?
Retirement? That seems too late and too arrogant to assume.
Hobbies that require some form of physical activity have been associated with reduced stress and reduced blood pressure. Engaging in an activity that requires some active part, keeps our bodies busy and subsequently our minds steady.
Even my own mom and dad have said that the trick to lessening anxiety is keeping the body busy. They are in their 70s, and they are always working on something from managing a garden to re-organizing their home.
Hobbies can also be simple. I asked my husband what hobby he would like to do more.
His answer: Take more walks in the woods alone.
Hobbies don’t always have to require you to spend money. But hey, if you have the means to buy paints, a camera, or bicycling equipment that’s great.
Have an intentional hobby that helps you relax and keeps you focused for pure enjoyment.
Individual hobbies can fuel a relationship
For 14 years of marriage, my husband and I have done most things together including working at the same company and even on the same Brand teams.
We have a lot of common interests — camping in our Airstream, hiking in nature, going to art museums, and traveling to National Parks across the U.S. just to name a few.
It’s not a bad thing.
But there is a benefit to having individual hobbies too.
Individual hobbies allow you to take some time to understand yourself.
I see what writing has done for me on these weekday mornings alone in my home.
It’s therapeutic, and it sparks creativity that I normally wouldn’t get time to explore if I were constantly with my husband and kids.
As much as it’s good to find common interests as a couple, there is also a place for you to individually make time for your hobbies.
It brings a different perspective to the conversation with your partner, and as long as your hobby isn’t dominating all your free time, it can be the alone time you need to recharge for the people you love.
Final Thoughts
Everyone needs a hobby or two in their life.
Right now I see a more urgent need for my husband to make time for some fun and individual interests. Like him and so many other men and women taking on the role of financially supporting their families, hobbies seem like such an afterthought.
But it can’t be.
Not if you want to maintain your mental and physical health long-term.
My role as a partner and spouse is to help him find the time to prioritize his own interests that bring him individual joy.
It’s not just good for him, but it can be good for our relationship too.
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Thank you for taking the time to read and engage with my articles. I truly appreciate your support.
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This post was previously published on medium.com.
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Photo credit: Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash