Research suggests that having a hobby can improve your mental well-being, boost happiness and lower the risk of physical health symptoms. Being a mum means life is busy, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to benefit from taking up a new hobby. In this guide, we’ll discuss the advantages of making time for our interests and outline some great ideas for new hobbies for mums on the go.
Exercise and sports
Being more active is one of the most common New Year’s resolutions, but it’s also one that gets broken quickly. Keeping up with a new workout regime isn’t always easy, especially if you have a hectic schedule and you’re spinning multiple plates. For many mums, a lack of time is the main barrier. Between work, school runs, getting kids ready for bed and preparing for the next morning, it’s tough to find the time to exercise.
The best ways to overcome hurdles and make time for physical activity include doing short sessions of intense exercise, making the most of evenings and weekends, working out with your kids, doing exercise at home and finding classes or groups that fit around your commitments. Boxing, HIIT and spin classes, high-energy dance classes, running and sports like padel, squash and tennis are great examples of exercise you can enjoy in short bursts to get an intense workout. You can also stream workouts or buy gym equipment to work out at home. Turning exercise into a social activity is a brilliant way to make it more fun and kill two birds with one stone. If you don’t see friends as much as you’d like, why not go to a yoga class together, schedule weekend walks and family bike rides or go for a run?
Active hobbies offer an array of benefits for your body and mind. Whether you join the gym, try team sports, take up fencing or learn to dance, you can boost your mental and physical health. Regular exercise reduces the risk of depression, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer. It’s also an incredibly powerful stress-buster and mood-booster.
Games
If you’re looking for a hobby that will fit seamlessly into a packed diary, search no further. Playing games and puzzles is a fantastic choice for mums who want to devote time to activities that help them relax, focus, de-stress and enjoy new challenges and adventures. From popular word games like Wordle that test your grey matter and enable you to flex your language and problem-solving skills to video games that catapult you to fantasy lands, there’s something for every player. You can choose games based on your preferences, the time you have available, the type of challenge or experience you want and your mood.
Gaming is often seen as a solitary activity, but it offers brilliant opportunities to socialise and make friends. You can play against people you know, join forums, groups and communities, or take on strangers who could later become friends. For mums, joining groups can be a simple, accessible way to meet others and prevent loneliness.
Creative activities
Being creative can be incredibly freeing, especially if your job doesn’t allow you to express yourself or stray from rigid rules and regimented tasks. Hobbies such as painting, drawing, pottery and photography provide an outlet to channel your thoughts and feelings, but they can also be great fun and a means of learning new skills and discovering hidden talents.
It’s easy to pick up creative hobbies and you don’t need to be a talented artist or photographer to reap the rewards of indulging your interests. You can get started at home with minimal effort, but it’s also a good idea to explore options like joining local groups, taking classes or doing a course. It’s also increasingly popular for venues like restaurants, cafés, pottery cafés and bars to host events that encourage creativity as part of a dining or entertainment experience, such as painting workshops that include drinks or dinner or brunches that involve making plates or cups. These are excellent options if you’d like to make more time for creativity, spend more time with friends or meet new people.
Gardening
Gardening is an underrated habit, especially among younger people. If you enjoy being outside, you crave downtime and tranquillity and you love the idea of creating an outdoor oasis at home, gardening is an ingenious choice. If you make time for gardening in your schedule, you can spend time in nature, embrace peace and quiet and help to design a space that your family can enjoy.
If you’re not naturally green-fingered, or you have limited horticultural expertise, you can develop your skills and expand your knowledge base by reading books and online guides, following planting tutorials, getting tips and ideas from TV shows and social media and attending courses and workshops.
Outdoor pursuits
We often associate outdoor pursuits with intrepid adults or teens setting out on voyages of discovery to get badges or certificates. The truth is that participating in outdoor activities is beneficial for all ages. There are all kinds of hobbies and activities you can enjoy in the great outdoors. You don’t need to be an experienced hiker or expert cyclist to benefit from spending time outside, enjoying amazing views and getting your body moving.
Studies show that being in nature has a soothing, calming and uplifting effect on your mood. Being active can also help you lower your risk of a host of health issues, from cardiovascular disease to osteoporosis. Examples of outdoor activities you could try include kayaking, open-water swimming, rock climbing, hiking, paddleboarding, mountain biking, trail running, fishing, sailing and al fresco Pilates.
Having a hobby is one of the simplest but most effective ways to give your mental health a boost. If you’re a busy mum, you may be worried that you don’t have time to explore new interests or indulge your passions. Finding time to do things for yourself and nourish your health and well-being is important. Ideas of hobbies you can incorporate in your schedule include yoga, exercise classes, running clubs, team sports, painting, photography, drawing, pottery, playing games, doing puzzles, gardening, hiking, cycling, kayaking and open-water swimming.