Having hobbies makes an individual happier

Question

The article claims that having multiple focus areas and hobbies makes an individual happy and improves ones mental health.

Comments

This is a good explanation but it would be stronger if you actually cited your source instead of just saying it's from Harvard.

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I agree with this statement that keeping yourself busy throughout the day with work and hobbies, having a nice balance can help a person's wellbeing. Having hobbies is a distraction from reality and allowing you to relax. However, this doesn't guarantee for all individuals since hobbies tend to be temporary for many people or doesn't help them enough to have a happy healthy lifestyle. This claim needs a bit more research and have more evidence to support the statement as this does have potential just needs more work.

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You make a good point, but I think there’s more to consider. The article says that having multiple hobbies can improve mental health, but it doesn't show that having more hobbies is always better. Some studies suggest that focusing on one passion can provide deeper fulfillment. Also, not everyone will feel happier with many activities—people with anxiety, for example, might feel stressed by too many. It could help to mention how personal preferences or mental health affect this. You did well pulling from a solid source, but adding more nuance could make your point stronger.

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This article is very interesting and has a lot of strong information. Having hobbies gives people a distraction from the stress of everyday life and allows for needed relaxation that is important for overall health.

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I agree with your claim. Personally, whenever I have a new hobby that I like to do, I tend to be more excited and happy each day. While this may depend on the person, having a hobby could help improve happiness. I also found an article that might have more detail about this topic than the one you cited.
https://lifeandhealth.org/lifestyle/how-hobbies-make-you-happier-and-healthier/1411136.html

Answer 1

This claim is true. Not only from personal experience but from reading many articles it is proven that movements and hobbies make a happy life. An article written by Utah State University by Emma Parkhurst, Professional Practice Extension Assistant Professor states says that having hobbies will reduce stress, enhance well-being, improve social connection, decrease depression and anxiety, as well as overall improve mental health. 

Behind the claims that hobbies improve mental health, there was also proven reasoning behind each claim. "One study showed approximately 75% of participants’ cortisol levels (one of the most widely studied hormonal markers of stress) were lowered after making art." the article said. As well as, "hobbies that include physical activity have been linked to many health benefits including reduced stress, reduced blood pressure, and a lower heart rate."

This article also addresses the issue of not having time for hobbies. And being able to make some. Overall this claim is very true, and something you can even prove yourself. Overall, the data provided gives strong context to why this claim is true.

https://extension.usu.edu/mentalhealth/articles/how-hobbies-improve-mental-health 

Answer 2

The claim that having multiple focus areas and hobbies improves an individual's happiness and mental health is well-supported by scientific research and expert opinion. Engaging in hobbies has been linked to a multitude of mental health benefits, including reduced stress, improved mood, and a decrease in symptoms of depression. Utah State Mental health research team commented on this claim and provided evidence of how hobbies do indeed benefit mental health in the ways listed above. https://extension.usu.edu/mentalhealth/articles/how-hobbies-improve-mental-health

Head to Health, a government mental health website, also commented on this claim with similar feedback, highlighting the truthfulness behind this claim. https://www.headtohealth.gov.au/living-well/purposeful-activity

Along with those sources, my personal experiences around improving mental health have fallen on the hobbies and activities I choose to engage in outside of stressful environments. So I can also account for this claim being true due to my own experiences.

Answer 3

Yes according to research published in The Society of Behavioral Medicine, there is a correlation between leisure activities (that is activities one chooses to participate in outside of work) and an increase in self-reported happiness. The Utah State University also affirms this fact, claiming that hobbies can help reduce stress, enhance mental well-being, improve social connection, and overall help to improve mental health. Further, a study published in Psychosom Med showed that people with more enjoyable activities associated with lower blood pressure, and lower cortisol.

Sources: https://www.ucmerced.edu/sites/ucmerced.edu/files/documents/zawadzki-paper-2015.pdf

https://extension.usu.edu/mentalhealth/articles/how-hobbies-improve-mental-health

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2863117/

Answer 4

This is True.

The claim that "Having Hobbies Makes an Individual Happier" is true. I say this is true because it can be backed by many sources of trusted and valuable sources. One source I found that backed this claim was from Dr. Joy Miller. Miller says that statistic prove that people that engage in hobbies feel more in touch with themselves and a better mental health than those who do not. Hobbies help anxiety, depression, ADHD, etc. A hobby can be both stress management as well as socialization because often with hobbies we find community, which is very important for humans - the presence of others whom understand you. Having something you look forward to also allows one to develop a positive outlook and helpful in finding peace.

https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/2011/04/27/doctor-says-hobbies-make-us/46885144007/

Answer 5

I think this is an accurate claim. The article provided by the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care proved to be credible source. I also looked up this claim and found two trustworthy websites that agreed with the claim. From the American Heart Association website, author Laura Williamson provided healthy habits that lead to making an individual happier. Rosalba Hernández, a member of the American Heart Association committee stated, "When you engage in physical activity, you see benefit in the form of emotional well-being. It's a cyclical relationship." Having a healthy active hobby will make you happier. From the Time website the author Angela Haupt interviews happiness experts and John Zelenski, a psychology professor at Carleton University stated, "Spending time with family outside of the house, and with friends in a non-professional setting, were big ones: the majority did both at least once a week, and many gathered socially three to four times a week." This original claim is correct and has sufficient evidence to back it up. 

https://time.com/6241099/daily-habits-happiness-experts/

https://www.heart.org/en/news/2023/03/17/these-healthy-habits-might-also-lead-to-a-happier-life

Answer 6

This is true, from the Harvard Business Review website, Kelsey Alpaio explains why an individual is happier after doing their favorite hobbies. Alpaio mentions that an individual will have few negative emotions and feel less stressed.

In the review website there is the use of studies from the Society of Behavioral Medicine which show that heart rates are much lower from some hobbies that people enjoy. Some of the recommendations include hiking, cooking and coloring.

Lifeandhealth.org suggests similarly that hobbies bring a happiness and inspiration to many human beings. Professor Jaime Kurtz mentions that many humans created the illusion that they are busy all the time, instead they actually have the free time to do whatever they want which will make them happier.

https://hbr.org/2021/10/can-hobbies-actually-make-you-a-better-person

https://lifeandhealth.org/lifestyle/how-hobbies-make-you-happier-and-healthier/1411136.html

Answer 7

This claim is in fact true. First of all, the website the claim was posted on seems very reliable, as it comes from the Australian Government and the website is all about mental health so it seems like a reliable website to have an article about this. Upon doing my own research further, I found an article from lifeandhealth.org. It states that there was a study done that showed people who engage in hobbies enjoy better moods, feel more interested, and have less stress and lower heart rates, even hours after the recreation time. Another article from Web MD states that giving quality time to activities that you enjoy also helps your performance in your professional life. It improves your creative problem-solving abilities and helps you build better relationships with your coworkers and makes you more empathetic. Finally another article from Harvard Business review states that a study suggests that people who take part in leisure activities have fewer negative emotions and are less stressed. All of these websites have reliable backgrounds and further back up the first claim that was made, therefore proving that the first claim is definitely true. 

https://hbr.org/2021/10/can-hobbies-actually-make-you-a-better-person

https://www.webmd.com/balance/health-benefits-of-hobbies

https://lifeandhealth.org/lifestyle/how-hobbies-make-you-happier-and-healthier/1411136.html

Answer 8

Yes, this is true.

According to an article by Head to Health, an Australian mental health resource website, "people with hobbies may be less likely to experience stress, low mood, and depression".

https://www.headtohealth.gov.au/living-well/purposeful-activity#:~:text=Spending%20time%20on%20an%20activity,feel%20happier%20and%20more%20relaxed.

Answer 9

I absolutely agreed with this claim before fact-checking. Admittedly, I assumed I would think it is an opinion piece. 

Once I began the process, I noticed that the primary source is the Australian government- Credible, good start!

Then, I perused Google and found a multitude of articles with the same notion. I found one in particular from Harvard Medical School, which cites 5 different studies across the globe. The research was conducted across the US, Japan, China, and Europe. Results were similar across the board. Newsflash: hobbies are healthy! 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/having-a-hobby-tied-to-happiness-and-well-being

Answer 10

I think this is very true. Engaging in different hobbies and finally finding one you like the best can contribute to your happiness and mental well-being. Positive psychology is the strength and factors that contribute to a fulfilling life, emphasizing on the importance of engaging in diverse interests that can enhance overall life satisfaction this was researched by Martin Seligman at the University of Pennsylvania. Another reason why it is true is because of dopamine release. Participating in activities and hobbies can trigger the release of a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure.  

.https://ppc.sas.upenn.edu/people/martin-ep-seligman

https://research.reading.ac.uk/research-blog/the-science-behind-why-hobbies-can-improve-our-mental-health/#:~:text=When%20we%20take%20part%20in,more%20motivated%20to%20do%20so.