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

I believe this to be true, not just from the scientific reasons given from the article, but also in my personal experience. Whenever I don't have anything to do, I feel more and more depressed and my mental health takes a hit, however as something as simple as taking a walk outside can completely reverse this feeling.

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I think this is correct, a person with multiple hobbies can have better mental health, which allows multiple goals in life and makes it easier to achieve a sense of accomplishment.

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Yes, I agree with this article, and so does my research. According to lifeandhealth.org, research states that "hobbies enjoy better moods, feel more interested, and have less stress and lower heart rates." Having hobbies is important. I also went to webMD and it stated research shows that "when you take time to do activities that make you happy, it helps improve mental health". This was improved by a medical doctor.
I Can agree with this as when I'm not doing anything I feel useless rather than going to the gym etc.

.https://www.webmd.com/balance/health-benefits-of-hobbies
https://lifeandhealth.org/lifestyle/how-hobbies-make-you-happier-and-healthier/1411136.html

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You make a great point, and I do 100% agree with you, but if you could cite a source, that would make your argument 10x better.

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Hello! Good answer. I appreciate you citing a source as others failed to do on this prompt. I agree that we can truly feel that this is true, as well as citing evidence as to why.

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This article does make some great points. After doing some on my own research I wanted to add this article at the bottom. Having a hobby that allows your brain to have an outlet relieves 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.

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I completely agree, even without having reviewed the source you included.
The article is also very helpful in regards as to why we need hobbies to keep us happy. Good job!

Answer 1

I think the claim is that having multiple focus areas and hobbies makes an individual happy and improves mental health. Kaiser Permanente shared “4 ways hobbies can boost your health”, it is a well-known healthcare company that wants individuals to be aware that having activities improves health. In their article, it shares “A large-scale study of more than 1.2 million Americans found that people who exercised reported 43% fewer days of poor mental health in the past month than those who didn’t exercise.4 And if you head to the great outdoors for your activity, you don’t have to overexert yourself. Research finds that simply spending 2 hours a week in nature can positively affect your health and well-being.”  This is proving that exercising and movement, aka a hobby, can affect one’s health in a positive way. “One study from the Society of Behavioral Medicine suggests that people who take part in leisure activities have fewer negative emotions and are less stressed. The study even found that our heart rates are literally lower when we engage in our hobbies[…]According to the CDC, going for a walk can help improve your sleep, your thinking, your learning, all while reducing your symptoms of stress and anxiety.” According to sources from the departments of Psychology Sciences and Biobehavioral Health of UC Merced and Penn State, leisure activities make differences in emotions and stress. From another source, it explains how the brain is affected by the hobby that is being completed and enjoyed. “The reason that finding time for hobbies can work has to do with how they affect the reward system in the brain. When we take part in a hobby that we enjoy, chemical messengers in the brain (known as neurotransmitters) are released – such as dopamine, a chemical which helps us feel pleasure. These feel-good chemicals can then make us want to do the hobby again, and feel more motivated to do so.” I think that claim made is true based on these sources and other science research.

https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/southern-california/health-wellness/healtharticle.hobbies-to-boost-health 

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

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

Answer 2

This claim is true.

The article uses statistics to back up their claim. Using statistics is a good way to prove a fact. I also have read multiple articles, and posts that state the same thing. According to "Harvard Business Review," people who have hobbies usually have fewer negative thoughts and less stress. this is a common theme in articles that claim that hobbies make people happier. When googling this topic, there are endless studies and articles that are available from search engines. This is also a topic taught in schools, and I have taken a class at The University of Oregon, that spoke about this topic. I believe through my own experience and research, this claim is true.

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