It not only has felt like years but actually has been years since we began our pandemic journey. Life has gone on, but some habits have stayed as we settle into our new normal. And perhaps the new hobby you picked up during the early pandemic should help you stay in your routine.

Hobbies are valuable to humans at every stage of their lives. Hobbies not only help us to feel fulfilled in life, but the benefits of taking time out of your week to do something for yourself are astronomical. Your hobby can be as simple as collecting herbal teas, or as involved as sailing across the ocean. And everything in between. Reading, creating a new exercise routine, a new art project, and cooking are all hobbies that are easy to pick up.

If you feel uninspired or have since been too busy to keep up with your new pandemic hobbies, here are a few reasons to start again!

Hobbies help to relieve stress.

Doing something that you enjoy is imperative to stress relief. Also, setting aside time from a busy schedule helps you prioritize the things that fill you up. Taking a moment for yourself, even if it is just to read for 15 minutes at the end of the night, can drastically improve your mood and outlook on life.

Hobbies help to learn new things.

Many of us were lucky enough to realize how a hobby could help us through these trying times. And many of us were able to take the time to learn a new skill. The best part of learning something new besides expanding our brain is that we will carry this information with us for the rest of our lives. And not only will it make us happy when we partake, but this new skill may be helpful in your career as well. The learning possibilities are as endless as the hobbies you can choose from.

Hobbies help you feel good.

If you wake up, go to work, come home, eat, watch tv, then sleep, you may start feeling the pains of everyday doldrums. But if you mix in some new activities after work and on the weekends, you may start to feel more excited about your life. Hobbies can help you feel enthusiastic, confident, and more interested in learning more. They can give you purpose and excitement. 

If you have stopped baking sourdough or knitting, or doing yoga videos at home, it is time to start again! Let this be your push to start doing something for yourself and work some new or old hobbies back into your routine.