A hobby is an activity that a person pursues outside of his or her normal job to provide enjoyment. The activity is not carried out for monetary gain, although some people make a living from their hobby. Hobbies can include anything from collecting items to participating in a sport or other activity.
Hobbies have many benefits, including improved health and mental well-being, increased productivity, creativity and social interaction. Hobbies also allow people to build skills that may be useful in future careers, such as learning a new language or sewing. Hobbies can also help to reduce stress. A good example is reading, which has been shown to improve cognition, increase self esteem and even extend life expectancy, according to Harvard Medical School. Another enjoyable creative hobby is jigsaw puzzles. The act of fitting together a puzzle helps to relieve tension and the feeling of accomplishment when completed is hard to beat.
Getting children into hobbies can also be beneficial. Having a hobby gives them something to focus on that isn’t school and can teach them valuable skills like creativity, teamwork and organization. Children’s attention spans can be short, so it is best to introduce them to hobbies that don’t require a lot of expensive equipment or membership fees.
There are a number of different types of hobbies, but some of the most popular are sewing, cooking, woodworking and painting. Some people also enjoy taking part in recreational activities, such as club sports or dancing. People can also turn their hobbies into a business by selling or creating products based on their hobby. When this occurs, the hobby is considered a business and subject to taxes.