Knitting, painting, pottery, gardening…..it can feel relentless. Everyone is doing something and often encouraging you to try it. All the while, you feel like you can barely stay above water managing the basics of life. I get it. I certainly have been there. Careers, child care, house cleaning and cooking, and basic exercise so your body does not fall apart can easily occupy more than 24 hours a day. With all these demands and limited time and energy, adding a hobby may feel ridiculous. However, I argue hobbies matter. They matter especially for women.
How Can a Hobby Benefit a Woman
As a woman, you are most likely pulled in about 7800 directions. Am I right? There is work, house, family, and community obligations. Even women who are child free can have a lot of caretaking responsibilities. They may be the on-call aunt or tending to aging parents. Regardless, women are usually doing all the things. Moreover, women tend to acquiesce more to societal expectations than men. This means that instead of pursuing something professionally that really interests them, women are more likely to follow a more practical or expected path. For example, I actually have a degree in Ecology and Evolution but my family discouraged me from following that route as it was so untraditional and unpredictable.
It is, precisely for all these reasons, hobbies benefit women. It is a chance to develop that part or yourself that got lost behind in all these responsibilities and expectations. When we access those areas, it helps our brain, heart, and overall health. We literally strengthen neural pathways when we learn new skills. This is important for on-going brain development. By heart, I mean our emotional health. Engaging in something we enjoy release’s all sorts of feel good chemicals. Additionally, so many aspects of our lives are out of our control. Hobbies are something we can control as much or as little as we want to. Some hobbies also give you a tangible product at the end (i.e. knitting). This can be calming when so many aspects of our work and life do not yield that. Prioritizing ourselves and setting healthy boundaries to have the space and time to do the hobby actually enhances our relationships. It fortifies us for all the roles we fill.
How To Pick a Hobby
It is tempting to just go along with something your friends suggest. However, that could easily backfire and feel more like a chore. This is where mindfulness comes in. Mindfulness is simply non judgmental noticing. Start observing how you feel in certain settings or around certain animals or people. That is a great clue of things that interest you. For example, how do you feel when you are in a museum, around dogs, or in a garden? If any of these make you feel “at home”, then that is the path to follow. Additionally, think of things you enjoyed as a child. Were you the one that loved putting on plays? Maybe an acting class is the way to go? Take a playful approach! This is a non-striving activity. The goal is not to be the best or make it a second career. Instead, think of it as growing slowly and softly.
Be gentle with yourself. Start by simply sticking a toe in (i.e sign up for an art history lecture at the museum, visit a SPCA, buy a plant). Then, using mindfulness, again, proceed in a way that feels fueling, not draining. This may mean volunteering once a month at the SPCA or taking a class at the museum. The key is to always be checking in with yourself about what is working for you.
Some Ideas For Women in the Baltimore Area and Beyond
Art
If you are interested in learning more about art, The Baltimore Museum of Art or the Walters have some great events to try. If actually doing art is your thing, then check out Baltimore Clayworks.
Nature
I can speak endlessly about the benefits of being in nature! We, actually, are nature. Therefore getting more immersed in it is so healthy and healing. I digress….
Oregon Ridge Nature Council hosts lots of events for all ages. So does Lake Roland Park. Irvine Nature Center is terrific and close to those who live in the Pikesville. Reisterstown area. If you live in Howard County, MD then check out Robinson Nature Center.
Hand Crafts
Black Sheep Yarn is a local knitting shop (Timonium area) with lots of classes. If sewing is more your thing, check out Domesticity . For those residing outside of Maryland, Michaels has tons of classes on lots of different crafts.
You may feel way too overwhelmed with general life to start a hobby. However, delving into a new interest and developing that part of yourself offers myriad benefits. There are so many options. Check in with yourself, try something that resonates with you. Then pursue gently and observe how it makes you feel.
About the author: Sharon P. Fisher, MS, PMHNP-BC is the founder of Nurtured Well LLC , a boutique women’s mental health clinic in Towson, MD. She has pursued numerous hobbies from knitting to kayaking to gardening.
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