Happy Hobbyist
Words by Katherine C. Eustaquio
Published in Action & Fitness Magazine March 2009 issue
Everyone has a hobby—may it be as simple and old-fashioned as collecting bottle caps, seashells, and stamps or as intellectually stimulating as reading and writing.
If the mere thought of doing those makes you yawn, think again. Studies have shown that people with hobbies are generally healthier and have more active brains and imaginations compared to those who spend the bigger chunk of the day watching television.
So don’t dispose of your 10-year-old candy wrapper collection just yet! You may not know it, but it gives you way more benefits than you care to imagine.
BENEFITS OF HAVING A HOBBY
Graphic designer Joriben Zaballa has been collecting toys since 2006. Highly influenced by his peers in the advertising industry, his toy collection is comprised of Transformers robots, Marvel Legends action figures, and yes, even Happy Meal collectibles.
“I collect toys for inspirational purposes,” said Joriben. “For someone like me who works in the design industry, I need a dose of creative inspiration every day. Toys revolve around the theme of fantasy, so they help widen my imagination.”
True enough, his work area is jam-packed with an impressive assortment of action figures, each one with a unique story as to how he acquired it. But unlike other die-hard toy collectors, Joriben doesn’t give in to impulse buying. Rather, he would try to obtain certain items when they go on sale or whenever there’s a limited edition model that is just too good to pass up.
While you can get some items for half the price, there are those collections that are a right from the start.
Graphic designer and street dance instructor, Jeff Cordova, has a passion for Nike and Adidas sneakers, and not just your everyday straight-from-the-rack footwear, mind you. He goes for the rare and hard-to-find collector’s items. “I buy most of the shoes on eBay,” said Jeff. “Or whenever I go out of the country, I usually have a new pair when I come back. I’ve always liked shoes since I was a child. My shoe collection gives me a sense of satisfaction.”
Others find toys and shoes quite extravagant to collect but it remains true that having any kind of collection brings about a sense of satisfaction, pride, and more positive things that you can actually imagine.
A Hobby a Day, Keeps Alzheimer’s Far Away
Another American study found out that adults with intellectually challenging hobbies such as reading, writing, and playing mind games, are 2.5 times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease—a degenerative disease that affects one's memory and reasoning abilities.
“Intellectual stimulation in early and middle adulthood does not absolutely protect against Alzheimer's in late adulthood,” says Dr. Robert P. Friedland, an associate professor of neurology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, “but the activities could delay the disease for years.” He adds that the brain ages as to how it is used. So while physical activities strengthen the heart, bones, and muscles, intellectual activities fortify the brain. Friedland’s co-author Dr. Zaven Khachaturian, a senior medical adviser to the Alzheimer's Association, adds that brain-challenging pastimes build a reserve of neuron connections. This reserve helps delay Alzheimer’s progress.
Daily Tinkering Offers Quiet Time and Introspection
We all live by the clock and some of us eat meetings and rush projects for breakfast. Regardless of industry, we all live in a fast-paced world where 24 hours are, in truth and in fact, inadequate for all the things we have and want to do.
For an average workaholic, staring into space for 30 minutes is a total waste of valuable time that could be spent doing something productive—which is why for them, quiet time happens only between yawning and sleeping.
For your own sanity, however, we need to take periodic rests during the day. Having a hobby relaxes the mind, improves memory, and reduces stress. Tinkering with you stamp collection or reading a chapter from your favorite paperback can serve as your daily stress reliever.
Hobbies Reveal your Passion and Improve your Creativity
Hobbies are great outlets for individual creativity as they reveal the things you are most passionate about. May it be painting, writing, cooking, and even scrap booking. Hobbies offer ample opportunities to continuously develop your craft.
Hobbies are Great Networking Tools
Mentioning a hobby to an acquaintance is a sure way to get a conversation going. For some people, their collection has become their status symbol in their circles. If you’re a car enthusiast, automobile shows are cool opportunities to meet prospective business partners and make new friends. You might even discover far more interesting past times in the process.
Exercise for Your Body
Any form of physical activity has positive benefits to your overall health. Hobbies such as playing tennis or going to the gym keep the body in tip top shape.
THE BEST KINDS OF HOBBIES
Photography
Sure, anyone can hold a camera and take snapshots of people, things, and places, but not everyone can make everyday photos look like a real work of art. You need to develop your “photographer's eye” in order to capture the beauty of what otherwise looks ordinary to others.
Indoor or outdoor photography, it really doesn’t matter. Take you camera with you and click away. You can even post your works online and have your friends comment on them. Who knows, you might even land a gig as a freelance photographer and rake in extra dough.
Get Crafty
Get your hands busy with painting, making homemade soaps and candles, or stringing together fancy jewelry. You’ll have a blast creating little knick knacks for your family and friends. Better yet, why not make your crafty hobby a money-making venture? Sell your products online, accept made-to-order pieces, and swap ideas with fellow hobbyists.
Writing
Yes, writing is a good way to spend your idle time. Now, we don’t have to hear a play-by-play of your recent breakup or the traffic in EDSA (well, that really depends on what you want to write anyway), but writing about the things you’re passionate about is a good opportunity to exercise your mind--and grammar too.
Write about that new restaurant in front of your office, that predictable move you saw last week, or that hideous gown Beyoncé Knowles wore at the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards. Writing about random things is an excellent way to put your thoughts on paper.
Sports
Whether it’s lawn tennis or figure skating, getting into sports is a fun way to keep your body in motion. Instead of bar-hoping after work, talk your officemates into playing badminton at the nearest court. Getting sporty is a sexy life-after-five activity.
Volunteer Work
Becoming a volunteer gives you a chance to give something back to your community. Round up your friends and take turns in working at the local hospital or senior citizens’ home. Visit the local library and see if there are any outreach literacy programs you can join. Volunteering your time and service is a rewarding pastime to pursue.
Gardening
If your 9-to-5 job in the concrete jungle is giving you migraines, gardening can be one of your stress-relievers. Whether you have a windowsill full of potted plants or a small patio to decorate, have fun picking your favorite blooms and creating a little green patch that will cheer you up when you get home.
Published in Action & Fitness Magazine March 2009 issue
Everyone has a hobby—may it be as simple and old-fashioned as collecting bottle caps, seashells, and stamps or as intellectually stimulating as reading and writing.
If the mere thought of doing those makes you yawn, think again. Studies have shown that people with hobbies are generally healthier and have more active brains and imaginations compared to those who spend the bigger chunk of the day watching television.
So don’t dispose of your 10-year-old candy wrapper collection just yet! You may not know it, but it gives you way more benefits than you care to imagine.
BENEFITS OF HAVING A HOBBY
Graphic designer Joriben Zaballa has been collecting toys since 2006. Highly influenced by his peers in the advertising industry, his toy collection is comprised of Transformers robots, Marvel Legends action figures, and yes, even Happy Meal collectibles.
“I collect toys for inspirational purposes,” said Joriben. “For someone like me who works in the design industry, I need a dose of creative inspiration every day. Toys revolve around the theme of fantasy, so they help widen my imagination.”
True enough, his work area is jam-packed with an impressive assortment of action figures, each one with a unique story as to how he acquired it. But unlike other die-hard toy collectors, Joriben doesn’t give in to impulse buying. Rather, he would try to obtain certain items when they go on sale or whenever there’s a limited edition model that is just too good to pass up.
While you can get some items for half the price, there are those collections that are a right from the start.
Graphic designer and street dance instructor, Jeff Cordova, has a passion for Nike and Adidas sneakers, and not just your everyday straight-from-the-rack footwear, mind you. He goes for the rare and hard-to-find collector’s items. “I buy most of the shoes on eBay,” said Jeff. “Or whenever I go out of the country, I usually have a new pair when I come back. I’ve always liked shoes since I was a child. My shoe collection gives me a sense of satisfaction.”
Others find toys and shoes quite extravagant to collect but it remains true that having any kind of collection brings about a sense of satisfaction, pride, and more positive things that you can actually imagine.
A Hobby a Day, Keeps Alzheimer’s Far Away
Another American study found out that adults with intellectually challenging hobbies such as reading, writing, and playing mind games, are 2.5 times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease—a degenerative disease that affects one's memory and reasoning abilities.
“Intellectual stimulation in early and middle adulthood does not absolutely protect against Alzheimer's in late adulthood,” says Dr. Robert P. Friedland, an associate professor of neurology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, “but the activities could delay the disease for years.” He adds that the brain ages as to how it is used. So while physical activities strengthen the heart, bones, and muscles, intellectual activities fortify the brain. Friedland’s co-author Dr. Zaven Khachaturian, a senior medical adviser to the Alzheimer's Association, adds that brain-challenging pastimes build a reserve of neuron connections. This reserve helps delay Alzheimer’s progress.
Daily Tinkering Offers Quiet Time and Introspection
We all live by the clock and some of us eat meetings and rush projects for breakfast. Regardless of industry, we all live in a fast-paced world where 24 hours are, in truth and in fact, inadequate for all the things we have and want to do.
For an average workaholic, staring into space for 30 minutes is a total waste of valuable time that could be spent doing something productive—which is why for them, quiet time happens only between yawning and sleeping.
For your own sanity, however, we need to take periodic rests during the day. Having a hobby relaxes the mind, improves memory, and reduces stress. Tinkering with you stamp collection or reading a chapter from your favorite paperback can serve as your daily stress reliever.
Hobbies Reveal your Passion and Improve your Creativity
Hobbies are great outlets for individual creativity as they reveal the things you are most passionate about. May it be painting, writing, cooking, and even scrap booking. Hobbies offer ample opportunities to continuously develop your craft.
Hobbies are Great Networking Tools
Mentioning a hobby to an acquaintance is a sure way to get a conversation going. For some people, their collection has become their status symbol in their circles. If you’re a car enthusiast, automobile shows are cool opportunities to meet prospective business partners and make new friends. You might even discover far more interesting past times in the process.
Exercise for Your Body
Any form of physical activity has positive benefits to your overall health. Hobbies such as playing tennis or going to the gym keep the body in tip top shape.
THE BEST KINDS OF HOBBIES
Photography
Sure, anyone can hold a camera and take snapshots of people, things, and places, but not everyone can make everyday photos look like a real work of art. You need to develop your “photographer's eye” in order to capture the beauty of what otherwise looks ordinary to others.
Indoor or outdoor photography, it really doesn’t matter. Take you camera with you and click away. You can even post your works online and have your friends comment on them. Who knows, you might even land a gig as a freelance photographer and rake in extra dough.
Get Crafty
Get your hands busy with painting, making homemade soaps and candles, or stringing together fancy jewelry. You’ll have a blast creating little knick knacks for your family and friends. Better yet, why not make your crafty hobby a money-making venture? Sell your products online, accept made-to-order pieces, and swap ideas with fellow hobbyists.
Writing
Yes, writing is a good way to spend your idle time. Now, we don’t have to hear a play-by-play of your recent breakup or the traffic in EDSA (well, that really depends on what you want to write anyway), but writing about the things you’re passionate about is a good opportunity to exercise your mind--and grammar too.
Write about that new restaurant in front of your office, that predictable move you saw last week, or that hideous gown Beyoncé Knowles wore at the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards. Writing about random things is an excellent way to put your thoughts on paper.
Sports
Whether it’s lawn tennis or figure skating, getting into sports is a fun way to keep your body in motion. Instead of bar-hoping after work, talk your officemates into playing badminton at the nearest court. Getting sporty is a sexy life-after-five activity.
Volunteer Work
Becoming a volunteer gives you a chance to give something back to your community. Round up your friends and take turns in working at the local hospital or senior citizens’ home. Visit the local library and see if there are any outreach literacy programs you can join. Volunteering your time and service is a rewarding pastime to pursue.
Gardening
If your 9-to-5 job in the concrete jungle is giving you migraines, gardening can be one of your stress-relievers. Whether you have a windowsill full of potted plants or a small patio to decorate, have fun picking your favorite blooms and creating a little green patch that will cheer you up when you get home.
