Marla Ahlgrimm: Hobbies Are More Than Just Fun

Although we don’t always have enough free time, we should carve out a few hours each week to do something we love. According to Marla Ahlgrimm, hobbies, such as photography, puzzle working, and drawing, are good for your mental health. 

 

Marla Ahlgrimm explains that hobbies allow you to be engaged in something that helps your mind and body relax. Certain hobbies, such as sports and music, stimulate parts of your brain that give you joy. Even something as simple as reading a book or journaling can provide stress relief on the days you need it most. 

If you’re feeling depressed, Marla Ahlgrimm says that hobbies can help with that too. Women, especially, tend to be overworked, overrun, and out of mental fuel. Hobbies can help replenish this by letting you take your mind off of work, kids, and your overall obligations. Importantly, rediscovering a hobby that you once loved can help you reclaim your sense of self, which is so important as we often get so consumed by our identity as a mom, wife, and friend that we lose sight of who we want to be. 

 

Marla Ahlgrimm also explains that hobbies give you a chance to engage with others. You can increase your social connections by joining classes and clubs for your hobby of choice. For example, participating in a painting or exercise class can help you meet and mingle with people who have similar interests as you. This is important as our social networks are crucial to our overall well-being. 

 

Men and women alike who are in recovery for addiction may also find that their hobbies give them a positive outlet, says Marla Ahlgrimm. 

 

Ultimately, Marla Ahlgrimm asserts that it doesn’t matter what kind of hobby you engage in, just that you engage. Giving yourself something to look forward to at the end of a long day or week may be just the mental break you need to keep yourself well from the inside out.