by Colleen Langenfeld
Copyright (c) 2004
Everyone needs a hobby.
Do you believe this?
It's true. In fact, the busier a person is, the more
that person really NEEDS a healthy, tension-relieving,
fun way to relax.
For busy women in today's jam-packed society, the
notion of a hobby can sound like a waste of time. Yet
even though we may feel we are too busy to allow ourselves
some well-deserved downtime, we still crave it on the
inside.
Recently on my site, I polled my women visitors about their
use of time. The question was 'Time, time, time! There's
never enough time to...'. The clear winner at 26 percent
amongst the choices offered was 'enjoy my hobby'. The next
choice at 21 percent was 'keep up with the housework.' All
the other choices just trickled in after that.
Hm.
As responsible women we understand our obligations to
others. My question is, do we understand our obligations
to ourselves? How many of us fill all the cups around us
only to find our own is bone dry?
Some symptoms of a lack of self-care may be...
- snapping at the kids (or whoever else happens to
intersect with us at that special moment).
- feeling resentful.
- experiencing undue worry or lethargy.
- just going through the motions.
- the nagging sense that we mustn't quit, because we
know we might not get started again.
- a decrease in time spent on personal grooming.
- an increase in our personal appetites. Smoking,
drinking, eating, television viewing or other
inappropriate/nonproductive behaviors or excesses.
Now I can hear you already. You're saying throwing a
hobby into the fray isn't going to fix all those problems.
You are right. Those challenges are as complex as the
women struggling with them and the solutions are probably
going to be complex as well. However...
According to the Hobby Industry Association (HIA),
60 percent of US households participated in hobbies and
crafts in 2002.
All of those women can't be wrong!
Why should YOU indulge in a regular hobby that you love?
Here are a few reasons to start you pondering...
- Share with your children.
Teach what you enjoy to those you love.
- Spend quality time with friends.
Or better yet, make some new friends by joining a hobby
club.
- Personal renewal.
Hobbyists often comment that they feel refreshed and
revitalized after a hobby session. Could you be more
efficient if you applied your brain to something else
once in awhile?
- You get something productive back for the time you
spend.
Enjoy crafts? Make your own gifts. Like to read?
Knowledge is yours for the taking. Love to garden? Feel
the satisfaction of making things grow.
- A way to 'take ten'.
When the outside pressures turn up, taking a few minutes
to turn to a hobby can help you diffuse the pressure
inside of you and maintain the calm you desire.
- Nurture your creative side.
No matter how you feel about your creativity (or
perceived lack of it), allowing yourself the chance to
practice your God-given creativity can really fill your
cup. You know, the cup you dip into to fill all those
other cups around you.
Ready to do yourself a favor?
Take a walk through a craft store. Or a library. Or ask
a few friends what they enjoy doing for a 'break'.
Think about the things you loved doing as a kid.
Give yourself the chance to 'stay on top' by
'taking a break'.
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Colleen Langenfeld helps working moms build strong
families and careers. Discover simple ways to make
your home and family healthier by visiting
http://www.paintedgold.com and clicking on the
happy kids picture now!