The start of the new year is a time when many of us resolve to make positive changes in our lives by breaking undesirable habits or adopting healthier ones. According to Forbes, the most popular new year’s resolutions are to improve fitness, finances and mental health (Davis, 2023). While these are all fantastic areas to focus improvement upon, consider committing to trying something new this year. Whether you decide to learn a new skill or pick up a new hobby, “engaging in activities, particularly ones that help you feel connected to something — a mission, community, a belief system — are really valuable for people’s mental health overall” (Mikhail, 2022). Research shows that having a hobby can actually improve your psychological and physical well-being (Pressman, Matthews, Cohen, Martire, Scheier, Baum, & Schulz, 2009). Hobbies can serve as a way to relieve stress, and learning a new skill can boost your self-esteem as your brain starts to develop new neural pathways (Mikhail, 2022). Aside from these benefits, there is also the simple but incredibly valuable reward of experiencing joy and pleasure from a new hobby. Here are some ideas from the Contra Costa County Library and others to help inspire you to start a new hobby this year:
1. Learn how to play a new instrument.
There are numerous free resources for learning music online, and local nonprofit organizations like EPACENTER that provide equitable access to classes and internships in music, dance and creative arts.
2. Start a garden.
Enjoy the sense of pride you get from nurturing a plant from seed to full bloom, or the satisfaction of preparing a delicious meal of home-grown fruits and vegetables. Many communities have community garden programs such as the ones on this list from Incredible Edible Mid-Peninsula, and you can learn gardening techniques from the University of California at the Sunnyvale Teaching and Demo Garden.
3. Brush up on history.
Is there a particular aspect of history that has piqued your interest that you would like to learn more about? Check out your local library for books and other resources that help you take a deep dive into the subject. To learn more about Black history, check out Black Freedom Struggle online.
4. Learn a new language.
Refresh your skills in a language you are already familiar with, or learn a new one. You can access books, audiobooks and other language learning tools through your local library for free.
5. Serve on a nonprofit board.
Use your unique skills and expertise to help shape the strategy and long-term success of a nonprofit organization. Learn more about what board service entails and how you can support a cause you are passionate about at BoardSource.
6. Volunteer.
You can learn a lot about yourself while giving your time and energy to help better your community. Identify a cause and an organization that you care about, and find volunteer opportunities that align with your goals at VolunteerMatch and HandsOn Bay Area.
References:
Contra Costa County Library. (2021, December 13). New Year’s Resolution: Learn Something New. Retrieved from https://ccclib.org/blogs/post/new-years-resolution-learn-something-new/
Davis, Sarah. (2023, December 18). New Year’s Resolutions Statistics 2024. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/new-years-resolutions-statistics/
Mikhail, Alexa. (2022, October 16). The science behind why you need a hobby to boost your brain health and self-esteem. Retrieved from https://fortune.com/well/2022/10/16/hobby-to-boost-your-brain-health-and-self-esteem/
Pressman, S. D., Matthews, K. A., Cohen, S., Martire, L. M., Scheier, M., Baum, A., & Schulz, R. (2009). Association of enjoyable leisure activities with psychological and physical well-being. Psychosomatic medicine, 71(7), 725–732. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181ad7978