Five Hobbies That Can Improve Your Health

For most of us, our hobbies are an essential component of our personal lives, but did you know they can be good for our mental and physical health too?

- David Railton

Hobbies provide a fulfilling, productive use of our free time, and our core identities are often bound up in the interests we choose to pursue when we are not working, sleeping, or spending time with loved ones.

Of course, most of us take up a hobby because we enjoy it. But, as you’re about to find out, there might be much more to your pastime than the fun factor.

We take a look at five hobbies that could give you a health boost for 2018.

Dancing: A fun form of exercise

Dancing has a whole range of health benefits and it is an easy and accessible way to exercise for most people. Think about it: you don’t need a lot of equipment to dance - just your feet, some tunes, and preferably a friend or two. Dancing is gentle on the body - you can push yourself as hard as you want or settle into a comfortable groove that is just right for you. And anyone can dance!

Even if you are shy of cutting loose on the dancefloor, pretty much everyone enjoys moving their body to music, even if it is just within the comfort of their own home; there is no right or wrong way to dance. Just do whatever feels good to you!

Dancing is a social activity, and we know that keeping active socially is important for general well-being Most importantly, dancing is fun. This is a painfree, energizing workout. But how, specifically, does dancing keep us healthy?

Firstly, dancing is an excellent cardio workout, and we know that cardio workouts help to improve cardiovascular health, increase stamina, and strengthen bones and muscles.

A 2011 Cochrane Review that examined 94 studies involving 9,917 participants also found that dancing at least three times per week seemed to improve balance in the elderly.

This is important because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that every year 2.8 million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries.