Why You Need to Gain New Skills in Your Spare Time

Guest article by Cheryl Conklin | Wellness Central

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New skills will make you smarter, happier and more popular. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Hard to believe? Taking up a hobby challenges your mind and improves your cognitive functions including memory. It also gives you something to do during your spare time to lift your mood. Moreover, it’s a great conversation starter for meeting new people, maybe even a romantic interest.
 
The only question now is what hobby should you choose? Here are a few fun but challenging activities that you can pursue alone or with friends, online or out in the real world, courtesy of Hashtag Positivity.
 
Cooking
Wouldn’t it be nice to have your friends over for a nice meal that you prepared yourself? That means you need to hone your skills in the kitchen while finding some new recipes. Cooking With Egg points out that you’ll soon find it’s a great way to relieve stress as you learn more about cultures around the globe by delving into Asian, Middle Eastern and African cuisines. What’s more, you’re free to choose healthy ingredients and cut calories without losing any of the flavor, and that’s sure to please everyone at the table. To help you get started, here's a great beginner's cooking guide.
 
Music
Chances are you’ve been impressed by someone playing one of your favorite songs on their guitar. You can be that someone, and it isn’t as hard as you think. In fact, there are dozens of places where you can find your own instructor online, but the music maestros at Equipboard have done the legwork and narrowed it down to four that offer the best services. In addition, you’ll get more out of the experience than just talent as playing an instrument has been shown to improve your thinking skills and time management.
 
Languages
Now here’s a hobby that will help you in your career. Not only are companies increasingly looking for bilingual candidates to help them tap foreign markets, they know this hobby gives your brain a boost while enhancing your communication skills overall, which is why it looks so good on a resume. Mandarin and Arabic are growing in popularity despite their high level of difficulty, while Spanish, French and German continue to draw in students of all ages. But you may want to choose based on your own ancestry and begin exploring your heritage.
 
Yoga
This ancient art has gained millions of modern practitioners as it gives the body an effective workout while clearing the mind of worry, stress and anxiety. Its recent rise in popularity has made it easier than ever to learn online or at a studio near your home. Either way, you’ll advance through a series of poses that increase your core strength and flexibility in addition to breathing and meditation techniques for relaxing and gaining control over your negative emotions. The best thing is that once you know the basics, it only takes five minutes a day if you’re busy.
 
Drawing
This doesn’t seem like it would be a major game-changer, but guess again. Besides being able to impress your friends with nifty little doodles on their Christmas cards, you’ll find a fun way to engage the right side of your brain and induce some helpful creative thinking in other areas of your life. It helps you express your emotions and provides an escape from your worries, both of which help reduce stress and find some peace despite the everyday commotion.
 
Dog Training
If Fido would just do what you say, your life would be so much easier. You can make that happen by taking a few lessons in dog training that’ll enhance your relationship with your furry buddy while improving their behavior and keeping them off the couch. It’s a great way to enrich both of your lives at the same time, while learning a skill you could potentially put to use in the future.
 
Monetize It
If you play your cards right, your new hobby can also make you richer. Turning your pastime into a money-making venture won’t be effortless, but if you’re looking for a side gig or full-time job you truly enjoy, it’s worth taking the steps to create your own, official business.
 
Before you get sidetracked designing a logo, printing business cards, and building a website, you’ll want to LLC your business. Many small business owners choose LLCs for the tax advantages and flexibility, and you can register your business online easily and inexpensively. You can also find free and cheap online resources that will walk you through writing a business plan, setting up a business bank account, and securing funding for your new venture.

You’ll start to see the positives once you take your first tentative steps to learning something new. It stretches your brain right off the bat and gives you something to be proud of. Don’t waste another day just watching TV.

Connect with Hashtag Positivity for help enacting positive change in your personal and professional life.

Image via Pixabay.