Hobbies are Important for Milspouses

By Anna Ball

As a milspouse, I know the importance of having something that brings me joy. With all the uncertainty of life, I know that there is something out there that I’m able to do and control. The one thing that I’m able to choose for myself and no one gets any say in. If you’re wondering what that thing is, it’s a hobby – and hobbies are important for Milspouses

For me, it’s miniature painting, streaming online, gaming, and model building. The ones I engage in with my spouse include watching movies, browsing bookstores, and getting coffee. While it’s good for a relationship to do things with your spouse, it’s also important to have hobbies that you do alone or even with other spouses that brings you joy and relaxation.

You never know when your spouse is going on a TDY or deployment or when they’re going to have to do weird shift work that requires them to work on the weekend. Sometimes you’re going to be alone and it’s when that alone sets in is when you start getting anxious, sad, and agitated. All the things that you don’t want to stay with you long term.

 In general, engaging in a hobby either alone or with others can boost your mental health by doing a few things:

Engaging in a hobby will help elevate your mood by behavioral activation. Behavioral activation involves doing an activity that one finds enjoyable in order to create a positive mood therefore reducing symptoms of depression. It can also help provide a sense of accomplishment and boost self-esteem, which both help counteract feelings of sadness or depression.

Because hobbies sometimes require focused attention, a state of mindfulness can be achieved. Remember that mindfulness isn’t all about sitting and meditating and that a state of mindfulness can be achieved while doing a multitude of activities. This state of being present can help reduce anxiety and stress by calming the mind.

There are many hobbies that can be done with other people (like other milspouses). Sports, classes, clubs, events are just some of the things that one can do to engage in a hobby. These activities can help you build and strengthen relations,and combat loneliness and isolation. All of which can strengthen your mental health.

Hobbies can be used as a healthy escape from the stresses of life. Engaging In a hobby helps us take a break from the needs of life and helps us to recharge. Doing something that you enjoy will keep your concentration on that activity and you’ll stop thinking about the errand that you need to get done tomorrow. Trust me, thinking about that errand can wait. 

Hobbies can give us a sense of identity which can provide us meaning in life. I guarantee that you aren’t going to be the only one with a certain hobby. Affiliating yourself with a hobby community not only gives you something to get a part of, but also helps with connecting with others. This can help you make friends and a social network. Hobby communities can be found either in places like a hobby shop or online like Facebook or Reddit.

Some hobbies, like writing, drawing, dancing, theater, or music provides a means to be able to express emotions. This expression allows us to process our emotions more clearly and it  can help when emotions become challenging. It’s helpful because we don’t want to bottle up or push back our emotions, we want to be able to feel them completely when they arise.

Hobbies provide relaxation, social interaction, and emotional expression which all support our mental health. Bringing in hobbies to our everyday life contributes to a balanced and fulfilling life which is essential to our well being. If you are having problems finding a hobby to engage in, try some of these out:

• Refinishing furniture
• Painting or drawing
• Gardening
• Playing a musical instrument
• Photography
• Hiking
• Cooking or baking
• Playing board games or card games
• Yoga or meditation
• Woodworking
• Birdwatching
• Dancing
• Collecting coins, stamps, or other items
• Model building (e.g., model airplanes, cars)
• Fishing
• Playing video games
• Knitting or crocheting
• Rock climbing
• Wine or beer brewing or tasting
• Astronomy or stargazing