In your quest for a balanced life, have you neglected your hobbies? As children, we are experts at finding hobbies. We play sports, take dance and music lessons, collect action figures and spend our days learning everything from languages to wood shop. But somewhere on the path to adulthood, we stop trying new things and spend less time on our non-career interests. It’s not too late. Use this guide to get inspired, spark your interests and follow your passion toward a new hobby.

The science behind hobbies

Need some convincing that you need a hobby? Let’s start with some science. A large body of research suggests that how you spend leisure time matters to your health, and that your hobbies are good for you in many ways.

Hobbies Are Good For You

In 2010, a team of researchers from universities in Kansas, Pittsburgh and Texas published the results of four large studies with a total of 1,399 participants, including men and women with various health problems, such as upper respiratory illness, arthritis and breast cancer. The researchers developed a scale called the Pittsburgh Enjoyable Activities Test to measure the effect of hobbies and leisure pursuits on overall health. Here’s what they found:

Lower stress. A large body of research shows that <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02614369400390021">leisure activities </a>can help reduce stress. The Pittsburgh study showed that people who took part in a lot of enjoyable activities dealt better with stressful life events. People who scored high on the enjoyable activities test showed lower levels of negative moods and depression, and higher positive attitudes than their low-scoring counterparts.

Better physical health. People who scored higher on the enjoyable activities test had lower body mass index, smaller waists, lower blood pressure, lower stress hormones and better overall physical function. While it’s possible that people who start out healthy are more likely to engage in hobbies, the findings are consistent with other research showing that having hobbies and other leisure pursuits is associated with a variety of benefits, including less severe disease and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2863117/#R24">greater longevity.</a>

More sleep. While you may think that a hobby will take up too much of your leisure time or cut into your sleep, the Pittsburgh study showed that people who spent more time on their hobbies actually got better sleep.Happiness. People who said they participated often in enjoyable activities also had greater life satisfaction and felt their lives had a greater sense of purpose and meaning.

More friends. Notably, spending more time on hobbies and leisure pursuits was associated with having a larger and more diverse social network. And we know that a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/12/well/live/having-friends-is-good-for-you.html">strong social network </a>is a key factor in healthy aging.

And there’s one additional benefit to having a hobby that may surprise you.Improved work performance. A <a href="https://news.sfsu.edu/creative-activities-outside-work-can-improve-job-performance">study at San Francisco State University </a>found that employees who had creative outlets outside of the office were better at creative problem-solving on the job. The findings were based on studies of 430 workers and military personnel that found that having a hobby gave workers a chance to recover from the demands of their jobs, increased their sense of control and in some cases challenged them to learn new skills that were transferable to work.

Don’t pick a hobby because it will help you at work. Pick a hobby that makes you happy, and any improvement in your work will just be a bonus!

A word to the wise

In your quest for a balanced life, have you neglected your hobbies? It’s not too late. Use this guide to get inspired, spark your interests and follow your passion toward a new hobby.

Self Improvement

How to Find a Hobby - Smarter Living Guides

Has this ever happened to you? You’ve been studying hard for your chemistry midterm, but when you walk into your exam, your mind goes blank. WHAT IS TEST ANXIETYWhile it’s completely normal to feel a bit nervous before a test, some students find test anxiety debilitating. Racing thoughts, inability to concentrate, or feelings of dread can combine with physical symptoms like a fast heartbeat, headache, or nausea.&nbsp;Whether it’s the <a href="https://www.princetonreview.com/college/act-information" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ACT </a>, an <a href="https://www.princetonreview.com/college/ap-information" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AP exam </a>, or an important history final, test anxiety has the power to derail you even after months of studying.

How to overcome test anxiety

According to the <a href="https://adaa.org/living-with-anxiety/children/test-anxiety">ADAA </a>, causes of test anxiety may include a fear of failure, lack of adequate prep time, or bad experiences taking tests in the past. You're not alone! Here's what you can do to stay calm in the days leading up to and during your test.

Test anxiety tips

Yes, this seems obvious, but it bears repeating. If you feel confident that you’ve prepped thoroughly, you’ll feel more confident walking into the test. Need help reviewing tough concepts or question types? <a href="https://www.princetonreview.com/#tp">The test prep experts at The Princeton Review </a>can provide that extra boost you need to feel cool and collected.

1. Be prepared

Cramming is never the answer, and pulling an all-nighter can exacerbate your nerves. Having adequate rest (9–10 hours per night) is likely to be more beneficial than rereading a text until dawn.

2. Get a good night’s sleep.

Eat a nutritious breakfast before the test and pack smart snacks for ongoing energy. Look for foods that offer a steady stream of nutrients, rather than a sugar high followed by a crash.

3. Fuel up.

Feeling rushed will only amp up the anxiety. Pack <a href="https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/what-every-student-needs-for-final-exams" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">everything you need </a>for the exam the night before and set the alarm, so you can get out the door on time.

4. Get to class—or the testing site—early.

<ul><li>Bring a picture of your happy place or come up with a morale-boosting mantra like “I can do this” or “I worked hard and deserve this.” Peek at your picture or recite your mantra, right before the test begins (don't bring it with you into the test).</li></ul>

5. Have a positive mental attitude.

Read the directions thoroughly and read all answers before making a choice or starting the essay. There is nothing worse than putting time into a question and realizing you are not solving for x, or the essay is off target. Slowing down can help you stay focused.

6. Read carefully.

The blank page can maximize your anxiety. After you’ve read the directions, dive right in by making an outline for an essay answer. Or, find some questions you can ace to build up your confidence and momentum. You can always go back and change things later if needed, but a few quick answers can get the ball rolling.

7. Just start.

Everyone else is scribbling away? Ack! What do they know that you don’t? It doesn’t matter. Pay attention to your own test and pace, and forget about the other students in the room.

8. Don’t pay attention to what other people are doing.

Realizing that time is almost up and there are lots of test questions left can make it hard to do anything useful in those final minutes. <a href="https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/how-long-is-the-act">Stay on pace </a>by scoping out the whole test before getting started. Mentally allocate how much time you’ll spend on each section. If there’s time to recheck, even better. (And if there aren't any clocks around, bring a watch!)

9. Watch the clock.

Deep breathing can slow down a beating heart or a racing mind, so practice these techniques at home. The very act of concentrating on breathing and thinking can biometrically alter those anxious feelings.Sometimes just remembering that some test-taking anxiety is a normal part of school can help make it easier to handle. If you need a confidence boost, try asking your parents, a family member, or even a teacher!

10. Focus on calm breathing and positive thoughts .

Test anxiety has the power to derail weeks and months of hard work. Check out our top 10 test anxiety tips.


How to Find a Hobby - Smarter Living Guides

10 Ways to Overcome Test Anxiety

Nana Banana