Meditation is an ancient practice with massive popularity today. But a dilemma exists as to whether it’s a hobby or not.
Meditation is considered a hobby as it can be practiced regularly to achieve a sense of relaxation and inner peace. Whether an individual practices meditation as a hobby depends on how they perceive the activity and how they feel afterward.
This article sheds more light on meditation as a hobby. Also, I’ll explore how to make meditation your hobby, some of its benefits, and meditation hobbies you can try.
Why is Meditation a Hobby?
Ideally, a hobby is an activity or interest pursued for pleasure, relaxation, or personal fulfillment outside one’s regular occupation or daily responsibilities.
You can engage in a hobby voluntarily during your leisure time. Hobbies can encompass a wide range of activities and interests, including meditation.
Meditation provides a means of relaxation, allowing you to find your inner self and the world around you. Additionally, the inner peace achieved through meditation makes an individual continue engaging in this activity for leisure and personal fulfillment.
In that case, meditation fits the criteria of a hobby for those who practice it for leisure.
Just like any other hobby, you’ll also have to allocate specific times to meditate and practice various techniques while meditating. Consistent engagement in the activity is a primary characteristic of a hobby.
The time you spare and the range of techniques you practice to achieve relaxation and pleasure qualifies meditation as a hobby.
How to Make Meditation a Hobby?
There are several ways you can make meditation a hobby. But it is essential to start with the following tips:
Commit to Regular Practice
Commitment is the key to making meditation a hobby.
Have a specific time and a place for meditation daily. A routine will create a sense of discipline and punctuality and make meditation a habit.
Begin with small sessions, then gradually extend them until you are comfortable and used to the practice.
Join Meditation Groups or Classes
Joining a meditation class is one of the effective ways to make meditation a hobby. Combined practice with other people or groups offers support and morale.
Joining a group of like-minded individuals will help you maintain a consistent routine in class attendance. Moreover, it will be an added advantage to learn from experienced meditators. Through it, you will gain deep insight into various meditation techniques.
Find a Suitable Meditation Technique
It is essential to seek a meditation technique that fits you. Try to explore different styles at your exposure, then find one that aligns with your personality.
You can consider meditation practices such as Sthithi Dhyan, Swaas Dhyan, Siddho Hum Dhyan, and many more. However, while choosing one for yourself, pick one that fits your goals and preferences.
Incorporate Meditation into Other Activities
Meditation is interesting when used in day-to-day activities.
Make a routine to meditate before or after engaging in physical exercise. Make it a habit after running, swimming, or doing yoga to spare time and meditate. This is one way to deepen the mind-body connection, thus, creating a new holistic well-being experience.
Benefits of Meditation as a Hobby
The mental and physical benefits you can experience when practicing meditation include the following:
Reduces Stress and Anxiety
Stress and anxiety are among the top mental health ailments today.
However, meditation helps in reducing stress and anxiety in large part. It activates the body’s relaxation response and decreases the production of stress hormones. Through it, a sense of calmness and tranquility is created in the general body.
Improves Focus and Concentration
Regular practice of meditation strengthens the brain’s attentional circuits.
Meditation enhances an individual’s ability to sustain focus and ignore distractions.
Having clarity of mind benefits one in various aspects of life. For example, a person can become very productive at work or have an increased level of thinking.
Has a Positive Impact on Physical Health
Meditation is also helpful in improving a person’s physical health.
Research on mindful training shows regular meditation can lower blood pressure, reduce heart rate, and boost the immune system.
Additionally, meditation can alleviate chronic pain since the practice changes how the brain perceives and processes pain signals.
Also, meditation can help one to overcome addictive norms as it alters the brain waves that cause addictive behaviors.
It Enhances Self-Discovery and Introspection
Meditation encourages individuals to explore and comprehend their inner selves, values, and beliefs. Moreover, it is a good way for one to understand their purpose in life better.
Through it, you can reflect on your life and better understand yourself and where you’re going in life.
Activities That Can Help You Improve Your Meditation Time
Practicing meditation as a hobby can be challenging. But exploring some of your day-to-day activities can help you meditate easily.
Here are some activities you can use to improve your mediation techniques:
Cooking
Cooking is perceived as a regular activity by many people. Yet, you can make an excellent hobby out of it. Cooking is one of the most impactful ways of mindful meditation and mind relaxation. Also, it advances your skills and comprehension as you get exposed to new techniques daily.
Arts and Crafts
Doing arts is another fantastic way of making your mind focused. The practice requires focus, which can make you innovative and creative.
You can try crocheting, sewing, knitting, painting, or even card-making. Engaging in such arts can help you maintain positive thoughts throughout.
Walking
Walking can also heighten your meditation time.
Walking has been shown to have numerous benefits for mental well-being, including the following:
- Boosts mood and a sense of well-being.
- Reducing stress
- Improving mindfulness and relaxation
- Creating time for reflection
- Helping one connect with nature
Gardening
Gardening is a good way to engage in self-mindfulness and physical fitness.
Spending time in nature, breathing fresh air, and working with plants can calm the mind and body. Gardening can serve as a form of therapy, allowing you to unwind, alleviate stress, and find solace in nurturing living things.
If you lack a garden, you can improvise one for yourself. Use pots and make a small garden on your balcony or windowsill.
Learning a New Language
Learning a new language is similar to mindfulness practice, which can calm the mind.
Like meditation, learning a new language requires focused attention and concentration. This focused attention helps to quiet the mind and redirect your thoughts away from distractions, leading to a state of mindfulness.
Engaging in language learning can have calming effects on the mind. The repetitive nature of practicing vocabulary, grammar exercises, or reading can induce a sense of relaxation and flow. This state of focused engagement can lead to reduced stress and an overall sense of well-being.
Conclusion: You Can Make Meditation Your Favorite Hobby
Mediation can be an enjoyable and life-transforming hobby. You can make meditation your hobby by enrolling in a meditation class or practicing it when doing other activities.
Practicing meditation comes with many benefits, including reducing stress, improving focus, and contributing to personal growth. It also plays an essential role in physical health.
Given its significant effects on your life, it won’t hurt to make meditation a hobby.
Resources
- https://synchronicity.org/blogs/blog/how-to-meditate?gclid=Cj0KCQjw1_SkBh
- https://thedailyguardian.com/which-type-of-meditation-will-suit-your-personality/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6770246/
- https://www.addictioncenter.com/treatment/meditation-therapy-substance-abuse/
- https://community.thriveglobal.com/benefits-of-cooking-as-a-hobby/
- https://www.twinkl.co.ke/blog/plant-power-why-gardening-could-be-good-for-your-mental-wellbeing
- https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/types-of-meditation#What-meditation-is-all-about
- https://www.nytimes.com/guides/well/how-to-meditate
- https://publicgeneralist.com/relaxing-hobbies/
- https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-meditation-2795927
- https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/time-for-some-self-reflection
