Aline Keza, a businesswoman, says she has mastered the art of maintaining a work-life balance. She has sought means to make her social life a little more fun, as opposed to staying home and watching movies. Since she has a fine command of the French language, she decided to take on teaching as a new hobby. She is now a French teacher and interpreter. She believes that it has given her the opportunity to try out something new, which she never thought of doing. Keza is optimistic that her new hobby will help her stay mentally active too, let alone make her some extra money. A hobby is simply an activity that someone does for enjoyment and pleasure, usually outside of work, however, turning a hobby into a career is uncompelled. Everyone requires a hobby to unwind and relax after a long day—it can be one or more. But there is always room to pick up new hobbies, for instance, sports, cooking, baking, singing, swimming, writing, and so forth. According to Deogratias Nkurunziza, an entrepreneur in Kigali, picking up a new hobby allows you to connect with other people and make meaningful friendships. For example, he says, with business meetings, once they are done try connecting and sharing your business cards, and know people and the companies they work for. “You may be surprised about the connection you have created as such people can end up being your mentors, friends, business partners, employers, or even marriage partners,” he says. For him, having the confidence to create conversations with strangers with good intentions is a hobby as well. He says that various hobbies can equip you with new skills and knowledge. If it needs taking a course to learn something new, he urges you to invest in it as wisdom is worth spending on. According to him, you can even take a short course in hairdressing and start offering such services, especially during weekends or after work. You can even have a mobile salon. Nkurunziza says that the internet has simplified life as all you have to do is post the service you offer, as long as people love what you do, they will reach out. “New hobbies don’t only cut off boredom, but also prevent idleness. For example, if an alcohol addict is busy learning something new and practicing it, there are higher chances that they will not think of drinking. Some bad behaviours begin with boredom,” he says. Research shows that people who regularly engage in hobbies are less likely to suffer from stress and depression. This is because hobbies are a source of fun and freedom that can diminish the impact of everyday stresses. Learning a new skill can boost your confidence, Nkurunziza notes, saying that he has a friend who couldn’t express herself well, especially in public, because she didn’t know English. “Even when she tried to communicate, it was either poor grammar or pronunciation. The reactions of people around her just forced her to keep quiet to save herself the embarrassment,” he says. “However, when she took time to teach herself English online, she is now much better and can even sustain a conversation. When you put time, enthusiasm and energy in something, you will surely reap the best results. Whether it’s about learning a new language, start now and you may be surprised at how fast you can learn with the right mind-set,” Nkurunziza says. Experts emphasise that learning to play music instruments increases your knowledge, boosts brain power, and builds new skills and increases patience as you learn. Singing releases endorphins and listening to your favourite music has been proven to boost memory, improve mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. According to VeryWell Mind, a health and wellness platform, pleasures can bring a lift to your mood. Since hobbies generally incorporate pleasures into your life, maintaining hobbies can be good for your overall sense of joy. The platform also states that engaging in hobbies can provide a break with a purpose, which can help people feel that they’re not just sitting around, but are using their downtime for something productive. You might experiment with a variety of different hobbies to discover what you love and what works for you. Take a class, learn a new skill, or make it a goal to try a new activity each week. From making crafts to collecting coins, the more you explore, the more likely you are to find a hobby that you love, the aforementioned site states.
