Californians are searching for unique hobbies, here's the top 5
With New Year’s resolutions still fresh in the minds of people, many have new diets to try and fitness goals they hope to reach.
Others may be striving for a promotion and working extra hard on a career goal. When it comes to personal growth and happiness, a five-year Google search analysis reveals Americans are exploring new hobbies like never before.
Here is a rundown on the top five unique hobbies, based on a Modest Fish survey, that Californians hope to explore in 2024.
Beekeeping: The process of inspecting hives, managing bee health, and harvesting honey provides a hands-on experience that is both educational and therapeutic.
Aquascaping: the art of arranging plants, as well as rocks, stones and driftwood in a way that is enjoyable to look at within an aquarium… basically gardening underwater.
Falconry: training birds of prey specifically, falcons, hawks, and eagles, to hunt wild animals in their natural habitat. A falconer will develop a close bond with their bird and they learn to work as partners while hunting. The process involves training the bird to respond to commands and to return to the falconer after hunting.
Lapidary: the art of cutting and polishing stones to be used in jewelry or to create a pretty gem. A fun way to mix geology and test out your artistic creativity.
Metal detecting: a modern day treasure hunter using a metal detector to search underground spots for buried metal objects. This is a fun hobby for people of all ages and seems to bring together a supportive community that enjoy sharing stories of what they find.
This list is sure to get you thinking about something new you might want to try and brighten some of the dreary winter days.
But there's also science behind the deeper dive into hobbies.
Hobbies have been associated with "lower blood pressure, total cortisol, waist circumference, and body mass index, and perceptions of better physical function," according to a 2009 study of hobbies published in the National Library of Medicine.
At the time, the seven doctors in charge of the study also found a drop in depression and "negative psychosocial states." Women, the study found, benefitted more from hobbies than men and those over 65 found a new peep in their step.
A Utah State University study, conducted after the 2009 findings, also noted benefits.
"A common barrier that seems to make it difficult to do the things we love is time. When it comes to how our lives are typically structured, work tends to come before play," wrote Emma Parkhurst, an assistant professor at Utah State. "And although many of us feel like there isn’t enough time in the day for hobbies, there are changes we can make to help find and spend free time doing the things we love."
Some mental health benefits of hobbies:
Reduced stress:participating in activities during leisure or spare time has been shown to reduce stress levels. For instance, one study showed approximately 75% of participants’ cortisol levels (one of the most widely studied hormonal markers of stress) were lowered after making art. Don’t consider yourself to be an artistic person? That’s okay! This study also showed that prior experience wasn’t needed to reduce stress.
Enhanced well-being: a study in New Zealand found that engaging in creative activities can lead to an improved sense of wellbeing that may have long lasting effects. Participants felt a higher positive affect or mood and a sense of flourishing after days where they engaged in a creative activity.
Improved social connection, decreases in depression and anxiety: while there are many mental health benefits related to hobbies on your own, group or ‘team’ hobbies have also been shown to provide important opportunities for social connection, friendship and support. Research also shows that adults who regularly participate in some kind of team sport are less likely to experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress.
Improved mental health:hobbies that include physical activity have been linked to many health benefits including reduced stress, reduced blood pressure, and a lower heart rate. But if you take physical activity outside, there are many additional positive benefits. Experts agree that spending as little as 10 minutes in nature can lead to improved mood, focus, and overall wellbeing.
This article originally appeared on Salinas Californian: Californians are searching for unique hobbies, here's the top 5
