5 Reasons You Should Start Writing as a Hobby

In this blog post, I’m going to give you five reasons you should start writing as a hobby

Don’t be surprised when we tell you that each of us has this inner creative energy longing to be released.

Maybe some of us have already found an outlet for it, while others have yet to explore this side of themselves.

You have the potential to be creative in one way or another; you just probably don’t know it yet.

As much as you hate the idea of writing because you don’t feel you have anything important to say, trust us when we say that everyone has a story to tell.

And contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be a natural-born writer to start enjoying the process and benefits of writing.

Truth be told, there exist no rules to writing, only guidelines that can be learned and worked on if you start now; even what you consider seemingly mediocre writing skills can be turned into something great with time and practice.

If you still aren’t convinced that writing is something you should try as a hobby, here are five reasons why you should start:

1 – Writing is an avenue to release your emotions.

We all know that feeling when something is pent up inside us, and we just need to let it out.

Writing is a therapeutic way to release any bottled-up emotions – a form of self-expression that allows you to better understand yourself and the world around you.

Prolific American science fiction writer Isaac Asimov once said, “writing, to me, is simply thinking through my fingers.”

When you write, you are not only putting your thoughts into words but also exploring the depths of your mind and emotions.

2 – Writing as a hobby is a form of meditation.

The beauty of writing is that it allows you to focus your mind on one specific task while letting everything else fade into the background. You may not realize it, but it’s calming and therapeutic, helping to clear your mind and giving you a sense of peace.

We call it a form of meditation because you effectively get rid of distractions once you’re at it.

It’s how you can achieve that much-coveted state of flow, where you’re so focused on what you’re doing that everything else disappears.

Get this interesting quote from American novelist Jack Kerouac: “Writing at least is a silent meditation even though you’re going a hundred miles an hour.” It means you can’t stop when you’re at it, which isn’t necessarily bad.

When you write as a hobby, you’re essentially helping your mind relax and de-stress.

You get to end your day in the comfort of your makeshift home office or even on your lap, writing away anything that matters to you. So, starting a writing habit would be extremely beneficial for you if you’re in a stressful work environment or are forced to deal with difficult people.

3 – Writing is a form of escapism.

If you’re like most people, the world isn’t always as kind and forgiving. There always will be times when the only thing you’ll need is a break from all the negative energy. Escapism means “the tendency to escape from reality.”

While not always a good thing, it’s a sigh of relief from the writing perspective. The reason is that you can write about anything you want, whether it’s a made-up story or something that happened.

It doesn’t matter if what you wrote is based on truth because the act of writing itself is therapeutic. You’re in control of the situation, and you get to be the hero of your own story – how amazing is that?

4 – Writing improves your communication skills.

If there’s one incredibly practical reason to embrace writing as a hobby, it would be this – it helps improve your communication skills. Being a good writer gives you an edge over others because you know how to articulate your thoughts better. A “globalized” modern world requires us to be able to communicate with people from all walks of life, whether it’s in person, through email, or even over the phone.

When you’re used to communicating primarily through writing, it becomes second nature, and you’ll find yourself doing it more often in other aspects of your life. You can better express yourself and connect with others, whether it’s in a personal or professional setting.

When Voltaire said, “writing is the painting of the voice,” he could’ve easily been talking about how effective writing can be in terms of communication. The better you write, the better you’ll be at communicating – it’s as simple as that.

5 – Writing makes you healthier and more well-rounded.

This one’s proven by science – people who write regularly are proven to be smarter and more well-rounded than those who don’t.

A 2005 study by Cambridge University showed that a minimum of 15 minutes of expressive writing was enough to afford people both mental and physical benefits. This shows that it doesn’t take much to reap the rewards of writing.

Writing as a form of self-expression is quite an understatement.

When you do it as a hobby, it becomes a form of active self-care. It lets you take a step back and assess your life from a different perspective, giving you a better sense of who you are, what you want, and where you’re going.

From improved communication skills to gaining a deeper understanding of yourself, there are endless benefits to writing as a hobby. So, don’t think of any other excuses – it’s time to start writing!