From another perspective, just having a hobby—even when it is not directly related to your business—can make you a more successful entrepreneur. Many hobbies have the potential to provide benefits that can improve your level of success as an entrepreneur. These 10 hobbies are relatively cheap and easy to start. Crossword puzzles can preserve cognitive function, and jigsaw puzzles can enhance memory, build problem-solving skills and induce a state of focused meditation. These making puzzles an excellent hobby for exercising your brain and keeping it in tip-top shape for all of the mental challenges you may face as an entrepreneur. In fact, one study found that gardening can fight stress, improve your mood and increase positive emotions. It is hard to ignore the perfectly tangible benefit of gardening—producing healthy and homegrown fruits and vegetables that can improve your level of nutrition. The better news is that these—and more—musical instrument benefits apply to adults, too. If you want to improve your cognitive function, boost memory, become more coordinated, relieve stress and become better at managing your time, pick up an instrument and make it your mission to learn how to play. If you play video games online and connect with other players remotely, you also get the benefit of being able to socialize. This can be beneficial for solo entrepreneurs who generally work alone without a lot of opportunity for face-to-face interaction. In reasonable doses, video gaming can be a great hobby, giving you a solid argument for grabbing the controller when you’re looking for downtime after work. And, of course, we can’t ignore the benefits that come from a change in scenery that allows you to get outside, take in nature and breathe in the fresh air. Fishing is also an excellent way to practice patience, learn perseverance, and decrease your dependence on technology. Since cycling is a cardiovascular activity, it allows your body to release adrenaline and endorphins. This surge of endorphins can make you more alert and leave you feeling better, if just a bit more tired. Keep in mind that you don’t have to cycle like a pro to get the benefits from this hobby; you can take advantage of these physical perks by cycling for even 30 minutes a few times a week. People who practice yoga on a regular basis claim that it increases inner strength (the will to continue), which is beneficial for entrepreneurs who will face adversity over time. If you want to foster your own innovative creativity, the best way to do it is to start working on a creative hobby, such as painting. The art of painting also has many of the benefits of some of the other hobbies listed here, including inducing relaxation, improving focus and concentration and improving mental health. Creative people are more likely to build emotional intelligence, as creativity is thought to be linked to emotional intelligence (EI). EI is becoming a desired trait in most business leadership because people with higher EI generally treat others much better than those without. Cooking can boost your levels of creativity and sense of adventure, especially if you like to depart from a written recipe and try some dinner inventions of your own. Your vocabulary with most likely improve by reading works written by different authors. Try to choose about different times and places. There are claims that you can significantly increase your levels of empathy and emotional intelligence by reading literary fiction books. Reading also allows you to relax, unwind and turn off your brain after a particularly stressful day.
