Creating hobby spaces to boost your wellbeing

Nowadays, the world can quickly feel overwhelming. Finding moments of quiet, calm and focus can often feel impossible. You may be grinding through each day almost on autopilot, dealing with work, family and a constant stream of notifications. Every solution can feel like another responsibility, whether it’s maintaining an exercise regime, pursuing a creative outlet or engaging in something enriching with the community.

All of these are fulfilling. But what happened to just pursuing a hobby for the fun of it?

Engaging in hobbies and other activities can dramatically reduce feelings of stress, anxiety and depression while contributing positively to our state of mind.

The challenge many people face isn’t a lack of interest or motivation, but rather, a lack of available, dedicated space where they can comfortably switch off and engage fully with their hobby, whatever it may be. Creating that physical ‘anchor’ in your home, no matter how small an area, can profoundly impact how you can engage - and transform self-care from a ‘should-do’ to a ‘want to do' activity.

The psychology of a dedicated space

There is something about having a personal, bespoke space that makes your hobby feel far less like an ‘obligation’ and more like a place where you can have time to decompress. A safe corner that’s entirely your own, where your brain learns to separate itself from the other obligations and commitments in your life, and where you can be calm, focused and entirely ‘in the moment’, is invaluable.

When a space feels mentally reassuring and inviting, your brain will respond in kind, knowing that it’s a places where you can firmly unwind and engage in something meaningful to you.

Research shows that people who regularly participate in creative or leisure activities report better mental health outcomes than those who don’t. A study led by Queen Mary University found that group arts (such as painting, dance or music) can relieve depression and anxiety among adults. The key to maintaining good mental health and balance between your work and family lives, giving you ample time to partake in something meaningful to you, lies in removing unnecessary barriers to participation. The secret is having a ready-to-use hobby space set up and waiting, permanently in the same state in which you left it last.

Creating your personal hobby space

The beauty of building your own hobby space is that it can work within any budget or living situation. Depending on what you’re planning to do, you don’t necessarily need an entire room or expensive equipment to reap the benefits. What matters most is having a boundary - a designated area that can comfortably accommodate your chosen activity and that creates enough separation (physically and psychologically) from your other responsibilities. For some, this may be found by converting a spare, unused bedroom, garage space or garden shed into something that’s fully equipped for your chosen activity. For others, joy can be found from:

• The nook: a dormant corner of a large living room with a folding screen for privacy
• A table: a specific desk or end of a kitchen table that is ‘off-limits’ to all other activities or paperwork
• Portable space: a dedicated hobby trolley that can be rolled out in seconds, creating an instant environment.

Physical boundaries matter less than the psychological ones you can establish.

Building skills and focus

Many people find peace and tranquillity through physical activity and skill development, and a dedicated practice area can be transformative. One hobby that’s found its reach through numerous age groups is golf, with home practice options such as self-contained golf simulators becoming a highly valued asset. However, even small home practice areas can build confidence and skill while providing valuable stress relief.

As golf simulator specialists Golf Swing Systems suggest, you can “set up a small putting green in your garden or indoor space…”, while using “alignment aids to perfect your putting stroke”. This philosophy applies to almost any sport. The same principle can be used to create a ‘skill zone’ for ball mastery in football, a fixed spot for a dartboard, or even a clear floor area for perfecting tennis footwork. Just creating a ready-to-go area removes the effort of setting up and allows your focus to be on stepping straight into your ‘sport zone’.

Movement for the mind

Physical exercise is one of the best things we can do for our mental health. A recent survey by UK Active found that 72% of people reported that physical activity helped them stay well and stay in work. If the gym environment feels stressful, a home training set-up to maintain a regular fitness routine is the perfect alternative.

Having equipment ready to use, in a space where movement is encouraged, makes it far more likely to happen. UK home fitness specialist PRIMAL Strength, notes in its space-saving advice that, “creating a powerful training environment involves smart design and innovative equipment.” This might include a mixture of cardio equipment, free weights, multi-functional equipment and storage if you have a home gym space. However, even a small area with a yoga mat and resistance bands can become a sanctuary where you can train with confidence and contentment.

Immersive relaxation

For those who crave periodic escapism and immersion, a home entertainment space provides vital respite. Watching films can be a pivotal mood-booster, not to mention providing much-needed relaxation and relief from daily life. The naturally immersive nature of cinema helps people fully disconnect from the regular world, and totally engage with what’s happening on the screen, even if only for a couple of hours.

Creating a home cinema does not require a massive room or budget. As home cinema and speaker experts K&B Audio rightly point out, “The key is to balance your budget between audio and visual, take some time to understand the components, what will work best in your space and create a well balanced system”. The emphasis should be on creating a comfortable, dedicated viewing environment where you can truly unwind, where you can give yourself the visual and auditory value you deserve, as if you were going to the movies yourself.

Making it work for you

The most effective hobby space is one you will actually use. Begin with the essentials and expand as your commitment and availability develops. Don’t go overboard on spending only to find you don't take full advantage of your space in the long term. A modest set-up for daily or semi-regular use is far more valuable than one you can only use occasionally, because it requires too much preparation and jigging around. Your space should reflect what brings you joy and peace, not what you think it should look like. The goal is to create an environment where you genuinely want to spend time.

With thanks to Annie Button for this article