Find Your Flow: Why Hobbies Are More Than Just a Bit of Fun
By a fellow midlife mum who knows the joy of crafting, running, meditating and not losing her mind.
Let’s face it……life is busy. Whether you're clocking in a 9-5, running after kids (or grand kids!), or spinning all the plates at once, there’s a point in the day where your soul whispers: "Please, just give me something that doesn’t involve emails, dishes, or explaining their homework."
Enter: Hobbies…
You know, those little pockets of joy that are just for you. Your go to happy place. Whether it’s painting, yoga, pottering in the garden, or hiding in the loo with a book and pretending not to hear “Mum!” for the 37th time that hour, hobbies are our quiet rebellion against the grind. They’re not indulgences, they’re lifelines.
More Than a Pastime — It’s Mental Medicine
Science (
and, frankly, common sense) backs us up here. Doing things we love lights up the feel good parts of our brains, reduces stress, and boosts mental clarity. Hobbies help us reclaim our identity, the one that exists outside of being a mother, partner, professional, or school lunch-packer extraordinaire (
I was never any good at those in all honesty).
Mind, Body, and... Variety
But let’s talk balance because even the most wholesome hobby can throw us off kilter if it becomes our only form of release.
If your bliss is curled up in a chair with crochet or Sudoku, and you've also sat at a desk all day, your body might be screaming for a stretch. Our midlife bodies (
yes, the joints do start to speak to us, don’t they?) need movement. Try swapping out one episode of your latest binge watch for a brisk walk, or do some yoga stretches in your pj’s. You don’t need a gym membership just your limbs and a bit of floor space.
On the flip side, if your idea of unwinding involves pounding the pavement on a 10k run, conquering the hills in spin class like you’re training for the Tour de France, or scrubbing the kitchen floor with the intensity of someone trying to erase all signs of domestic chaos, let’s have a little chat about rest because here’s the thing: movement is brilliant. It lifts your mood, strengthens your heart, and helps shake off the stress of the day, but when “go-go-go” becomes your only speed, your body starts filing formal complaints and not just in the form of an achy knee or that mysterious back twinge you now get when sneezing. Over training or constantly staying in “high alert” mode can throw your hormones out of balance (
hello, fatigue, irritability, and that wired-but-tired feeling), messing with your sleep, and actually increasing stress levels.
Our bodies are not an unlimited resource. We need to work with them, not against them. Yes, exercise is a gift, but so is recovery. Rest days aren’t slacking off, they’re part of the program. And no, you don’t need to earn them with 17 burpees and a protein shake.
So, if you find comfort in motion and many of us do, that’s fantastic. Just balance it out. Let your body breathe. Try a slow stretch, a nap (
with zero guilt), a meditation app that doesn’t make you cringe, or even just five minutes of staring out the window and letting your thoughts meander because sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is absolutely nothing.
Think of it this way: your body is like your washing machine. If you keep running it non-stop without giving it a breather, eventually it’s going to start making weird noises, refuse to spin, and just break down mid-cycle. Give it a break. You’ll come back stronger and far less squeaky.
The Goldilocks Rule of Hobbies
Too much of one thing, sitting, sweating, thinking, even “relaxing”, is never quite right. The magic is in mixing it up. A balanced body needs both motion and rest. A balanced mind needs both focus and floaty daydreams. If you've been on your feet for 12 hours wrangling toddlers or teenagers, you deserve that long sit-down with a cuppa and a silly TV show, but once you're recharged, try something that gets your creativity going: a puzzle, some journaling, or even starting that podcast idea you keep joking about.
Hobbies aren’t about filling your time. They’re about filling you! Now is the perfect moment to stop asking for permission to enjoy things and start saying, “This is what I need today.”
So go ahead. Crochet that scarf, deadhead those petunias, take that tap class, or spend a guilt-free hour reading historical smut in the bath. Then tomorrow, maybe go for a walk, try a new recipe, or join that local class you’ve been eyeing.
Life is not about shrinking, It’s about expanding. Just make sure you stretch your body and your mind!
- Portia Mead
With over a decade of experience as a yoga teacher, Portia brings a deep and holistic approach to well-being. Drawing on her studies in Buddhism, training in mindfulness, and a strong focus on women’s empowerment, she supports others in cultivating strength, balance, and resilience on and off the mat. Now in her mid-40s, she is passionate about staying healthy and strong as she ages, and sharing practices that help others do the same.
Visit her website at:
StrengthInFlow.co.uk to learn more.