Research has shown that people who have one or more hobbies tend to live happier, and often healthier lives. It may seem strange, but an interest can give people a real purpose to life beyond the quest for a pay cheque. If someone is lucky enough to be employed doing something they love then they may see a hobby as pointless. For most people though, work is not the principal passion in life. A hobby can be the place where they find their joy.

There are many benefits to developing a hobby. They can be mentally stimulating and can give people goals. Active hobbies might help improve fitness and they're a way to increase widen a social circle. Someone moving to a new city is often advised to join a club or society that is passionate about a particular hobby. These offer like minded people the chance to mix and share information.

A hobby offers the time and space to relax. Sporting hobbies such as golf, hiking or running allow people to get out into the fresh air. This has been shown to have real benefits for someone's mental health. Exercise increases endorphins in the body which help people to feel good, but activities that make you sweat are not the only one that produce that feeling.

When someone is completely involved in an activity with no concern for anything else, this leads to a mentally beneficial state that psychologists call flow. It's a state of complete absorption that generates feelings of well being. It can be positive for other areas of life as well.

Gardening is a very popular interest. It combines being out of doors, with a closeness to nature and the encouragement of natural beauty. Creating a garden is a long term project that takes patience and dedication. Time has to be given to nurturing plants, ensuring soil conditions are correct and that that the required cultivation techniques are followed. Often gardeners prefer to dedicate their outdoors space to vegetables, enjoying the pleasure of fresh home grown vegetables and the satisfaction that comes from nurturing them.

Craft activities fell out of favour in the second half of the twentieth century but that has started to change. More people have discovered that making gifts for their friends is a way to personalize giving. Websites have offered materials and and places to sell items that have been created. Scrapbooks, jewellery, soft toys, cushions and toiletries are all popular goods to make. Sometimes this is done socially in crafting groups.

Collecting has long been a popular pastime and the range of items that people collect is vast. From the weird and the wonderful to the highly crafted and artistic, enthusiasts can be found for all kinds of things. Toy cars and planes, model trains, stamps, movie memorabilia are all collected. Collector fairs are places where collectors exchange information, trade goods, listen to talks and swap tips with some of the most experienced people in the field. These can be great fun too with an established social side being a large part of what they offer.

Photography has grown as a hobby since the advent of digital technology. It has never been so easy for anyone to produce top quality images and as a result a whole new generation of photography enthusiasts has been created. Photography clubs are popular, some are general others cover special areas of photography such as fine art.

Hobbies give a life a texture and depth. They are a means to find enjoyment and fulfillment. They offer the chance to meet new people and broaden horizons. People without a Diecast model cars hobby are missing out on a whole different aspect of life away from sedentary pastimes like watching TV and the drudge of earning a living.