20 Productive Hobbies That Will Make You Smarter and Happier

Yep. A lot of us have hobbies that not only help us unwind and possibly make some extra money but also make us smarter being. The majority of these pastimes are well-liked and are actively pursued by many of us.

Given the reasons why having a hobby is important, there are a few to select from. Let's look at the top choices. Here are the twenty most productive hobbies, along with their advantages.

1. Cooking A Meal

Your options for trying new things and experiencing new things are expanded by this hobby. Cooking may seem frightening to a lot of people, but it's actually a terrific first step into discovering the uncharted.

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Furthermore, you learn how to roll with the punches and try to rectify circumstances if a crisis were to occur and you were compelled to order takeaway (oops, burnt chicken that you might have forgotten about in the oven).

In addition, as you practice, you'll become very adept at planning and cooking meals in advance for the coming days, which means you're actually being more productive than you thought.

2. Painting

Even though it may not seem like a very useful activity, painting may help you gain some fantastic perspective on your life and can help you explore your creative side.

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You can use painting to access the ideas, aspirations, and emotions that are circling in your head and to help convert them into something tangible.

So go ahead and pick up a paintbrush; who knows, your painting might even inspire you to work harder at your job.

3. Yoga

No matter if you want to take up yoga outside of your cubicle or choose to do breathing workouts at your desk, both of these actions involve tactics that will increase your productivity.

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You can feel more peaceful, centered, and energized by practicing breathing exercises at work, claims Career Realism. 

Plus, you devote your body, physical fitness, emotional health, and spiritual welfare to your full and unwavering attention, and as a result, you become more equipped and efficient for the future.

4. Hiking 

Why is hiking such a craze? It's a popular weekend activity for many individuals. Some people even embark on annual hiking excursions with recognized groups. Fitness and endurance are prerequisites for hiking.

To traverse a trail and ascend hills, you must be psychologically and physically strong. You get to spend time in the midst of nature, which is an added benefit.

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The fresh air of the hills and valleys can be breathed in while you are trekking. Your blood circulation and mental acuity are both improved by the action.

You can block off your daily concerns and allow your mind to focus on enjoyable things. Last but not least, hiking gives you energy and productivity.

5. Running

Surely not everyone is able to go hiking? We've offered you another well-known activity to try without worrying about the reasons.

Running is a great hobby and a go-to activity for individuals looking for a free approach to keep in shape and engage in daily exercise in some capacity.

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Using a tracker or setting aside a specific amount of time to run each day helps you develop a healthy balance and inspires you to work harder.

As you progress, you gain the capacity to overcome mental obstacles and achieve your goal. While you're running through the streets, you can let your mind dwell on the issue that's bothering you and figure it out.

At the end of the run, you will undoubtedly feel better, regardless of whether you find a solution.

6. Reading Novels And Books

There is a solid reason why reading is one of the most popular hobbies and interests in the world. As it is simple to perform during downtime and "empty time," when you are not doing anything else, it is also a very productive hobby.

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According to a Simply Hired article on how hobbies can improve your job performance, reading fiction teaches you to be more sympathetic.

This is advantageous for your career as it will enable you to show greater compassion to your coworkers and under unpleasant circumstances.

7. Playing Musical Instruments

Long ago, Confucius stated that "human nature cannot exist without the kind of pleasure that music brings." The brain is stimulated by music, and this has been demonstrated through study as well.

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A broad range of emotions and mental states can be evoked by music. Numerous studies have demonstrated that engaging in musical activities, such as playing an instrument or listening to music, improves memory.

Learning to play an instrument requires time and effort. Therefore, playing one also teaches you patience and persistence. Additionally, it helps you focus.

8. Meditation

Meditation helps you focus on yourself and learn to know your inner self, which is its main advantage. Meditating deeply enables people to transcend to a higher realm of being.

Through meditation, you may lower your stress levels and get rid of all of your anxiety. You can learn, think, and plan things in a lot more effective way when you have a peaceful and composed frame of mind, which you can achieve through meditation.

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You can have complete control over yourself by regularly meditating. When trying to increase your intellect, it is crucial to be aware of distractions and use productive self-control strategies.

9. Writing Down Your Thoughts

Writing has a ton of advantages, one of which is raising your level of intelligence in general.

Of course, writing helps your linguistic ability. But it also aids in the development of abilities like concentration, originality, imagination, and comprehension.

But frequently, because of the way a thought rushes by us, we wind up failing to see its true essence. It is difficult to select important ideas from the multitude of concepts that race through the mind.

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However, as you begin to put ideas on paper, you are forcing your mind to focus and coordinate with your hand. You organize, streamline, and give your ideas a fresh, accurate definition.

Writing will help you stay focused and sharpen your memory, whether it's in a notebook, a brief note, or a lengthy novel.

10. Learning New Languages

Even if learning a new language isn't always simple, there are several benefits to doing so, one of which is that you get wiser.

Learning new words and analyzing grammatical structures as part of the process of learning a new language improves your IQ and brain health.

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Additionally, it has been demonstrated via numerous experiments that those with high verbal-linguistic IQs are excellent planners, decision-makers, and problem-solvers.

11. Engaged In Outdoor Sports

Regular participation in athletic activities exercises the brain just as much as the body. The brain becomes more agile and has better general health as a result of frequent physical activity.

Furthermore, sports offer merits too. As you exercise, your muscles are worked out, and sports watching has been linked to improved brain performance. Participating in sports improves one's coordination, confidence, and ability to respond quickly.

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Exceptional intelligence is a quality that distinguishes top athletes. Football, basketball, and cricket are all acceptable sports. If you want to improve your brain's function, think about participating in sports regularly.

12. Explore New Places

Traveling is much more than just a way to fill the time when you're bored. Your IQ can actually increase when you travel.

Plus, it is a stress-relieving exercise for the body and mind. When you are less stressed, it is easier for you to concentrate on tasks, make observations, and increase the depth of your topic comprehension.

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You can learn something new wherever you go. When you explore, you come into contact with a wide variety of people, foods, cultures, lifestyles, and societies, which opens your mind to concepts you may not have previously considered.

13. Playing Video Games

Whether you want to admit it or not, playing video games might be somewhat beneficial for you, particularly if you play with others.

Actually, it's a terrific way to decompress because it encourages teamwork and activities that divert attention from daily worries (but you probably know that already because of Candy Crush).

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Video games that fall under the category of "strategic games" can enhance your cognitive flexibility, or more specifically, your capacity for making quick decisions, claims an Entrepreneur article that cites a 2013 study. 

Making difficult decisions while working will be made easier as a result.

14. Growing A Garden

The benefits of gardening as a hobby are startling. Growing your own flowers, fruits, and veggies has many advantages beyond the obvious ones.

Your levels of the stress hormone cortisol drop as a result of it. Growing a plant from seed to fruit strengthens your capacity to impact the world for the better.

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It qualifies as exercise (and we all need to get at least 150 minutes of exercise a week). Studies reveal that gardening reduces the risk of dementia by 36%.

15. Knitting / Needleworks

Did you assume that knitting was something that only old women or certain elitist people who create knitting circles would do? Well, you're definitely mistaken.

When discussing needlework, age and gender shouldn't be factors. It is a skill that takes a lot of work and effort to master.

Even just threading a needle might be challenging for some people. But consider the level of focus it requires of you. Once you begin learning, you will find solace in the stitch pattern or the sound of the needle clicking.

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Your mind has enough space as a result of the repetitive motions to think of additional things to do and organize your day.

Selling the goods you make when you knit, crochet, or embroider is another way to supplement your income.

16. Playing Chess Board

You undoubtedly already know that learning to play chess is a fantastic activity to adopt if you want to enhance your brain's cognitive abilities. In the first instance, chess involves using both brain hemispheres.

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Players must first train and use their left hemisphere of the brain, which is responsible for object recognition. They must also make use of the right hemisphere, which processes patterns.

Further, chess also assists with memory enhancement and the development of strategic thinking.

17. Exercise Often

In addition to being good for your physical health, exercise is also good for your mental health. From a physiological standpoint, exercise helps to improve blood circulation throughout your body and to your essential organs, which benefits your brain.

A good night's sleep, which is necessary for your brain to function at its best, can also be promoted by exercising for at least 30 minutes each day.

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Additionally, research has indicated that exercise can enhance short-term focus. You will therefore be at your best in terms of being able to execute tasks with a high degree of precision and focus in the two to three hours following the exercise.

Last but not least, working out productively will frequently continue the cycle of productivity on other tasks that you must complete. This results from the fact that after completing a productive task, we are driven to continue being productive and succeeding in other facets of our lives.

18. Swimming

One of the best regular exercise regimens is swimming. Furthermore, if you have a pool at home, there is no reason why you shouldn't go for a swim at night.

Both the body and the psyche are calmed and refreshed by it. Do you realize how essential it is to have a healthy body in order to maintain a healthy mind?

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You can sift through your jumbled thoughts with each stroke of the water and come up with a fix for a problem that has been bothering you. As the water calms your skin and muscles, you can let your thoughts wander.

Swimming for 30 to 60 minutes will not only make you feel better but will also sharpen your mind.

19. Woodworking

Your creativity and self-confidence will increase as a result of engaging in any hobby that demands you to construct and create something. The physical labor required in woodworking is strenuous.

Lifting, moving, cutting, hammering nails, sanding, painting, and polishing wood blocks are all necessary steps to get the desired result.

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You must have the design clearly in your head and on paper before you can do it. If you want to build anything useful, the dimensions are vital.

Never, ever allow your attention to waver or let your thoughts wander. The last thing you want to do is get hurt while doing it, isn't it?

20. Collecting Things

What does the collection have to do with increasing intelligence? It takes work to keep your collection up-to-date and to add to it. Sometimes you have to go to tremendous lengths to get what you want.

If you collect treasures, you ought to be knowledgeable enough to tell the difference between genuine and fraudulent items.

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It's bad for one's reputation to be a collector who is duped by a vendor, right? Additionally, beginning a collection will peak your attention and leave you wanting to learn more.

(Within bounds) Curiosity is beneficial to intellect and health. Additionally, you are set to pay greater attention and naturally concentrate on the subject of interest.

While balancing family obligations and a 9–5 job in today's world, it is simple to forget to take a break. As evidenced by studies, a healthy body and mind go hand in hand.

Hobbies can be anything from discussing your most recent read to perfecting the art of brioche baking. They aren't simply for fun and games. No matter what you enjoy doing, it can be very beneficial for your mind, body, social life, and even your profession.

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• It makes you take a break and care for yourself
• It gives you the means to organize your thoughts
• It keeps you healthier physically
• It can expand your horizons
• It may advance your career

Based on what you commit your time to and how much enthusiasm you put into it, the advantages of each hobby will vary. But one thing is certain: engaging in hobbies can be beneficial to you both now and in the future.

You can pursue other worthwhile interests in order to sharpen your intellect, too. If you fully commit to a passion and work to gain something worthwhile from it, many activities can increase the activity of your brain cells.

Considering your activities as a way to improve your intelligence is the most crucial thing you should never do. It must not serve as the main focus or the ultimate objective. Do something you enjoy as a hobby.

Try something out because it makes you joyful or gives you the tranquility you need. In theory, hobbies should be ongoing pursuits.

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Make sure to keep engaging in your interests as they begin to improve you as a person. They will soon become a natural part of your life, and you'll always evolve into a better version of yourself.

You can be more multi-skilled by engaging in hobbies, but they can also improve your stress management and ability to think creatively at work.

Some passions can also assist you in earning extra money, and some may even develop into a full-time job or start-up firm. After all, Facebook was once just a hobby.