Healing Power of Hobbies

Gardening，stamp collecting，even competitive scrabble(1) keep us healthy—in both body and mind

by Shari Caudron

At last count，Debbie Baker had 3，000Barbie dolls． Her passion may seem odd，but experts aGREe：Being an enthusiastic hobbyist is good for you．

Hobbies reduce stress，says Alice Domar，director of the Mind＆Body Center for Women's Health at Harvard MedicalSchool．They distract you from everyday worries： If you're focused on the pottery you're making，you can't fret(2)about your work，says Domar．And knitting，or anything requiring repetitive motion，elicits(3) the relaxation response，a feeling of overall serenity(4)，marked by lowered blood pressure．

Hobbies provide a calming sense of control，says Domar，and research suggests this strengthens immunity(5)． You may have little say at work，but when you're woodworking，you're in charge．You get the credit—and satisfaction—of a job well done．

We know that physical activity extends life，but less active pursuits are healthy as well．ASwedish study showed people who regularly engaged in hobbies such as sewing and gardening were less likely to suffer mental decline． Similar research in The New England Journal of Medicine found that those who pursued mind-boosting activities— such as crossword puzzles—lowered their risk of Alzheimer's disease or other dementia．“Any hobby that challenges the brain should have a positive effect on dementia risk，”says lead author Joe Verghese，a neurologist．

Many hobbies are social．From dealing cards at bridge to swapping(6)tips with other collectors，engaging with likeminded souls boosts(7) immunity．A Japanese study of almost 12，000people found that men who engaged in

hobbies or community activities were less likely to die ofstroke or circulatory disorders than those who didn't．

So keep fishing or collecting dolls．Others may think you're obsessed—you know otherwise．

Notes：

1．scrabble：a game in which words are built up on a board marked with squares，using letters printed on blocks of wood，etc．

2．fret：fret over ／at／about sth．，worry，（cause sb． to）become unhappy or anxious about sth．

3．elicit：draw（facts，a response，etc．）from sb．， sometimes with difficulty

4．serenity：calm and peace，tranquility；serene，calm and peaceful

5．immunity：ability to resist infection，disease，etc．

6．swap：give sth．in exchange for sth．else

7．boost：increase the strength or value of sth．