We Let Work Define Us. Why Not Play? Hobbies aren’t just fulfilling—they keep us healthy, mindful, and sane – “Hobbies are also incredibly good for you physiologically. Hobbies can boost social interaction, which reduces stress—and loneliness. They may even make you less susceptible to dementia. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic interviewed 256 seniors about their leisure habits. At the start of the survey, none of the group—average age eighty-seven—displayed any impairment of memory or thought. Approximately four years later, 121 of the subjects had developed mild cognitive issues. Researchers discovered that certain activities indicated a lower likelihood of impairment, such as socializing and using the computer for surfing and games. But by far, the best way to stave off mental decline was to participate in artistic hobbies. Subjects who had regularly taken part in artistic endeavours in middle or old age—like painting, sculpting, or drawing—were 73 percent less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment than those who hadn’t….”