Voice of British Muslim Women

Danila Jonnud, Hampshire

In lockdown many of us had more time on our hands. Certainly, with school holidays, I’ve discovered   how much of my day was taken up with homeschooling. When worries about COVID-19 make leaving the house difficult, the sense of purpose in making plans has lessened. On top of this is great mental pressure. Anxiety about yourself and family members, a loss of control as our lives were turned upside down, and the stress that comes with thinking about the future – no wonder people on Instagram turned to battling dough in an attempt to make the perfect banana bread.

We all need to relax and unwind a bit. After work or school, it’s nice to let go by watching TV. But nowadays, when spare time is in excess, the healthiest option is not binge-watching.

Those Instagrammars may be onto something. Research shows that people with hobbies are less likely to suffer from stress, low mood, and depression. Spending time on an activity you enjoy can improve your mental health and wellbeing, as well as enable you to spend time in a productive and beneficial way.

Reading, writing, board games and sports are all hobbies which allow you to unwind and spend free time doing something rewarding.¹ Activities which engage your brain are always beneficial; reading and writing activates the imagination and improves vocabulary. Board games promote a healthy competitive spirit, as well as stimulating brain areas responsible for memory formation and complex thought processes and assist in the practice of skills such as decision making, higher level strategic thinking, and problem solving.²

“If you want to boost your mood by yourself, take up more physical activity. Exercise is a great way to relieve any stress you may have. It can range anywhere from yoga and a hike to swimming and playing a sport. You can also boost your mood by taking up a new hobby through something creative. This can include painting, cooking, and even drawing.”³

Physical activity can improve mental health by raising self esteem, and helps to set achievable goals. It causes chemical changes within the brain which can help to positively change your mood. A good idea is to find enjoyable activities and make them a fun part of life.

Hazrat Amman Jan, the wife of the Promised Messiah (peace be on him), used to encourage children to work with their own hands rather than rely on others. She disliked idleness, preferring to remain productive throughout the day. Her granddaughter Amatul Mateen Sahiba said that her grandmother used to insist on activities and exercises to cultivate important life skills.

She sometimes mixed grains of rice and lentils together for her granddaughter to separate as an exercise to develop concentration, patience, obedience and a habit of working.⁴

Once, Hazrat Amman Jan told her to make ‘egg halwah’. Amatul Mateen Sahiba was initially daunted by the task, but her grandmother talked her through the method step by step, and then repeated the routine daily, until her granddaughter became an expert.⁴

Learning to cook something new, or working on a DIY project, are good skills to improve mental wellbeing by boosting self-confidence, as well as helping to build a sense of purpose and improving the ability to connect with others. Trying out new activities just for leisure and enjoyment makes it easier to stay motivated and committed.⁵

During Christmas holidays, my family gets together and plays different games, such as charades, writing and drawing tasks, quizzes, and board games. The day passes in relaxation and spending the day occupied allows us to unwind in a fun way. Switching off technology to talk or play games with friends or family builds personal relationships and is extremely beneficial for one’s mental health.

“You can even play cards without gambling. You can play Ludo or anything, or while away your time in some way that relaxes you. The purpose is relaxation.”⁶

Ludo was a hobby when my dad was young; his father had a board built into a glass top table and his family played regularly. Recently I saw a video of family in Canada; in it my aunts were playing Ludo, so the inclination hasn’t yet worn off! These days, my sisters and I play board games like Scrabble and different card games.

In lockdown everyone seemed to take up baking as photographs of banana bread pervaded the internet. My sister made chocolate chip cookies until she perfected them and what began as a hobby has become a skill. The relaxation and satisfaction of hobbies has contributed to the well being of many people and so, after the worry of Covid-19 ends, we can continue with hobbies to occupy our free time and become healthier for it. Whatever your interests are, whether creative, athletic or academic, there is sure to be a hobby for you.

References:

1. https://headtohealth.gov.au/meaningful-life/purposeful-activity/hobbies
   2. https://buckslib.org/benefits-of-playing-board-games
   3. https://www.alislam.org/book/quest-of-curious-muslim/mental-health-how-can-i-be-happy/
   4. https://www.alislam.org/library/browse/pdf/.library.books.Hadrat-Amman-Jan/#page/-11/mode/1up
   5. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/improve-mental-wellbeing/
   6. https://www.alislam.org/question/islamic-teachings-art-music/