For all the talk about happiness—who has it, when you feel it, and where you can find it—a steady sense of peace in the whirlwind is sometimes all too elusive. Too much of the exact things in your life that are supposed to help you feel happier, like work, family, and friends, can leave you feeling burned out.

If you’re already tired, adding another pursuit to the list of demands on your time might sound exhausting; however, research suggests that a hobby might be just what the doctor ordered.

How are hobbies and happiness related?

1. Hobbies and happiness both refresh your mind

All day long, your brain is doing hard work—focusing on projects, helping you make decisions, and juggling multiple lines of thought at once. At the end of a long work week, a jolt of pleasure and enjoyment can soothe the frayed edges of your mind.

Jumping into a new hobby has been shown to reduce stress. How? Hobbies give you a break from your other responsibilities and keep you positively engaged in an enjoyable activity. Like watching TV, hobbies can cut down on overstimulation, but the benefits of having a hobby are more numerous and longer lasting. When you learn something new, you feel curiosity and a sense of purpose. In addition, hobbies are often something you can take personal pride in doing.

2. Hobbies and happiness both involve branching out

A recent study asserts that it takes a ratio of about three positive events to one negative event to keep you feeling happy and satisfied. When you get stressed-out and caught up in a routine, the things you love can feel more like obligations than sources of joy—even a dream job feels like a chore sometimes.

Branching out and bringing something new into your day is a great way to keep your outlook positive. Many hobbies involve meeting new people and enjoying something together. It might not seem like a big deal, but something as simple as joining a book club can help you feel a little more excited about life. Carving out time for a hobby can help you slow down enough to feel connected again.

3. Regular enjoyment is good for your health

Hobbies and happiness are often just as good for your body as they are for your mind. Hobbies like gardening or hiking get you a few much-needed minutes under the sun. Between the time you spend in an office chair and in the driver’s seat, your body could be itching for a little time on your feet.

Participating in an enjoyable activity that gets your blood flowing is associated with decreases in blood pressure and stress hormones like cortisol that can harm your sleep cycle and immune system. When you feel healthy, it’s much easier to feel happy.

4. Trying out new hobbies is a great way to get to know yourself

Doing something you enjoy is a great way to boost your mood in the moment, but hobbies can also provide something more long-term: gratification. Exploring what you’re good at and what brings you joy will give you a richer, fuller sense of who you are beyond where you work or live.

It can be easy to get caught up in your financial goals or the wants of your family and lose sight of your personal needs—like enthusiasm, feelings of competence, and autonomy. When a hobby challenges you, you’ll likely feel good about the skills you’ve learned and the personal strengths you’ve used to achieve something. Doing something you love can even be a form of meditation by quieting outside noise and focusing only on the present moment.