How Hobbies Help Us

Far from a waste of time, pastimes are good for body, brain and spirit

- Charlotte Hilton Andersen

Standing on a stage, belting out a ballad at a local Chinese festival, is a core memory for Kien Vuu. When he was just 6 years old, he was the youngest member of his family band-and one of its star singers. While he was too young to understand the words he was singing from "Part of the Game," a 1970s song about heartbreak by Hong Kong pop group The Wynners-he did understand how much he loved performing music, especially with his family.

Vuu did not grow up to become a professional singer. Instead, he chose medical school and became Kien Vuu, MD, a longevity doctor and assistant professor of health sciences at UCLA. Yet he never lost his love for singing, so he makes time regularly for karaoke sessions with his own children.

"Singing with people has always been one of my favorite hobbies. In fact, I can still remember all the words to that old song," he says. "Karaoke is one of those things that just lights me up and brings me joy."

Such things are vital, and we do mean in a medical sense. Just ask Dr. Vuu: "In my work as a doctor and researcher, I've become convinced that having hobbies is an essential part of living and aging well," he says.

Sanam Hafeez, PsyD, a neuropsychologist at New York's Columbia University, agrees. “I feel very strongly about the importance of having hobbies," she says. Hers include practicing Pilates and learning Italian. "The benefits are immense, both physically and cognitively."

Dr. Vuu easily rattles off the benefits he gets from singing: In addition to boosting his mood, he says, singing helps him bond with his family and feel connected to his Chinese heritage, improves his memory and mental health, lowers his stress and even gives him a bit of cardio.

"I'm a very active performer when I sing! It definitely gets my heart rate up and probably embarrasses my kids," he says, laughing.