In the years since its founding, Pinterest has quickly become synonymous with “the place where women go to subversively plan their weddings years before they happen, much to the chagrin of the men in their lives.” To some degree, I understand why. It is a wonderful place to collect ideas about a wedding. On the other hand, that belittles Pinterest users beyond reason.

Let me be the first to say that I have pins that relate to weddings, but I am not secretly planning my wedding. Some were for a friend’s wedding, some were great ideas that I plan to use in the future (though not necessarily for a wedding), some were stunning photos and some were things I could implement if I ever marry. So, before shrugging off the idea of Pinterest as only for women needing wedding planning advice, consider these seven uses:

1. Forming communities with like-minded people.

The most valuable use of Pinterest is the forming of interest-based groups through pinning or liking similar posts. I have personally been followed by several people based on our shared love of yoga, writing, education, human rights advocacy and cooking. Likewise, I have connected with people from all over the world by following boards that had a familiar theme to my own.

2. Decorating one’s apartment or home like a pro.

I have always dreamed of decorating my first apartment. Ever since I was young, I can remember sketching poorly drawn floorplans and filling them with desired furniture and artwork. Until recently, these sketches have looked like a childhood dream, filled with candy and games and all of my favorite things, but lacking practical, functioning pieces, like a dishwasher or a coffee table. Since developing a love—ok, an obsession with Pinterest—I have found happy mediums and cheap alternatives to my over-the-top plans of childhood.

3. Advertising a business or non-profit group.

Thanks to a college project, I also began looking into advertising via Pinterest, which takes a lot of time and dedication, but can have amazing rewards. By creating pins that include links to a business or non-profit website or other social media page, pinners are drawn to one’s site by mutually-appreciated products, services, beliefs or desires.

4. Absent-minded scrolling in times of boredom or loneliness.

Who hasn’t been bored while waiting for a train or a plane or during Hulu commercials, but sick of re-reading the same Facebook posts? Well, Pinterest has a solution for that too. Content is added every few minutes and no topic is unsearchable. Imagining a tattoo design? There’s a category for that. Interested in anime? There are pinners devoted to the topic. Want to send an awesome quote to a friend who needs a pick-me-up? Send a pin, by way of the paper airplane button.

5. Discovering a new passion or interest.

While women’s rights have always been of interest to me, as a woman, I was able to delve into it, with the help of feminist pins, pinners and boards that forced me to expand my thinking. I have found a rich basis of research topics, numerous advocacy projects, an expansive gallery of art and literature and many role models. All of these have helped me expand my knowledge-base and share my ideas.

6. Much-needed stress relief after work or school.

Sometimes it is the most relaxing activity in the world for me, because it allows my body to rest, but requires that my mind stay active. For people like me, it the biggest blessing in that regard and provides deserved 15 minute breaks during long stretches of homework.

7. Finding projects to try that are way beyond one’s skill level.

As the site pinterestfails.com suggests, the DIY projects that over-zealous crafters post on Pinterest are often beyond the realm of reality for most people. I have never quite suffered a “Pinterest fail,” but I am frequently intimidated out of a craft project because of the impressive examples on the site. I am equally as often goaded into trying them and sometimes, I am even proud of the results.