Seriously, Get a Hobby

why every adult needs hobbies (and how to choose them)

via pinterest

I pride myself on being busy and having hobbies, but when I take a look at how I spend my downtime, it’s mostly media consumption. Don’t get me wrong; you can tell from my newsletter how much I love all forms of art and media, and I encourage everyone to read more, watch more films, and all that. However, we don’t need more reasons to be in front of a screen, and it’s good to create instead of consume.

Scrolling can be entertaining, and I’m not one of those people who demonize a little phone time, but it’s so important to have hobbies in real life.

We’re in a society that wants you to be productive all the time and to turn your passions into something to make money off of. It’s turning everything into a competition with other people and with ourselves—try to fit as much as possible into a day, get a side hustle, track your steps. All chatter that makes us feel good after we’ve accomplished it, but doesn’t bring any lasting amusement.

So, what exactly is a hobby? It's a leisure activity done purely for the love of it. It’s not work, it’s not something you need to be good at, and it’s definitely not something you feel pressured to monetize.

I grew up as a competitive dancer, and it started as a hobby. But as a young girl, so many things about it became taxing, whether it was the pressure of competing against other girls or the anxiety of performing on stage. It morphed into something else entirely. Now, ten years later, I dance in my room to work out, and I'll probably start taking classes again once I have a set schedule and the money for it. Then, it will be a hobby again—something I do to take my mind off things, and something I don't care if I'm good at because it brings me joy.

The best part about hobbies is that there's absolutely no pressure to be good at them. Think about it: the point of a hobby is to avoid being productive. It's about having fun, pure and simple. So, if you've always wanted to try painting but you're convinced you have no artistic talent, do it anyway! The important thing is to release any expectations and enjoy the experience.

Here are a few reminders of why hobbies are so important if you need them:

• They’re essential for our well-being, a way to recharge, and to rediscover our likes and dislikes.

• Hobbies are the antidote to our phone addiction.

• They boost creativity, give you a sense of purpose, and improve mental health. Turns out, science backs up what we all kind of already knew: having hobbies is good for you. Studies show a strong link between having lots of different hobbies and a lower risk of depressive episodes.

• It's okay to spend time with yourself and explore activities that don't require social interaction. We're stuck with ourselves, after all, so why not get to know ourselves better? It’s so satisfying to find what sparks your curiosity, relaxes you, or makes you lose track of time.

When you're doing things you enjoy, your brain releases endorphins, the ‘happy’ chemicals that reduce stress and anxiety. But it's not just about the health benefits (though those are definitely a perk).

Hobbies also give you something to talk about! How many times have you been stuck in a conversation, just…existing? Feeling like you didn’t do anything interesting enough to talk about? Hobbies give you stories to tell and experiences to share.

The accomplishment I feel when I know I've filled my day with fun and joy is so much more fulfilling than the one I feel when I’ve reached a career goal, because I didn’t have to sweat for it, and I didn’t have to compromise my mental health in any way.

Also, let me address some objections.

• If you think you don’t have time, you do! This is a classic excuse, but I’m sure you spend hours on your phone, even if you don’t realize it. Ten minutes a day can make a difference. Try scheduling it into your calendar like any other appointment! I do that with reading sometimes. If I know I have things to do, I’ll schedule reading breaks in my day to make sure I make time for my books.

• Hobbies can be expensive, but there are plenty of free options too. Most of them are free, actually, and you don’t necessarily need lessons because, as I said, it’s great if you want to improve, but it’s not a must to constantly get better at it.

• If you’re scared of what people will think, you have to realize that we’re talking about your time and your passion. People who love you will be thrilled you’re pursuing your interests, and people aren’t judging you as much as you think they are.

• If you think you’re too tired to pick up a hobby, I hope you know that it can be energizing, and not draining! You might find something that helps you unwind even when you feel exhausted. Try something that’s not physically demanding, perhaps. Something you can do from your couch, or from your bed, if anything else feels like too much.

Getting started is the hardest part. It’s not always easy to throw yourself into something new. To find mine throughout the years, and to try new ones this year, I’m asking myself questions about what's most fulfilling to me: something creative, something active, something that allows me to use my hands, something to build a community, and so on.

I feel like it’s a must to have at least one hobby that keeps you active and moving and one that keeps your brain healthy or helps you learn. However, it’s totally understandable if you don’t think you can fit a lot of movement into your lifestyle or feel like you want to turn your brain off. We all have different lives and preferences. Find your priority, and from that, look for your new hobby.

I put together a list of 35+ hobbies to try out, to make things easier for you!

The possibilities are endless. The key is to experiment and try different things until you find what clicks. We all need a little more fun in our lives. Your mind and body will thank you for it.

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What are your hobbies? Right now, my hobbies that don’t include media consumption are journaling, writing, reading (technically media, but the healthiest hobby one can have), movement (walking/pilates/lifting/dancing), and baking. I’m eager to try things outside of my comfort zone and learn more! I’m thinking of doing free marketing courses online this year and focusing more on learning a third language.

Is there anything you’re doing in your free time that you absolutely would never give up? Let’s chat! I hope I gave you some ideas and drive to try something new.

I’m so grateful for the constant support you’ve shown me, and I’ll see you next week. x