Why You Should Have Hobbies (Even if You're Busy).
Updated: Aug 2
The word, “hobby”, feels playful. In a world driven by 24/7 demand, it exudes an element of luxury, indicating that the person with the hobby must have a lot of time on their hands or ability to outsource work. However, I would like to offer the idea that we mentally switch the word, “hobby”, with the word, “skill” to better understand the value of why we should have them despite living in a time when the world is constantly buzzing with busywork.
Hobbies are frequently connected to skills that are transferable to real-life problems, but we fluff them off as leisure because we enjoy them.
In truth, when we practice the skills we enjoy (in a less stressful environment) we give ourselves the chance to build new critical thinking skills along with developing our own creativity.
I am frequently gobsmacked when someone tells me that they don’t know what they like to do outside of the roles they play at work or home. I personally think that this lack of awareness is a pipeline to midlife (or any life) crisis, but that’s another blog post for a different day.
So many adults (especially moms) say that they have no idea what they like or enjoy because they’re just trying to get through the season they’re in, or they never took the time to figure it out in the first place. This is a sad and dire situation, because I don’t think we truly understand what we give up when we forget the little tasks of daily life that bring us a sense of joy.
I’m not talking about wild hobbies that require lots of money or an entire room or shop to do. I’m talking about a list of activities with a creative aspect that are often practical in nature. Things we can bring ourselves back to when we need refreshing moments in the busy nature of life. I honestly feel like every man, woman, and child should have hobbies for the sake of a well-lived existence. And yes, I did say a few. Not because they should be kept up on all at once, but because it’s important to have interests of varying accessibility so that you can pick-up whatever is most convenient or needed at the time.
For some, the lack of desire or knowing where to start may not be the problem. Time and attention may be the primary constraint. You may have a whole list of things you would love to try with no solid chunks of time to devote to them. As a parent to multiple children (who is generally in close proximity to them all day, every day) I know all too well that even a few minutes in a row can be hard to scavenge here and there. Even night-time sleep doesn’t guarantee a calm or quiet 8-13 hours for anyone since children frequently need their parents at night as well.
As a Jane-Of-All-Trades who’s tried a lot of things, I would like to share my reasons for why I think that hobbies are not the luxury we assume.
We learn through play! As a homeschooling mom I do my best to balance academia with real-world learning experiences. I absolutely disagree with the idea of forsaking books all-together, but I also agree that people of all ages NEED hands-on opportunities to learn any given new skill. Over the years I have read that we learn faster through play, and I’m inclined to believe it. However I don’t think we ever really grow out of this. I think adults just forget to learn how to play.
It heals our relationship with learning. Not everyone has a great school experience growing up. No matter what type of education you received growing up, many of us carry the weight of feeling like we need to “hurry up and learn a task” so we win the approval or side-step the disapproval of those around us. Honestly, hobbies have been an amazing way for me to learn how to learn, and to become comfortable with making mistakes.
They help us build intimacy in our relationships. When we don’t have hobbies or interests outside of the daily grind, it can be really hard to make new connections with others or maintain the ones we have. Hobbies give us things to do outside of what’s going on in the news or the latest struggles. Without other points of connection, our friendships can become opportunities for commiseration, which ultimately degrade over time (ask me how I know).
They can help us build connections with our kids! Do you want to have teens that talk to you? Find ways to spend time with them and pursue mutual interests together when they are young! It can feel like a lot of work in the earlier years, but choosing the right activities and hobbies can really help the success rate of staying connected as they get older and more independent.
And finally, hobbies can help us build a life with usable but enjoyable skills. They say to find work you love and it will never be work to you. I disagree. Work will always feel like work, but we don’t have to hate the feeling of working. When we become intimate with the various ways of caring for mind, body, and soul, we can find the bits we love and carry us through the things we don’t.
In the weeks and months to come, I am looking forward to sharing with you my hobbies of the past, present, and the future with the hope that you will find bits of your life to enjoy as well!
Until next time!
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