Written by Lauren James Budhu
I don’t know about you, but “hobbies" have become a way to deal with the difficulties of everyday life. Whether it was my various pandemic hobbies like crocheting, or getting into fitness (again!) after moving hundreds of miles away and becoming a stay-at-home mom at the beginning of the year with two kids under two, I’ve been escaping and distracting myself with hobbies for some years now.
Along the way, we’ve had tons of Settlers of Catan game nights, I’ve tried to crochet a dinosaur with video guides, and then I baked a couple of loaves of bread in my Dutch oven. I was pretty proud of myself. And I would say I’m hardly unique in this regard– many people rely on leisure activities for their many benefits, especially when a new year kicks off. However, you’re not alone if having a hobby is not on your to-do list, whether it’s a lack of time, interest, or even energy. Americans are working more than ever, so it makes sense that there’s less time to pursue extracurricular interests.
So, what constitutes a hobby? We might have different ideas of what a hobby is — jogging is literally the last thing I ever want to do, but some love the rush of adrenaline when pounding the pavement. So many things fall under the hobby umbrella, from video gaming to cycling to painting.
The good thing about having a hobby has less to do with the specific activity and more to do with the act of having one at all. To start, doing something that makes you happy engages your reward system. Aside from instant gratification, these activities help deal with the stresses of life. Overall, finding a hobby that you enjoy is a long-term investment in yourself. A 2023 study analyzed the data of more than 93,000 older adults and found that participants with hobbies—defined as activities done for pleasure during leisure time—self-reported higher health, happiness, and life satisfaction. There are so many benefits!
Psychological benefits could include immediate effects on your mood or long-term boosts to resilience skills. Biological effects can include better physical performance (via, say, sports like basketball or pickleball), improved immune function, and less pain across the board. One study found that 75% of people who were creative in their hobbies had lower cortisol levels, the stress hormone, after doing so.
Meanwhile, some hobbies unlock a wealth of social benefits, including combating loneliness and supporting stronger social skills. Other hobbies have behavioral benefits, which means they can lead to building optimal habits and routines.Overall, hobbies make life better.
Need help getting started finding a hobby that suits you? Check this out! In the new year, make yourself a priority and do things outside of your daily responsibilities that will make you happy. Cheers to 2025!
