I get it. After a long day of classes, all we really want to do is take a nice long shower, crawl into bed, and binge-watch all the Love Island seasons on Netflix. The mind-numbing interactions between the Islanders and hilarious scripted dramatics of reality television is entertaining for a while, but as three A.M. rolls around and we finally close our laptops, the damning sense of ennui creeps in.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good trashy reality show to unwind in the evenings. It is an important part of my personal routine that helps to wash away the stress of the day. However, as I reflect upon how mindfully I am spending my time, I realised that what I meant to do for leisure has become a crutch that I rely on when I need a distraction from the weariness of daily life. Somewhere in between teenagehood and adulthood, I had stopped investing in my hobbies outside of school that brought me actual long-lasting gratification and happiness.
Unfortunately, that’s a common reality for a lot of us. As young adults, we have been thrust into a whole new level of life. Some of us are trying to balance our studies with our social lives, while others are taking their first steps into the working world and just trying to figure out their place in the world. New responsibilities, commitments and expectations leave little room for hobbies that seem childlike, frivolous or just not as important in comparison.
Hence, picking up (and committing to) new hobbies is difficult because it’s a “zero-sum game”. David Conroy, a professor of kinesiology and human development at Penn State University, explains that in order to create time for one activity, we must take time away from doing something else. That alone is “swimming against the tide”.
However, while hobbies are not an essential need, having it is actually really good for us. It contributes to our self-esteem and self-identity, helps us to enjoy better moods, and its stress-reducing quality can improve our physical health, even hours after engaging in it. It gives us that much needed work-life balance, and for some, makes life worth living.
Rekindling your interests
For those of you looking to have a little more balance in life through hobbies, here are some tips to rekindle or spark new interests, and how to decide what to pick up.
To start off your journey, come up with a list of prospective hobbies. This can include old hobbies that you had growing up or something you came across online that piqued your interest. For those of us sorely lacking in ideas, perhaps look within your social circle and find out what your friends do for fun. Tagging along to try out their hobbies can help the process feel less daunting, and may even make commitment easier.
According to Conroy, we can evaluate prospective hobbies by two criteria.
Firstly, how accessible is the prospective hobby? If the hobby requires specific equipment, going to a remote location, or being part of a niche community, it would be difficult to engage with it on a regular basis. Considering the amount of time, money and emotional effort you’re willing to invest in something can help you narrow down your options.
Next, how enjoyable is the hobby? Consider how good you feel when you are engaging in that activity. This criteria of “enjoyment” can look different for everyone.
For example, some may enjoy the simple pleasure of a “mindless” hobby that may not necessarily be considered productive or impactful. That’s completely okay — hobbies are meant to provide leisure. However, while hobbies like “doomscrolling” on social media and binge-watching Netflix are valid, their negative impacts on our physical and mental well-being offset the temporary benefits of relaxation we derive from it.
On the other hand, others may enjoy the challenge of a hobby. Activities that allow growth, learning and trial are generally better at sustaining interest and commitment. Personally, while it does take more effort than passively watching Love Island, I find true fulfillment in tactile activities that result in something at the end of the day, like clay-modelling or cooking. The satisfaction of the learning process and actively engaging my hands admittedly lasts longer than the schadenfreude of laughing at inane dialogue for seven hours straight.
Ultimately, it’s all about figuring out what works for you and taking the first step to try the things that you had always wanted to do. So, go sign up for that class that might turn an interest into a hobby, and possibly a passion. At worst, you end up in a good mood and the authority to say that you tried.