Wake up. Go to class. Eat. Study. Eat again. Sleep. Repeat. I am sure many of us have found ourselves in this vicious cycle at some point in our college education. When classes ramp up in difficulty, it can be easy to fall into a Groundhog Day-esque routine, with little variation to our daily routines. Despite this, we are still advised to take time for ourselves and to find balance in our lives. We are told to find hobbies that we enjoy to benefit our mental health. If you are anything like I was, you are probably wondering how this is possible. If you have been struggling to find a hobby as a college student, look no further. This article is for you.
- Lean on your high school experiences.
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When I first started college, I was quickly overwhelmed with the amount of organizations available on campus. Choice overload quickly took over, and I ended up being uninvolved for the majority of my first year. There were just too many options, and I didn’t want to end up making the wrong choice. However, I wanted to be involved, and with the newfound free time I had during my days, I quickly got bored without a hobby.
To help me on the right track, I got a great piece of advice from my parents: think about what you enjoyed in high school. In high school, I was very involved in sports, and more specifically track and field. This was not something that I could continue at UMKC, but it at least put me on the right path. I enjoyed exercising, and an active lifestyle had always been one of my priorities. This is how I ended up joining the Triathlon Club.
Although much different from the sports I competed in during my time in high school, the Triathlon Club has given me the structured athletic experience that I had grown to miss so much. I am able to interact with teammates and participate in something competitive, all while keeping up my physical health (which can be challenging with a rigorous school schedule).
- Consider what you have missed out on trying in the past.
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Due to my high school schedule, I was never able to participate in the school newspaper or yearbook, both of which I always wished I would have had the time for. Writing has always been a passion of mine, but unfortunately it was limited to the assignments I had to complete in my required English classes. Once I began my time at UMKC, I was concerned that I would not be able to write at all, as my major was far outside the realm of English and writing.
Fortunately, I stumbled across none other than HerCampus. I was finally getting my chance to pursue something I had wanted to do for so many years, and I was able to embrace my more creative side, rather than the solely scientific/analytical side that is so important for medicine. I know that I would have regretted it if I never pursued writing further, even as a hobby, so I am incredibly grateful to have found an organization that allows me to participate in one of the passions I missed out on during high school.
- Find something that relates to your chosen career path.
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If you are pursuing a higher education, I hope that you are in a major that you have a passion for. However, I have found that even with this passion, the long hours of studying and sitting in class can become a little bit dull. This is why I try to gain practical experience in my chosen career path outside of the classroom setting. Of course, this can be a variety of activities, but for me, it has primarily been through volunteering. My medical school is fortunate enough to be able to run an entirely student-led free health clinic each weekend, providing for underserved populations in the greater Kansas City area.
Through volunteering in this clinic, I have been able to sharpen my skills that will help me to become a better physician, and I am able to apply the knowledge I learn in the classroom, giving me a deeper appreciation for why it is so important to learn the material. Being able to interact with patients has reinstilled my passion for medicine, and it has re-lit the spark that was beginning to die out from the long hours of intense studying. While school is important, it is not always a realistic indicator of what your career will be like, which is why I believe hobbies that relate to your future career are so important in serving as a reminder to why you chose your career path in the first place.
Although college comes along with much more free time, this does not necessarily mean it is easier to find hobbies. Between the pressure to be studying long hours and the occasional choice overload, it can be easy to fall into a routine where you are merely getting by. I hope these tips left you with a few things to think about when choosing a hobby and made the decision process seem a whole lot simpler. That being said, finding a hobby can ultimately be a lot of trial and error, and there isn’t one perfect hobby to participate in. Finding a hobby is about prioritizing yourself and giving yourself the time to do something you truly enjoy.