Maybe You Do Need a Hobby
You don’t have to be good at it; you just have to enjoy it.
by Casey Medert
We love to glorify being busy. Having a packed schedule and working from dusk to dawn with no play is almost like a badge of honor. Accomplishing tasks related to school or our careers feels productive; we feel good about ourselves because we’re doing something perceived as useful and valuable. I admittedly love the rush that comes with the constant movement driven by a packed schedule and checking tasks off a to-do list one by one. But when that final task is checked off, not many of us take the time to do things for ourselves, and I don’t mean this in the self-care, “take-a-bubble-bath” sense.
It’s easy to find instantly gratifying activities like doom-scrolling and watching video essays more appealing than sitting down and expending energy on something else. While unfulfilling, we’re drawn to these things because they’re easily accessible after a long day at work, school, or running errands. In finding a hobby based on personal interests, we have something fulfilling to look forward to after such a day. From crocheting to making music to gardening, hobbies can be an amazing form of stress relief. You essentially create something of your own that belongs only to you, not to your school or your job. Hobbies add enrichment to a typical day-to-day routine. They don’t have a due date and can be done purely for relaxation while also being mentally stimulating. Outside of school and work, my hobbies give me a sense of control and mastery in a turbulent, unpredictable world.
In addition to curing boredom, hobbies are excellent for bonding. Everybody has interests, and nothing is better than sharing them with others who want to get to know you as a person. It gives people an idea of what you typically enjoy outside of school and work. Shared interests are strong foundations upon which connections can form and flourish. There’s a reason why many high school and college clubs are founded on shared interests such as writing, drawing, gaming, and knitting. By returning to your preferred activity, you’re combating loneliness while also strengthening your skills.
By focusing on enjoyment rather than accomplishment or skill, I have grown happier, less lonely, and less stressed. I’ve noticed that individuals who don’t have a recreational activity to look forward to in their free time are more prone to boredom and unhappiness. Their minds are often focused on the next step in school, work, or their busy schedule, rather than the next step in their personal, at-home lives. I can’t say I’ve never experienced such a routine—it can be difficult to carve out time, after all. However, important things take and deserve time, and I’d say recreational activities deserve at least a little bit of it. At the end of the day, if I find that I have time to stress myself out in bed because of the TikTok algorithm, I know I have time to open a document and start writing.
With something to constantly look forward to, there’s no need to check it off a to-do list.
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