A hobby is an activity outside of work that gives a person a sense of purpose and enjoyment. It can take many forms, including playing sports, cooking, reading, art, or playing music. Hobbies are often associated with mental wellness, as they provide a distraction from daily life and can help reduce stress. They can also help a person learn new skills.
Hobbies are characterized by being self-motivated, progressive, and irregular tasks performed over a long period of time for fulfillment. They are distinct from professions in that they are pursued for personal pleasure rather than for monetary gain. An individual may have several hobbies and switch between them from time to time. Some hobbies are also referred to as “making and tinkering” and can range from the creation of paper models out of card or paper called papercraft up to higher end projects such as assembling or restoring cars and computer components.
When searching for a hobby, a good place to start is by thinking about what you enjoyed doing as a child. Maybe you were always drawn to a certain sport, or maybe you loved to draw. You can also look to your social media activity, YouTube search history, or Google trends for ideas. There are also online assessments that can tune you in to your interests such as the Strong Interest Inventory or Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Whatever you decide to pursue, remember that it is important to be patient and allow yourself a bit of trial and error.