Need a New Hobby? 5 Ways to Help You Find the Right Fit by Jon Lewis
hat is a hobby? Merriam-Webster defines “hobby” as “a pursuit outside one’s regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation.” For those in high stress occupations, hobbies are ways to relax, release stress and spend time with friends or family. Obviously, there are many types of hobbies: painting, collecting coins, playing an instrument, joining a sports league, etc. If you don’t have a hobby, here are five suggestions to help find the right hobby for you.
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Take stock of your history. What did you do before you entered your career? When you were a child, did you play sports or collect coins? Take an hour out of your day and think about your life starting as a child and continuing through high school, college and before your current job. Write down what you enjoyed doing during those times and concentrate on how thinking about those things made you feel. If you miss it, maybe there is something that will correlate to a hobby you can practice today. For example, did you play in the woods as a kid? Maybe you would like to start hiking. Do you miss your bicycle? Maybe you would like to take up road cycling or mountain biking.
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Do your family or friends have hobbies that you think look fun? What could be better than taking up a hobby that your family and friends are passionate about? If your spouse regularly participates in an activity, ask him/her if you can tag along. If your friend is an avid kayaker, see if she might show you how to join in. Think of a hobby that you and your kids can do together. What could be better than spending quality time with family doing something you all love to do without stress?
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