Yes, I need hobbies!

Last week, I took a break from studying and attended a four-day advanced wheel throwing class at the Jam Factory and loved every minute of it. Should I have spent more time studying? Possibly, but for the sake of my wellbeing and happiness, it was an essential break that I needed to focus on my pottery. I now feel refreshed and ready to continue. 

I recently read an article titled ‘Ok, but do you really need a hobby?’ which indicates that the pursuit of finding a hobby can cause stress and pressure for some people. There are many people who don’t have any hobbies, citing the “lack or money, time or energy” to pursue. If you are tired or burnt out, it may be the perfect opportunity to find a hobby that is engaging, which boosts energy levels and wellbeing.

Coffee & tea canisters made at the workshop

What is a hobby?

A hobby is an activity pursued outside of work or study hours which is enjoyable and “fulfilled without pressure”. Hobbies are activities which are engaged with regularly. It is recommended to spend at least 90 minutes once or twice a week to immerse yourself into a hobby to find intrinsic enjoyment and flow. It may be easier to focus on a smaller project when first starting as finding 90 minutes can be difficult when feeling time poor. To find your flow, engage in an activity that is challenging but also doable, where you are completely focused and absorbed. 

Become inspired

At last week’s pottery class, the teacher mentioned that they stopped doing pottery for 10+ years before returning to it, as pottery was their “happy place”. Their story is not uncommon. My regular pottery teacher also had a decade long break from pottery before returning to the craft. 

Many people spend time and resources to find a hobby but are unable to find one that they want to continue. Finding a hobby that puts you into a flow state can build your intrinsic motivation to continue with it because you love it. If you are tired or burnt out, it can be difficult to find an activity worth pursuing. Spending time to brainstorm activities may assist with finding a hobby that you want to continue. 

Need some inspiration? Think about some of the activities that you have previously loved to do and assess whether this is something you would like to develop further. Alternatively, think of activities which use the opposite skills or senses to what you normally use for work/study and focus on these or review your bucket list to see if any of these can be developed into a hobby.

Find a buddy

Talk to friends and family to see if they (or anyone they know) participates in your chosen hobby. They may be able to provide advice on where to start, want to join you, or have connections to a local community. If not, online communities in Blogs, Facebook, TikToc or Instagram can be great sources of information and inspiration.

When I first started pottery classes I was unaware of what equipment I would need and the costs to pursue the hobby. I undertook weekly classes for a year before I purchased a wheel to use at home and another year before I bought a kiln. Starting a new hobby can be expensive, so be invested in the hobby before buying any expensive equipment or supplies. Most community classes, clubs or societies allow participants to use their equipment and/or supplies which is a practical way to determine if the hobby fits for you before buying any equipment.

Have you found a hobby that puts you into flow?