In today’s fast-paced, tech-saturated, task-saturated world, it’s easy to feel or become overwhelmed. Too often, people deal with real-life necessities only to become worn out.
Hobbies are activities that people engage in during their leisure time for enjoyment, relaxation, or personal fulfilment. They are done for pleasure, not pay, and promote relaxation, mindfulness, positivity, and lifestyle balance. Choosing the right one is important to ensure you get the maximum benefits. Admittedly, there are some destructive hobbies, but this article will not go beyond stating that such hobbies should be avoided.
Hobbies can:
- Reduce stress: Doing something you love helps you relax and clear your mind.
- Boost creativity: Whether it’s painting, gardening, or cooking, hobbies encourage creative thinking.
- Improve mental health: They provide a sense of purpose and accomplishment, which can ward off anxiety and depression.
- Strengthen social connections: Group hobbies like book clubs or sports help you meet new people and build friendships.
Hobbies come in a variety of activities- there are no limitations. Here are some examples:
- Creative pursuits: Painting, knitting, writing, photography, or playing an instrument.
- Physical activities: Yoga, hiking, dancing, or swimming.
- Learning-based hobbies: Learning a language, coding, or researching history.
- Relaxing options: Reading, gardening, or birdwatching.
Admittedly, some hobbies require financial investments and should only be chosen if your budget permits. Some people spend hundreds, even thousands, of dollars participating in their chosen hobbies. Flight simulation, RC planes, and racing come to mind. The important thing is that people who choose these hobbies understand the costs and are okay with them. Still, not having deep pockets should not be a deterrent because thousands of cost-free hobbies exist. Over the years, I had students who enjoyed origami, and I was their paper supplier. My classroom was adorned with paper cranes, frogs, and my personal favourite, a collapsable candy jar. All produced by my creative students. My uncle collected stamps and never spent a dime. He simply cut them from envelopes of letters he received. My dad collected coins, most if not all, of which he found out and about. The beauty of hobbies is their variety, flexibility, and often lack of limitations.
Choosing a Hobby Based on The Big Five
Sometimes, people pursue hobbies because their friends are doing them. However, it is important to realize that you should choose hobbies that satisfy your personality and needs. One approach to finding the right hobby is to choose something based on the Big Five personality types.
The Big Five personality types are often referenced by the acronym OCEAN: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. They define traits that people tend to exhibit but can also influence what hobbies they may find most enjoyable.
Openness – The Curious
Such people tend to be risk-takers, creative, and open to trying new experiences. They choose creative hobbies such as visiting museums, hiking, travel, photography, and arts and crafts.
Conscientiousness – The Sensitive
Such people tend to be detail-oriented and structured, set schedules, and follow routines. They choose purposeful and result-driven hobbies such as gardening, volunteering, playing strategy-type games or escape rooms, and supporting social initiatives.
Extraversion – The Outgoing
Such people enjoy socializing and participating in group activities. They engage in social activities such as team sports, high-energy exercise classes, group activities, game nights, and networking events.
Agreeableness – The Cooperative
Such people tend to integrate well with others and are often kind, affectionate, and empathetic. Select hobbies that support other people include volunteering, participating in community events, supporting shelters, food drives, and other initiatives.
Neuroticism – The Distressed
Such people tend to be irritable, moody, or sad. They find fulfilment through solitary and relaxing hobbies like gardening, writing and blogging, reading, meditation, learning, and participating in support groups.
There is nothing wrong with having multiple hobbies or even ones that fall outside of your personality type. Interestingly, most people find the right hobby through discovery. They try something and enjoy it to the point that they continue to do it.
While there are no limitations or restrictions, it is important to ensure that your chosen hobbies provide some form of enrichment, relaxation, and mindfulness. Choose something that removes you from the daily grind and provides lifestyle balance.
Personal Experience
I was always introverted, so growing up, I engaged primarily in reading and model-making. In elementary school, I met a classmate, Fitzgerald James, who was an excellent artist and science fiction enthusiast. He always drew pictures for me. I started practising, and art became one of my main pastimes. My siblings and cousins enjoyed sports and other social activities. While I participated with them, I often found those activities mentally tiring and sometimes frustrating. I mush preferred solitary activities, and thankfully, my family never saw me as antisocial.
I discovered my love of aviation through my two older brothers. I would join them in plane spotting and learn everything I could about various aeroplanes. I also built and collected models. They became pilots while I pursued PC flight simulations, my primary hobby. As an adult, I have invested in flight software and hardware, haptic equipment, and a VR headset.
I still enjoy art, with a focus on cartooning and model-making. I’ve dabbled in miniature painting and, a few years ago, discovered drone piloting. Sometimes, I feel like I have too many hobbies, and I spend time trying to decide which activity to engage in. Still, I always have something on tap to escape the grind or pressing world issues.
I used that example to illustrate that one does not have to be limited to one hobby, and hobbies can change or be expanded. They should also be things that give you the most fulfilment. Did I mention they can lead to careers or jobs? Remember that once that threshold is crossed, your pursuit is no longer a hobby. Then again, one may argue that the two can be combined.
Final Thoughts
Hobbies aren’t just a “nice-to-have” part of life—they’re essential. They enrich your daily routine, foster well-being, and provide fulfilment and balance. So, whether it’s as simple as collecting stamps or as adventurous as kayaking, find a hobby that speaks to you and let it work its magic. Your future self will thank you.
