A survey published by Umair Bashir on the Statista website in January 2025 indicated that between January – December 2024, “Cooking / baking” and “Traveling” are the top two answers among Australian consumers in their survey on the subject of “Most popular hobbies & activities”. The survey was conducted online among 12,145 respondents in Australia.
Whilst a high percentage of workers are programmed to reduce the risk to them financially in terms of having a good job, financial stability, various health and home insurance policies, income plans and union membership, are we really enjoying the freedom we get from a risk-free life?
In spite of having a reasonably stable and financially secure life, we may not know how to spend our free time. The irony of our time is we are being encouraged to not think about anything other than how to make money. Many people have a major problem of how to spend their time on weekends that are not connected to domestic matters such as shopping or maintaining a home.
According to a Gallup poll, almost 85% of workers surveyed admitted to disliking their job and if those people don’t look further afield for things they do like, then that working life can become oppressive.
“There’s got to be more to life than fighting for fish heads.” Jonathan Livingston Seagull.
A principal life coach at Authentic Empowerment, Claire Hall, states that: “Hobbies are an important form of creative expression. Just as exercise releases and increases energy in the body, creative energy also needs a form of expression. Whatever hobby we choose, it is an important aspect of our wellbeing. It can enhance our ability to relax, rest our brain and recharge our spirit.”
In a time-poor world where work/ life balance is often spoken about, what are some benefits of pursuing a hobby?
A publication set out below, by Umair Bashir on 30 January 2025, set out some useful tips to having a hobby and the benefits associated with how non-work-related activities can help to improve our lives:
There are several benefits to pursuing a hobby.
Stress Buster
Doing something non-routine is a good way to deal with the stress. Non-routine activities take away your mind from routine and stressful activities. Thinking and doing things which we like relieves our stress. It replenishes our energy. It recharges our brain.
Makes you Happy
Anything which relieves your stress makes you happy. Even looking forward to doing something you like also makes you feel happy. You feel happy when you are planning your holidays or when you look forward to going to an entertaining evening. Research has shown that anticipating something positive unleashes positive emotions that can help us live happier lives.
Imagine how much happiness a hobby can unleash when you look forward to indulging in your daily hobby. Pursuing a hobby gives you this opportunity to feel happy even before you actually indulge in your hobby.
Builds Confidence
When you learn something new and pursue it as a hobby, your overall confidence level goes up. You feel happy and confident about what you know. This has a positive impact on your career and personality.
Makes you a more Interesting Person
When you know something very dearly and are passionate about it, you master the activity. Masters are ‘go to’ person for others. People would like to know more about your hobby your passion, and yourself. Your insight into what you know makes you an interesting person for others.
Imagine your office colleague is pursuing a hobby of singing. How much would you like to know about their journey?
Helps you deal with boredom
This is a very big challenge. Recent surveys indicate that anywhere from 30 to 90 percent of Americans report feeling bored at some point in a typical day. Young people seem particularly vulnerable, with surveys showing 91 to 98 percent reporting daily bouts of boredom. We Indians are no different.
A good hobby is an answer to this boredom phenomenon.
Makes you waste less time
If you have nothing to look forward to doing in your free time, you will waste your free time doing nothing. We all know a free mind is the devils workshop. Rather than wasting free time for useless activities and engaging the mind in negative thoughts, keeping it engaged in activities like a hobby is a good investment of the time.
Good for your mental health
Engaging in an interesting activity boosts your mental health. Anything which gives us happiness is an antidepressant. You have read above how hobbies can boost your happiness. Good mental health is as good as good physical health. Pursuing a good hobby is a good way to deal with the depression.
Good for your physical health
If you pursue a hobby which is an outdoor sport or swimming, it not only gives you happiness but it also makes you physically fit.
Hobbies and activities beyond your routine chores give you an important perspective on life. Some people pursue volunteering as their hobby. It also has a great advantage.
Dr. Kevin Eschleman, an assistant psychology professor at San Francisco State University, “Anything that provides you with a real cognitive shift in how you see the world, that’s going to be an asset in terms of your overall health and wellbeing, and also how you solve problems, whether it’s in personal relationships or in a work environment.” (Source: Fast Company)
Find time for a hobby
We all are time-starved career professionals. But hobbies are not the things to be pursued after retirement. Life is not to be lived in sequence, it all happens parallelly.
Hobbies are like flowers on a plant. They make the plant look beautiful and feel proud.
