Since it’s the coldest part of winter here in Southeast Idaho, it’s a good time to take a look at something fun: hobbies. What is a hobby? According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a hobby is defined as “an activity that someone does for pleasure when they are not working.” Hobbies can range from things like watching Netflix, YouTube or TikTok to building models, making clothes, cooking, martial arts, and even collecting things! “Hobby” runs such a wide spectrum of activities that we’ll need a couple of posts to address it – even then, we’ll only be taking a quick peek at the tip of the iceberg!

First, why is a hobby important? The simple answer: it’s NOT work and it’s fun. The more complicated answer: humans need an outlet. Sometimes, work can be the outlet – think of those people who love their job, who can’t wait to get there every day. For them, their work is their outlet. But it’s very likely that the only people you can think of who feel that way are on TV. Finding the perfect job, the one you love and can’t get enough of, is extremely difficult. Instead, most of us work to pay the bills and maybe – if we’re very lucky – set a little aside. Work is work. So, we need something outside of work to have fun.

For some of us, outside of work is family life. Whether you’ve been married 20 years and have five kids or are just starting out with your significant other, you learn quickly that family is just as much work as work – maybe more so. Again, for some, family can be an outlet. They love playing with their kids, cooking and cleaning, and domestic life isn’t a bunch of chores but a bunch of fun. Again, these people are few and far between – but you may come across them more than those who love their work. And even the most devoted family-loving person needs a little time to themselves occasionally.

Hobbies help us relax, unwind, and have a little fun. While some might include things like drinking or smoking weed as activities that perform that function, those have escaped and not hobbies. What’s the difference? Escapes take us out of the world, away from our families and friends, isolate us, and makes us avoid dealing with problems. Drinking, doing illegal drugs (or over-doing prescription ones), and even gaming to excess can alter our perception of the world and make us avoid our issues. Even hobbies, when taken to the extreme, can become escapes. For instance, enjoying wine and being a connoisseur – or oenophile – is a hobby that appeals to many. And many enjoy sampling fine Scotch or mixing drinks. But drinking to excess or drinking just to get drunk is an escape. If you’re spending your time escaping instead of enjoying hobbies, it might be time to talk with a therapist.

 Why are hobbies important enough to spend our hard-earned money and (very) limited free time on them? First, they’re fun. Humans need fun. They promote learning and patience – it can take weeks or months to learn to knit, to learn the tools and materials, the techniques involved. They promote creativity and expression – painting a picture not just of a sunset, but a sunset on an exoplanet. They can teach you skills applicable to work and family life – learning woodworking could teach you about home repairs while D&D can teach math and critical thinking skills as well as how to work as a team. They can help stretch your budget – learning to cook can cut down on the cost of prepared, frozen food, and learning to knit can open the possibility of making your own clothing or gifts for birthdays and holidays. They can build bonds across generations – a grandmother can teach her grandchildren crochet, or several generations can come together to cook a family meal.

Hobbies also keep our minds occupied and our hands busy. You can’t stress-eat if your hands are occupied carving a figurine. Getting into a good game can pass the time quickly. Before you know it, it’s been four hours, and you haven’t smoked once! Hobbies can also help us get healthy: taking up a sport can help us have fun while getting exercise, teaching your kids D&D can get them interested in reading and math while reducing their screen time. Hobbies are also great at teaching budgeting skills and delayed gratification – instead of just buying that model your kid wants, teach them how to save up for it and how it feels to achieve a goal. Hobbies also help connect us: participating in a knitting circle helps you connect face-to-face with other people and make friends. Hobbies can even lead us to love; you already have something in common with the other people in the climbing club you joined – a weekend trip might take your friendship to another level.

So… how do you find hobbies? There are plenty of Reddits about this as well as TikTok and YouTube videos. But the idea is simple: what do you like to do? Do you like Bruce Lee movies? Maybe martial arts could be a good hobby. You don’t have to be built like the Master to learn – reputable instructors will be able to work with most anyone, including those with disabilities. Is the Food Network more to your taste? Cooking is a great hobby, and most areas have in-person classes. If you live in a remote area, YouTube or Skype lessons might be the way to go.

Clubs and groups can be found just about everywhere and most of them enjoy having new people stop by and observe. After meetings, talk to the members and ask questions. If in-person is intimidating, try online chat groups or Reddits. Most members will happily discuss their hobbies and what they entail and how to get started.

Some hobbies are more difficult or expensive than others. Sailing, for instance, is a great hobby and fun for the entire family. It can be difficult to get into it here in Southeast Idaho – the weather often isn’t the best for sailing, and we don’t have many lakes large enough to practice it. Buying a sailboat can be prohibitively expensive. But that doesn’t mean you have to give up hope if you live in Menan and love sailing. Sailboats come in a wide range of sizes from tiny dinghy-sized craft all the way to large ocean-going vessels. You can even do like the Brady Bunch and find a junked sailboat and fix it up. You might not be able to sail year-round here in Idaho as you might in California, but you can certainly watch videos and chat with other enthusiasts all year long! Sometimes, all you need is a little creativity to enjoy what you love even if budget and geography are restrictive.

So… what kinds of hobbies are there? Since this blog isn’t Wikipedia-sized, we’ll have to go with just a slice of what’s out there. There are physical hobbies, like martial arts, running, and yoga – hobbies that get you moving, train your mind and body, and contribute to your health. Sports can be hobbies as well, things like boxing, pickleball, soccer, or softball – games you can play with friends in either a competitive or non-competitive way and help you get social while getting up and moving. There are games like chess, D&D, and card-based games like poker or Magic that you can play with friends. Magic and similar card games might lead you into collecting – another hobby. There are all kinds of things to collect, from stamps and coins to comic books and figurines – even Depression glass or other antiques! Fiber arts are another popular hobby; things like knitting and crochet, weaving, even spinning yarn. Knitting and crochet are often seen as “grandma” hobbies and something to do when you’re alone – not so! There are groups who meet regularly to knit or crochet, and they often offer classes to beginners or do work for charities – we’ll look closer at knitting and crochet in an upcoming post.

We haven’t even begun to scratch the surface. The world of art holds many possibilities: sculpture, painting, pastels, pencils, markers – even crayons and fingerpainting! Art can be a very therapeutic hobby, and you can start with very little money – you can buy paper and crayons at Walmart and go. You can even go mixed-media with collages. Other artistic endeavors include beading and crafts, woodworking and metal work.

Still don’t know what appeals to you? Think about what you read or watch on the internet or your phone. Some hobbies are more passive. Like to track what celebrities are wearing or what they’re eating? That’s a hobby. Like to watch TV? That’s a hobby. Going to the movies, the theatre or opera, even the ballet are all excellent hobbies. Reading is a truly wonderful way to spend your time. Novels of intrigue and suspense, travel books about epic adventures, even biographies of people you admire highlighting their Perhaps you’re not as passive. Being a content maker can be a hobby – making your own TikToks or your own YouTube channel, you can do whatever you like. Want a podcast where you talk politics? Or perhaps a series of TikToks on braiding hair? Maybe a YouTube channel dedicated to epic gaming rants?

We’re still only at the beginning. If you’re having a hard time figuring out what you like – or perhaps you feel stuck in a position where others tell you what you are supposed to like – a therapist can help you find who you are and what you like.

Many hobbies can become jobs, even full-time careers. If you have a talent for sports, you might get the chance to go pro or become a trainer or coach. If you have a gift for art, your pieces might end up in a gallery or museum. Your knit sweaters might be a hot ticket item on Etsy, or your beaded bracelets might be the in-thing next summer. It’s possible. What happens if your hobby becomes your career? Does that mean you’ve won the jackpot and become one of those lucky few who love their work?

People win the lottery – it does happen. But the odds are less than the chance to get hit by lightning or attacked by sharks while swimming. Read enough blogs or Reddits and you’ll learn that turning your hobby into your career often doesn’t work out the way you hoped. That sweater you love to make? Try doing ten of them on a deadline. That table you made that your friends and family adore? What happens when the client wants it chopped in half and painted black? The abstract painting of a sunrise that you spent weeks on? What happens when an art critic calls it a “ridiculous mess?”

Don’t pick up a hobby expecting to turn it into a revenue stream or because you might meet your soul-mate. Pick up a hobby because you like it and because you enjoy spending time doing it. If you end up making a few bucks from it or falling in love, that’s great. If you don’t, that’s fine as well – you’ve enjoyed your time doing it for yourself. Hobbies are very much the epitome of “it’s not the destination, it’s the journey.”