Reframing Hobbies
Do you keep having the conversation with yourself that you need to find a hobby? Has someone in your life suggested that you find a new way to occupy your time? Perhaps you are looking for an outlet to decompress, find joy in something new, or utilize a creative outlet. Beginning the journey to finding and starting a hobby tends to be the most challenging part of the process. Hobbies have the potential to help:
Reduce stress
Improve mood
Provide sense of purpose
Promote self-expression
Enhance social connections
Give you a break from obligations
Build resilience
The following three points outline ways you can reframe your idea of hobbies. If you’re viewing hobbies as an obligation, or if you struggle with perfectionism and are worried about not doing it “right”, it might be time to shift your perspective. Read below to discover a few ways to think about hobbies differently so that the task doesn’t seem so daunting.
Make it temporary
Hobbies don’t have to last a lifetime. In fact, it is healthy for your interests to evolve with you and what your needs are at that time. If you can look at hobbies as a temporary interest, the pressure to fulfill and be successful at that activity will diminish. Some examples include:
Doing puzzles for the winter months
Make recipes out of a specific cookbook for the month of March
Join a sports league for the summer
Start crossword puzzles in September
Scrapbook after you take trips
Walk the lakefront in July & August
Go fishing on the weekends in October
Knitting for the holiday season
Make it fun
The pressure we may feel to start a hobby takes away from the purpose of doing something you enjoy. Sometimes starting a hobby can feel like work, but that doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t do it. The barriers to hobbies can actually make the activity feel even more rewarding. Connect back with your inner child and rediscover what intrinsically motivates you. Here are some questions to ask yourself to spark ideas:
What is going to inspire you?
What will make you feel good?
What feels exciting?
How can you feel creative again?
What brings you peace?
What are you curious about?
Make it easy
The motivation to start a hobby can lessen as we get overwhelmed with other aspects of life. Doing preliminary work to prepare for starting the hobby can make it a lot easier to stay motivated. Preparing or planning the hobby gets your mind and body primed for taking action. Scheduling and planning out start dates for hobbies using your calendar can be helpful, or buying all the materials you need to begin can get the ball rolling. It's also helpful to set reminders for yourself either using technology or physically having a cue in your environment to engage in the hobby. This could look like:
Setting the puzzle box out on coffee table
Leaving knitting supplies next to your couch
Writing a Post-It note to sign up for a sports league
There is a lot of research on the idea that making tasks easier and more attractive can increase the success rate of actually completing them. To read more about this, I highly suggest reading Atomic Habits by James Clear.
Hopefully after reading this, you have a re-invigorated sense of what hobbies are and how you can think about them differently. If you struggle finding the motivation or need guidance on other tools that can help you manage your stress, therapy can be a great option for you. Reach out to us for a free consultation and work with one of our therapists to reframe your hobbies to live a more fulfilling life!
Maddie Persanyi, LCPC
About the Author
Maddie Persanyi, LCPC is a clinical therapist specializing in anxiety, relationship issues, self-esteem, life transition, and trauma. She incorporates IFS, CBT, and strength-based therapy into her treatment. Read more about Maddie here.