Sewing and quilting! I have sewn my entire life. I loved it so much, I opened up a sewing studio and fabric store in my neighborhood to teach others how to sew! And it worked, we teach all ages 5 - 85, we also sell fabric, notions, kits, sewing machines, everything to keep you sewing. We also have weekly open sews, and people love to come and sew for the afternoon or evening. It’s a fun few hours of sharing, learning and making new friends. I love to read, and find listening to an audio book while quilting or sewing perfection. I also learned Mahjong this past year and play weekly. I also started golfing again, we go to the driving range and play an easy nine at the local public golf course. I needlepoint too. Yes, hobbies are the key to a good
life! Thank you so much for this interesting article!
You sound like delightful human! I know I'm on the right path with my life when I read about how you're living and think "that's what I want." To me, you are living the dream. Working in a way that brings you joy, building community. This is the real stuff.
Thanks for being a supporter of my writing. I look forward to chatting more about hobbies!
I’m working on fly fishing this summer. I heard years ago, “Trout only live in beautiful places,” and that’s true. But it’s difficult to get good at, which reminds me how uncomfortable we adults often are with being incompetent at something.
Your research dovetails well with studies on happy retirees. People plan a lot for the financial end of retirement but often haven’t thought about building an identity for themselves outside their work.
I like being serious about my hobbies, even if I am not that great at them. I have played piano since childhood, and a couple of years ago I started a monthly “play for each other” gathering in my home. It gives each of us something to work toward in our practice, plus a social component focused around our hobby. Two of the participants are 80+ years old!
Nancy - you inspire ME! And you are absolutely right, we squirm so much at being beginners. Funny story I’ll cough up to, I suppose because I’m in academia, I align with the identity of “smart” but I’m still such a beginner at American mahjong that I lose almost every time. Which makes me feel dumb! And then I start spiraling that everyone has found out I’m not actually smart.
So I’m constantly reminding myself: you aren’t dumb. You are a beginner.
Love your Substack & Instagram! As a stay at home mom with kids ages 2 and 4, hobbies are new for me! I’ve started a small garden with the kids (just tasted our tomatoes!), and I like to do a puzzle or color-by-number to relax while they’re sleeping. Something about completing a task like a puzzle or picture is so rewarding vs the usual endless tasks of washing dishes or clothes or cleaning up! I love being outside and off my phone. Have you read The Power of Fun? I feel like you’d like it if not!
I agree 100% that the hobbyists aren’t lonely! My husband is a hobby dirt bike rider involved in two amateur racing series. We have made so many friends through this! I tend to make excuses, but I need to follow his lead and nurture my own hobby!!
I am so happy to hear that. If there’s something I do consistently and it brings me joy, I call it a hobby. So I support yo with the plant identification. Absolutely enroll in jewelry making- what’s the worst that happens, you tinker with your hands and make a new friend?
The hobby I tried that wasn't for me was...dancing. I lack physical fluidity, maintaining the beat, staying in rhythm. When at a concert with the audience clapping in time, I'm focusing on how long before the next clap instead of being in the moment. I did line dancing and that worked because it was a repeating pattern of movements within a small space. But combining grace over the whole space and timing with a partner...three left feet.
That's also reflected in my hobby choices. There's woodworkers who construct and those who carve. Dancing has a certain degree of free form like carving. I don't carve. I don't draw curves without a template. I construct with straight edges. Bocce ball: straight line ball throwing, maybe some bouncing off the walls. But still straight.
Oh, I tried tennis but it didn't work out. I used to be an avid badminton player. I was unable to transition to tennis because I was too used to flexing my wrist, which didn't translate well to tennis.
Relax the wrist! My coach says that to all the ladies. RELAX she tells us!! Funny we are together on the dancing. Your bit about straight lines makes me think of why pottery was too hard for me. I couldn't figure out how to dictate the shape. I wanted their to be a template.
I also tried pottery (2 years ago) and it wasn’t for me. But recently I have been thinking a lot about silver smithing /jewelry making class— perhaps this is a sign to enroll
Hobbies that most definitely do not work for me are anything with fine motor skills. Knitting, crocheting, cross stitching, model making, sewing. No. No. No. The tedious micro repetition making me want to throw things.
That said, I'm still trying to find a hobby I enjoy. I do like to cook. But as a stay at home parent, cooking has lost its luster for now. But outdoor hobbies definitely excite me a ton! In due time!
My kids are now 8 and 7 and I’ve tried to create a lot of family hobbies for us. What’s fun is they like different stuff so it’s like these special bonding experiences with each of them.
I’m with you on the repetitive motion. One thing that worked when I had tiny kids was to have a DIY home project going. I’d parallel hang with them while caulking woodwork or hanging wallpaper.
I crochet amigurumi (like dragons!) and play handbells. I also love to paint miniatures, but I haven't been able to work that in lately. I find that I keep coming back to crochet because it's portable and I can do a little here and a little there so I don't have to block out time for it.
I do the same with a puzzle. When I find myself with some free minutes, I go over to the puzzle table instead of scrolling. Having one hobby that’s so easy to jump into is wonderful.
I just read an article interviewing a female senior executive from my company and she said talked about the advice of getting a hobby outside of work and motherhood. Golf and pickleball are the 2 I have tried but being in Minnesota I need something for the winter months. I am thinking about cross-stitch or needlepoint. But, going to save those for when it isn't nice and warm.
Lovely! It is the best advice I could also give. So here I am. I was searching everywhere for balance and even thought about leaving the workforce. Finding a passion outside of work and kids, did wonders for my mental health. In a way a face mask just can’t…
What fun! I’ve been trying lots of new things too! In the past year or so, I tried a standup class, joined an amateur pop / rock choir, took up strength training, and have been taking improv classes. Of these, the strength training and improv classes have stuck (on to level 2!). I enjoyed choir but couldn’t make room for it with all the other stuff going on (I also have two youngish kids and a full time job) so I’ve left it for now and will join again when I feel inspired.
Ooh what a year that is a lot of hobby trying! I also aspire to learn golf and would like to try pickleball sometime! I have found I do not enjoy playing games/escape rooms etc. for some reason having to pay attention outside of work hurts my brain and I do not enjoy it 😂. I have always loved working out and the past couple years got into kettlebell training which I love! I have also tried Olympic lifting in the past and liked it too.
Sewing and quilting! I have sewn my entire life. I loved it so much, I opened up a sewing studio and fabric store in my neighborhood to teach others how to sew! And it worked, we teach all ages 5 - 85, we also sell fabric, notions, kits, sewing machines, everything to keep you sewing. We also have weekly open sews, and people love to come and sew for the afternoon or evening. It’s a fun few hours of sharing, learning and making new friends. I love to read, and find listening to an audio book while quilting or sewing perfection. I also learned Mahjong this past year and play weekly. I also started golfing again, we go to the driving range and play an easy nine at the local public golf course. I needlepoint too. Yes, hobbies are the key to a good
life! Thank you so much for this interesting article!
You sound like delightful human! I know I'm on the right path with my life when I read about how you're living and think "that's what I want." To me, you are living the dream. Working in a way that brings you joy, building community. This is the real stuff.
Thanks for being a supporter of my writing. I look forward to chatting more about hobbies!
I’m working on fly fishing this summer. I heard years ago, “Trout only live in beautiful places,” and that’s true. But it’s difficult to get good at, which reminds me how uncomfortable we adults often are with being incompetent at something.
Your research dovetails well with studies on happy retirees. People plan a lot for the financial end of retirement but often haven’t thought about building an identity for themselves outside their work.
I like being serious about my hobbies, even if I am not that great at them. I have played piano since childhood, and a couple of years ago I started a monthly “play for each other” gathering in my home. It gives each of us something to work toward in our practice, plus a social component focused around our hobby. Two of the participants are 80+ years old!
Nancy - you inspire ME! And you are absolutely right, we squirm so much at being beginners. Funny story I’ll cough up to, I suppose because I’m in academia, I align with the identity of “smart” but I’m still such a beginner at American mahjong that I lose almost every time. Which makes me feel dumb! And then I start spiraling that everyone has found out I’m not actually smart.
So I’m constantly reminding myself: you aren’t dumb. You are a beginner.
Love your Substack & Instagram! As a stay at home mom with kids ages 2 and 4, hobbies are new for me! I’ve started a small garden with the kids (just tasted our tomatoes!), and I like to do a puzzle or color-by-number to relax while they’re sleeping. Something about completing a task like a puzzle or picture is so rewarding vs the usual endless tasks of washing dishes or clothes or cleaning up! I love being outside and off my phone. Have you read The Power of Fun? I feel like you’d like it if not!
I agree 100% that the hobbyists aren’t lonely! My husband is a hobby dirt bike rider involved in two amateur racing series. We have made so many friends through this! I tend to make excuses, but I need to follow his lead and nurture my own hobby!!
Yes Julie! Get yourself a hobby. Look at this role model you have right in your own house. I'm going to put you on the spot: what hobby will you try?
This post boosted my mood, thanks! Also I decided that walking around the woods identifying plants now counts as a hobby
I am so happy to hear that. If there’s something I do consistently and it brings me joy, I call it a hobby. So I support yo with the plant identification. Absolutely enroll in jewelry making- what’s the worst that happens, you tinker with your hands and make a new friend?
You are absolutely right! Appreciate the encouragement
That’s called an exploratory orientation. All the best!
Thank you! Love the official terminology.
The hobby I tried that wasn't for me was...dancing. I lack physical fluidity, maintaining the beat, staying in rhythm. When at a concert with the audience clapping in time, I'm focusing on how long before the next clap instead of being in the moment. I did line dancing and that worked because it was a repeating pattern of movements within a small space. But combining grace over the whole space and timing with a partner...three left feet.
That's also reflected in my hobby choices. There's woodworkers who construct and those who carve. Dancing has a certain degree of free form like carving. I don't carve. I don't draw curves without a template. I construct with straight edges. Bocce ball: straight line ball throwing, maybe some bouncing off the walls. But still straight.
Oh, I tried tennis but it didn't work out. I used to be an avid badminton player. I was unable to transition to tennis because I was too used to flexing my wrist, which didn't translate well to tennis.
Relax the wrist! My coach says that to all the ladies. RELAX she tells us!! Funny we are together on the dancing. Your bit about straight lines makes me think of why pottery was too hard for me. I couldn't figure out how to dictate the shape. I wanted their to be a template.
I love this post so much. I'm inspired to have a "hobby summer".
Yes Rebecca! Have yourself a hobby summer! Let us know what you try. Rooting for you.
I also tried pottery (2 years ago) and it wasn’t for me. But recently I have been thinking a lot about silver smithing /jewelry making class— perhaps this is a sign to enroll
Hobbies that most definitely do not work for me are anything with fine motor skills. Knitting, crocheting, cross stitching, model making, sewing. No. No. No. The tedious micro repetition making me want to throw things.
That said, I'm still trying to find a hobby I enjoy. I do like to cook. But as a stay at home parent, cooking has lost its luster for now. But outdoor hobbies definitely excite me a ton! In due time!
My kids are now 8 and 7 and I’ve tried to create a lot of family hobbies for us. What’s fun is they like different stuff so it’s like these special bonding experiences with each of them.
I’m with you on the repetitive motion. One thing that worked when I had tiny kids was to have a DIY home project going. I’d parallel hang with them while caulking woodwork or hanging wallpaper.
I crochet amigurumi (like dragons!) and play handbells. I also love to paint miniatures, but I haven't been able to work that in lately. I find that I keep coming back to crochet because it's portable and I can do a little here and a little there so I don't have to block out time for it.
I do the same with a puzzle. When I find myself with some free minutes, I go over to the puzzle table instead of scrolling. Having one hobby that’s so easy to jump into is wonderful.
I just read an article interviewing a female senior executive from my company and she said talked about the advice of getting a hobby outside of work and motherhood. Golf and pickleball are the 2 I have tried but being in Minnesota I need something for the winter months. I am thinking about cross-stitch or needlepoint. But, going to save those for when it isn't nice and warm.
Lovely! It is the best advice I could also give. So here I am. I was searching everywhere for balance and even thought about leaving the workforce. Finding a passion outside of work and kids, did wonders for my mental health. In a way a face mask just can’t…
What fun! I’ve been trying lots of new things too! In the past year or so, I tried a standup class, joined an amateur pop / rock choir, took up strength training, and have been taking improv classes. Of these, the strength training and improv classes have stuck (on to level 2!). I enjoyed choir but couldn’t make room for it with all the other stuff going on (I also have two youngish kids and a full time job) so I’ve left it for now and will join again when I feel inspired.
Ooh what a year that is a lot of hobby trying! I also aspire to learn golf and would like to try pickleball sometime! I have found I do not enjoy playing games/escape rooms etc. for some reason having to pay attention outside of work hurts my brain and I do not enjoy it 😂. I have always loved working out and the past couple years got into kettlebell training which I love! I have also tried Olympic lifting in the past and liked it too.