A hobby is an activity done in leisure time and pursued without a financial motive. It can involve a variety of activities like playing music, collecting stamps, painting, pottery and weaving.
Hobbies can be casual where they are infrequent or short-lived or serious where people are really committed to them. Hobbies often evolve over time to match people’s interests and capabilities but they are generally project-based where individuals set aside a certain amount of time for an activity with a specific aim in mind.
Developing a habit of doing your hobby regularly can increase the benefits that it provides you with. For example, if you start knitting or gardening, you will find that your mood will lift when you complete the task at hand and see the results of your hard work. This sense of accomplishment can help reduce stress and even boost optimism. Hobbies also help people develop new skills. They can be as simple as taking up a new language or learning to play the ukulele or they can be more challenging like running, rock climbing or golf.
For children, hobbies can provide a way to express themselves creatively and develop their self-esteem. For adults, they can be a great way to escape from the demands of daily life and give them something to look forward to in their spare time. Hobbies can also help people maintain their level of social interaction which is important as they enter retirement. This can be as simple as a weekly bridge game or as involved as volunteering at a local not-for-profit.