Hobbies: 4 Answers Explained -

The dictionary describes a hobby as “an activity that you do for pleasure when you are not working.” Everyone has a hobby or at least wishes to have one that fits them.

It’s a fantastic way for us to enjoy, relax, learn new skills, and more.

Some hobbies are more complicated than others, but they produce the same effect. Ultimately, it doesn’t really matter what hobby you choose, though. Remember, it’s not a hobby unless you’re having fun.

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Are Hobbies Good or Bad?

Hobbies are inherently good. They can become an outlet for exploration or creativity, among many other benefits. While they may seem like activities for pleasure, a hobby can affect many parts of your life. You can learn skills that help improve your professional life.

For others, their hobby becomes an opportunity for them to flourish. They can eventually turn their hobbies into a side-gig that nets them extra cash.

Some even go further and create businesses fueled by their passion.

The relaxation and pleasure you receive from engaging in your hobby help keep you active with minimal stress. It can be a way for you to build relationships or create new ones as you become part of a wider community.

Recommended Reading: Can learning be a hobby?

Are Hobbies a Waste of Time?

If you think your hobby is a waste of time, then there’s something wrong there. When people think of hobbies this way, they’ve lost the magic, and the activity becomes a chore more than anything else.

Although at times, some will think this way because they’ve lost confidence in themselves. If others have put you down for your hobby in the past, you may think of it as silly and wasteful.

These both relate to the perception of hobbies, though, and not the hobbies themselves.

Real hobbies should be fun, enjoyable, and relaxing.

So once you start to feel pressured out of it or burnt out, it can be challenging to continue. The positive effects on your life may fade, and you’ll wonder why you even started at all.

Despite these difficulties that might make hobbies seem like a waste of time, they really aren’t. You’d be surprised at all the mental and physical benefits out there that make hobbies not only great but necessary.

Recommended Reading: How to improve your hobby without a coach/mentor/teacher.

Mentally speaking, hobbies can give you a sense of purpose. Today’s culture is often centered around work, making you feel like just a number or a cog in the machine. At many jobs, organizations do a poor job of showing just how valuable you are. Instead of building up a family of motivated employees, they place more stress on people. They organize themselves in a way that makes it easy to replace workers.

As you can imagine, it’s a depressing thought.

Hobbies pull you away from all that and give you a world that’s uniquely your own.

Sure, people can share the same hobbies. Still, no one can write stories like you do or crochet blankets like you do — whatever your hobby, no matter how niche, you bring something unique to it that no one else can.

It also pulls you away from the stress of constant deadlines and demands. It reminds you that you’re human and gives you a healthier work-life balance, which is something we all need.

If you feel like you’re constantly working and can’t seem to tune out of it, finding an enjoyable hobby can help.

Hobbies can have physical benefits, too. Even when you think your stress is all in your head, it really isn’t. The Mayo Clinic says that stress can cause everything from headaches to sleeplessness and even drug abuse.

Sure, hobbies are no cure-all, but they can definitely keep you from reaching a breaking point.

Are Hobbies Important on a Resume?

While hobbies may seem unimportant for your work life, you’d be surprised to learn that they are essential.

If some employers see that your hobby is similar to the job requirements, like a writing hobby for an editing job, it can become an edge over others. In some interviews, they might specifically ask about your hobbies to get an idea of you as a person.

If they’re impressed, a hobby alone could land you the job! — okay, not really. Of course, your skills and experiences are more important. Don’t submit a resume that just has your obsession with video games… it’d be impossible to land that one. Except if perhaps you are applying to a video game company.

Hobbies can give you a better chance, so you should include them if they’re relevant.

You might wonder, then, “Should you include irrelevant hobbies?”

In general, no. Cluttering up your resume with a bunch of unrelated things is a turn-off for many employers.

If they’re only skimming the resume, they may get lost in the hobbies section and miss out on the most crucial features that make you the best candidate.

However, you may want to consider adding one or two hobbies, even if they are irrelevant. According to LiveCareer, employers may see a new dimension of you through your hobby rather than thinking of you as just one thing.

It’s great if you’re trying to rebrand yourself and switch career paths, especially if they’re very different ones.

Recommended Reading: A simple guide to improving general knowledge.

Are Hobbies a Waste of Money?

As to whether hobbies are a waste of money, it’s a matter of perspective. If you think that you’re wasting too much money on your hobby, you can always decide to cut back on spending a bit. You have control over how much you spend on it.

Now, there’s also the matter of the bar to entry. For some hobbies, you need to have some tools and equipment before you can start.

For example, if you want to get into photography, you first need to get a camera.

But keep in mind there are other, more budget-friendly options to get started. Your smartphone can work for the time being. It will allow you to improve your skills at taking photos, even without spending buckets and barrels of cash upfront on a million of the best cameras in the world.

This same mindset can be applied to practically every hobby or activity you want to partake in. Get creative and find ways you can still get involved.

As you improve, build connections, and budget appropriately, you can start investing more into the activity in a responsible manner.

Again, take into account what you’re willing to spend. If that new camera or lens eats up most of your budget, then consider saving up until you can comfortably buy it.

If you’re spending too much and it is affecting your lifestyle, then you should probably take a step back.

You’ll still need to eat well and have enough money for your bills and other expenses. Don’t rush it and overspend, and you’ll also avoid getting burned out.

But keep in mind that other people are willing to spend thousands on their hobby, and they don’t regret it one bit. If you have the money to spend, then go for it!

If others feel like you’re wasting money on your hobby, that’s their perspective, not yours.

You will value things differently than someone else will, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Do not let yourself sway because of others’ opinions. It’s your hobby for you to enjoy, and not everyone has to understand why and how much.