Why Hobbies Are More Important Than Ever

At a time where over one third of the world’s population has been told to say inside, and bars, cinemas, gyms and restaurants have closed their doors to the general public for the foreseeable future, it’s fair to say that people’s day-to-day lives have changed dramatically, and suddenly.

With Saturday afternoon shopping trips and Friday nights currently off the cards, most people have more time on their hands within the home. To help pass the time people are taking up hobbies or discovering new favourite pastimes. Doing this can help tackle stress and anxiety and taking part in a physical activity can release endorphins which help create feelings of positivity.  Finding ways to focus our energy and keep ourselves entertained is imperative for good mental and physical health. 

Whether it’s that painting you’ve been dying to start but just haven’t found the time to, or those online yoga sessions that your friend has been suggesting you take part in, now is the time to turn this negative into something positive and start something new. So here are some ideas to consider if you're looking for something new to try, from simply painting to gardening to playing music..

What hobby is right for you?

The first step in choosing your new hobby is finding what it is you really love to do. We all have a passion, whether it’s art, music, reading or Quidditch, and choosing something that we’re interested or skilled in helps to motivate us, so think about a hobby you know you’ll enjoy, rather than one which you’ll feel forced to delve into.

If you’re not one hundred per cent sure on what your passion is, a good place to start might be by asking your friends what they do for a hobby, you might be surprised to hear what they do to pass the time and it might even inspire you to take up the same hobby.

At a time where there is so much uncertainty, it’s incredibly important that we take care of our mental and physical health and there are plenty of hobbies that we can do to take care of both. From meditation, to yoga, to home workouts there is a plethora of apps and videos out there to help us keep fit and healthy from the comfort of our homes.

Alongside all of the recreational hobbies out there, some hobbies can also double up as self-improvement activities. If you struggle to unwind you could start practicing meditation, if you want to improve your attention to detail you could start building and painting models. Is your significant other fed up of making dinner every night? You could practice cooking to help take the weight off

The options are endless when it comes to finding a hobby and it’s more important now than ever before to find a pastime that takes your mind away and helps you focus on something different. With a large number of people working from home it’s important to switch off at the end of the working day by picking up on a side-project to fill your downtime, and if you’re not working from home then it’s possibly even more important to make sure you spend your time developing a new skill. The right hobby is out there and there’s no better time for you to grab it by the horns than now.

If you're ready to turn your hobby into a career, we have roles available across multiple sectors. You can search our latest opportunities here.