Quarantine Got You Down? Find a New Hobby
Quarantine Got You Down? Find a New Hobby
Not only are hobbies fun, but they benefit your mental health too. Read to learn more about the psychological and social benefits of hobbies.
By: Hallie Wiltshire, Assistant Opinion Editor
There is no denying that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought momentous changes to our society. While people have been stuck quarantining at home, they’ve been able to pick up activities that they never had time for in the past. The pandemic has forced our workaholic culture to slow down, leading to the resurgence of hobbies.
There are a plethora of benefits of having a hobby. I have a few hobbies that I’ve done all of my life, but my favorite by far is embroidery. My grandma taught me how as a kid and I’ve never put a needle down since then. It is an activity that I genuinely look forward to doing at the end of the day. I can unwind and reflect on the day rather than just passively watch Netflix, keeping me busy on even the most boring of days. Having a hobby benefits my mental health, and I’m not the only one who thinks so — many psychologists agree.
In an article for Psychology Today, Jaime L. Kurtz Ph.D. discusses how the concept of hobbies has fallen by the wayside in the past few generations of Americans. We all hold this belief that we are simply too busy for hobbies, and that there just isn’t enough time in the day for something that is done simply for the sake of fun. It turns out that we aren’t any busier than we were decades ago — we simply waste more of our time, creating the illusion of being busy. This is largely thanks to the rise of social media and video streaming apps, all of which steal our time away without us even noticing. I know that I’m guilty of this. I’ll watch one video on YouTube and suddenly three hours have gone by.
Hobbies give us the ability to be active rather than passive. Being active, either physically or mentally, energizes us. If you’re lost in a project or activity that excites you, the time flies. And you’re more satisfied afterwards, having completed something meaningful instead of rewatching The Office for the tenth time.
Having a hobby can also help you better structure your time. As I mentioned before, I structure my day around having downtime to embroider in the evenings. Having this “treat” at the end of the day forces me to be more efficient with my time, and I’ll get my homework done more quickly. Now this isn’t to say that you should rush your work, but instead focus more intently on it rather than being distracted by your phone (I know, I do it too).
Hobbies also make you more interesting. I know that I love hearing about people’s random hobbies, and I’m sure other people feel the same way. Whenever I tell people about my hobbies, they always get excited and ask questions. It sparks conversation and fosters social connections with others.
Of course, not everyone genuinely has the time for a hobby. Some people work multiple jobs in order to support themselves and/or their families, and what free time they do have, they want to spend with said family. There is privilege in being able to have a hobby, in having enough free time and extra cash to pick up an activity just for fun.
Part of the beauty of a hobby is that you do it simply because you like it. But once again, the American capitalist mindset strikes — what if we could turn our hobbies into money-making opportunities? It’s from this mentality that side hustles are born. We cannot simply enjoy something for the sake of enjoying it. Instead, we have to turn it into something profitable, a small business that will eventually suck out everything you once loved about your hobby.
This push towards side hustles combined with a society so interconnected by the Internet, makes the mentality that we should always be working and finding new ways to make money ubiquitous. Since side work can be done anywhere at any time, we start to believe that side work should be done at all times. This can lead to burnout, since people are unable to take a break from working once “work” has infiltrated every facet of their lives.
While it’s true that you should do what you love and love what you do, you should also shield certain parts of your life from economic exploitation. Have a hobby just for the sake of it. Bake bread for fun. Learn how to sew. Take up roller skating. There are a million and one possibilities if you give yourself the chance to try. Find a hobby, take a mental break from the stress of school and work, and for once, just have fun.
“The views expressed in the editorial and op-ed sections are not necessarily those of The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego, or its student body.”