As we grow up, time just seems to go by faster, and we lose sight of the things that bring us joy. Hobbies are one of them! Having a hobby is incredibly important for your overall health and plays a pivotal role in your personal growth and development. During university, the most common thing I hear from students is that they simply have no time to do the things they love. 

If this resonates with you, I’m here to tell you to drop that mindset. Like, right now!! I used to tell myself that constantly, and over time, it just made me feel more isolated and stressed during university. I started to ask myself, did I really not have time for hobbies? Or was I not making time for it?

What is a hobby?

By definition, a hobby is an activity pursued for enjoyment or personal enrichment during one’s leisure time. What makes hobbies special is how vast and unique they can be. 

There are four key types of hobbies:

Creative: anything representative of art

Intellectual/mental: anything that challenges one's curiosity or thinking

Physical: activities that involve movement or fitness

Social/community: anything that involves building connections

What are some examples of hobbies? 

As I said before, hobbies can vary a lot from person to person. Across all four types of hobbies, I listed some examples, below: 

Reading, scrapbooking, painting, woodworking, photography, cooking, gardening, cycling, playing team sports, volunteering, weightlifting...and this barely covers it! 

For yourself, really take the time to explore what genuinely brings you joy, rather than what you're told to do or what you do out of necessity. Think about what kinds of hobbies will make a positive difference in your routine. For me, it’s reading, drawing, and cooking! Any of these activities brings me personal fulfillment and helps lower my stress levels, especially during a hectic university semester!

What are the benefits of having a hobby? 

Hobbies help you develop new skills, enabling you to master a given task. For example, in cooking, your recipes may become more elaborate, and the taste may improve. Not only that, but when hobbies become a part of your routine, it gives room to develop essential transferable skills. For example, in cooking, you not only get better at making certain dishes but also become detail-oriented and a problem-solver, skills that can be applied to so many other activities! Hobbies help you grow, reduce stress, and can serve as an outlet to relax after a demanding schedule. 

Another perk of having a hobby is connecting with others who share your interests! There’s more for you to bond over, and it can even be activities for the next hangout! For example, I have a few friends who enjoy trail walking. When we meet, we go on a nice walk and catch up. Like I said before, I love to draw, so I’m big on anything arts and crafts, so that’s another activity I often find myself incorporating during get-togethers. 

How can you fit hobbies into your schedule? 

If you’re someone who likes to stay organized with calendars, consider setting aside time for your hobby each week. That way, you’re able to designate time to do something you love without it impeding your academics or extracurriculars. 

Some people may not like this suggestion, but one way I fit my hobbies into my schedule is by limiting my screen time. I noticed I would just have occasional periods of doom-scrolling that could last a long time. Doing that didn’t benefit me and made me procrastinate. When I would instead use that time to bake, draw, or go for a walk, I would feel so much more fulfilled and be able to go back to studying more easily. 

Are hobbies really the secret ingredient for fun? 

I think so! It’s really up to what you consider fun, but for me, investing time in my hobbies has truly elevated my life. I am ultimately utilizing my time better, and I feel more fulfilled. It's more fun to work on a skill like cooking or drawing, you’re actively growing, rather than passively scrolling through your phone in your free time.

Your time is precious. Use it for activities that bring you joy and value in your life. You deserve to take a break, don’t get me wrong! I do enjoy doing nothing, too, but when you’re bored and wondering how to use your time effectively, hobbies are the secret ingredient for fun!