The Lost Art of Doing Something Just for Fun
When someone asks you what you do for fun, do you find yourself freezing on the spot and maybe making a joke like, “does doomscrolling count?” I hate to break it to you, but no, it doesn’t count.
It’s okay, though! It makes sense that in a world where we are so connected to our phones that they have become where we go for comfort, convenience, and to try to decompress. But outside of laughing at funny animal videos (which I love as well), I wonder how much joy being on your phone brings you? Is it the same level of joy you felt as a kid when you would create potions out of mud in the backyard, or when you and your friends would make friendship bracelets? I’m guessing it’s not, but that’s okay. We can get back to that childhood self as a way to build hobbies again—that version of you who played, created, and tried things just for fun.
Reconnecting with hobbies isn’t just for the sake of nostalgia but a way for us to take care of ourselves. How many times in your day-to-day life do you give yourself permission to do something just because it’s fun and feels good—not because it will make you money, or someone else wants you to do it, or because you feel obligated to do it, but just because it feels good?
For many of us, the answer is almost never, and that’s a problem. Not because we are doing something wrong, but because it is reflective of the fact that we are prioritizing everything but our own joy. When we engage in hobbies, we engage in self-care, self-development, community building, traditions, and often, healing parts of ourselves we didn’t even know needed our attention.
Some hobbies or activities you can start today:
painting
jewelry making
needle crafts like knitting and cross-stitching
solving puzzles
baking
reading
learning a language
gardening
and so much more!
If any of this resonated with you, check out my podcast episode of And Still We Rise, where I talk with Cristine Seidell further about this and give more suggestions on how to connect with hobbies again.