If your inner dialogue is no longer enamoured with the ‘I work longer hours than you do’ badge of honour, isn’t it time to stop, pause and reflect? After all, burnout and the associated mental health issues only benefit your Psyche and Doctor, not you, your loved ones or your employer. Soooo…let’s start by looking at finding a little more self-nurturing balance here, OK? 

One of my work colleagues enjoys exercising her artistic muscles. Digital, paint, acrylics, charcoal, pencils, crayons, Instagram layout, you name it. So much so that she consciously puts aside time from her work and a demanding young family to focus on this, her form of self-nurturing. It’s meditative and gives her creative satisfaction, reflecting in her family interactions and work. 

Having an enjoyable hobby—whether creating a patchwork quilt for your bestie’s new baby, hitting the ski slopes of Japan’s latest resort or practising pirouettes in ballet class—there are all sorts of well-documented benefits, from lower levels of stress to increased sense of belonging and purpose. As proven by my colleague, hobbies can make you more focused and enthusiastic when you’re on the job, and, depending on the hobby, the associated skills you gain can also make you better at your job.  

So, having a hobby that you love can do good things for your life and your job, but what if you don’t actually have a hobby you enjoy? You’re not alone. I frequently hear from transitioning candidates ‘I don’t have any hobbies other than ferrying the kids to and from theirs, my life just feels like all work and no play’. Sadly, ‘all work’ didn’t keep them their jobs now, did it? 

There are plenty of people who don’t have or don’t know how to find a hobby. But that doesn’t mean they can’t find one. Whether you’re 25 or 85 years old—it’s never too late to hop on board the hobby train! Here are a few strategies you can use to find a hobby you truly love.

1. Transform existing pleasures into a hobby

Even if you don’t have something that you consider a hobby, you’ll have activities that you enjoy. Chances are, there’s a way to transform these into a full-fledged hobby. I like to ask my candidates what they enjoy doing for fun. Such things as ‘eating’ or ‘watching sports’ could easily be turned into hobbies such as ‘taking cooking classes’ or ‘joining a hockey team.’

Have you watched every stand-up special on Netflix…twice? Try taking an improv class. Is your favourite part of the day playing with your dog? Try volunteering with a rescue organization. Love reading about random pop culture facts on the internet? Try joining a trivia team.

My example? I love writing, and I love to travel. My blog actually originated from a desire to write about my travels. In turn, this means I know how to build websites, and I’m good at helping people articulate their brand in written form – both beneficial to my job. Figuring out how to build off the things you already love to do is the easiest way to find hobbies that you’ll enjoy—making you a better, more well-rounded person and employee. 

2. Reclaim childhood interests

What did you enjoy before work, life, and adulting got in the way?

As a kid, did you spend hours finger-painting masterpieces to hang on the fridge? If so, why not explore taking an art class? Always dressing up in costume and putting on shows for your friends? Perhaps check out a local acting troupe. Revisiting hobbies you loved as a kid can be a great way to get back into the groove.

3. Start trying things to see what sticks

No matter how you approach finding a new hobby, it can be hit or miss. For example, you might think that drawing mandalas are the perfect creative outlet—only to find that they start to feel boring and monotonous. That’s OK! Be willing to put yourself out there, and be just as willing to accept that not everything you try will be the perfect hobby. 

Think of anything you might find interesting, whether that’s kite flying, surfing, macramé, or judo – and take a class. If you like it, great! Keep pursuing it. If not, cross it off the list and move on to the next potentially interesting thing.

Websites such as Meetup.com are a great way to explore different interests, which can lead to hobbies, allowing you to test the waters at no cost. Whether it’s to go on river walks, attend movie nights, trivia events, writing gigs or indulge in a spot of stargazing, connecting with similarly minded people can teach us more about ourselves and what we like/dislike or want to commit to. 

It may take a few attempts to find the hobby you’ll love, but don’t give up. Keep putting yourself out there, connect with people, and explore new things that feel exciting to you and eventually, you’ll find a hobby that feels like the right fit—and you’ll learn a bunch of new ideas and meet cool people in the process!

Ideas to share? Stories that relate? Please drop a line in the comments box.