What is a Hobby?
A hobby is a pursuit outside of one’s regular job or daily life that gives pleasure and personal satisfaction. Hobbies may be creative, such as painting or scrapbooking, or can be active, such as participating in a sport or other physical activity. Hobbies can also involve collecting items or objects.
Having a hobby can help reduce stress, increase self-esteem and create a sense of accomplishment. Hobbies can also teach us new skills, which can benefit our careers and other areas of our lives. Hobbies can help build community, as they provide a way to connect with others who share the same interests. Hobbies can even be a form of meditation and can lower blood pressure.
The word hobby is derived from the Latin hobby-la, meaning “adventure” or “favourite.” Hobbies are often considered a childish pastime, but gained greater respectability during industrialization when people had leisure time. Some hobbies, like collecting items or participating in sports, are solitary, but others, such as canning or astronomy, are more communal.
Having a hobby can be easy and inexpensive. For example, canning is a fun and healthy way to save and preserve fruits and vegetables you grow or purchase at the farmers market. Another great cheap hobby is learning to play an instrument. Masterclass has courses for singing, ukulele, guitar, production, mixing and drumming from artists like Itzhak Perlman and Danny Elfman. Practicing yoga is a wonderful, meditative and relaxing hobby that can strengthen your mind and body.