When you were a kid, I bet you begged your mom to enroll you in ballet, gymnastics, painting or soccer, right? Did you spend summers building things from scratch, learning new crafts from the kits at Michaels? What about now as an adult? Do you have a hobby? 

These days, people are struggling to find balance. We go to work, then we go home to our families (or our cats) and maybe we squeeze exercise in between cooking dinner and going to bed. This hamster wheel approach to life can make things very boring. For the majority of us, routine is necessary to get everything done, but that doesn’t mean you can’t squeeze in time for something that ignites joy. 

Investing time in creating art (not simply consuming it through Netflix) is needed for the soul. And if you’re not into art, maybe you’re a baker, or maybe you're an engineer who likes to make online games or apps. A hobby is something that you can cultivate over time. It’s something you can gain a skill in and find joy or relaxation from. Most importantly, it’s something you can be proud of! Hobbies also can help you find community. They allow you to find like-minded people that you can learn and grow with. They also help you release any stress that might be built up during a difficult week.

So how do you find a hobby?

1. Try New Things:

You can sign up for a class at your local city recreation center. You can try a pottery class, language learning, robotics, tae kwon do, or cake decorating. Sign up for one or many classes and see what you like! 

2. Make the Time:

Once you find a hobby, you need to make time for it. Create a place in your schedule for you to develop your skill. Maybe it’s in the morning before everyone in your house wakes up, or maybe it’s late at night when you stop receiving texts and emails. Either way, in order to keep your hobby up, you need to make the time for it!

3. Don’t Give Up!

If you’re not good at something you try, that’s okay! You’re not going to be a pro at it on the first go! Try again! The more important question to ask yourself is: Does this bring me joy? Because if it doesn't, why bother doing it? Your hobby should be something that makes you happy. Do the things that make you happy.