A hobby is an activity that people enjoy doing in their spare time. It may be something that is relaxing such as playing a musical instrument or it could be active such as exercising or participating in a sport. Hobbies help people to relieve stress and can also be a way to socialise. Some hobbies are creative and artistic while others are more project based.
The word hobby derives from the term “hobby horse” which was originally a toy horse used for riding. It later came to be used to describe a person’s favorite pastime. It is important to differentiate between interests and hobbies as the two are not synonymous. Interests are usually a desire to learn more about a subject. For example, you might have an interest in theater but only go to the theater on occasion. However, if you regularly participate in theatre performances as part of your hobby then you are considered to be actively involved in that hobby.
Many hobbies result in an end product such as woodworking, software projects or artistic creations. It is possible for a hobby to become a business if the resulting product attracts attention or becomes popular. Creating websites and online stores is a great way to start a side hustle as a hobby.
It is important to choose a hobby that will provide you with the satisfaction you require from it. If you are not enjoying it then you will find it difficult to stick with it and it will not be worth the effort. Having a goal for your hobby is also helpful as it will make it more manageable. You may want to set a target for the number of books you will read each year or how much weight you will lose by the end of the month.