Hobbies are self-motivated activities undertaken outside of a person’s job for enjoyment. People engage in hobbies for a variety of reasons, from stress relief to socialization. Hobbies can also lead to professional advancement, and many hobbyists earn a decent side income through their activities.
Hobbies may involve collecting physical objects, such as cigarette cards or stamps. People may also practice a hobby that produces an end product, such as woodworking, photography, moviemaking, or jewelry making. Other examples of a hobby include creating models from paper stock or cardboard (called papercraft) and cosplaying (creating costumes based on existing creative property). Hobbies may also be based on recording and analyzing a particular subject, such as train spotting or bird-watching.
Hobbies can improve a person’s mental health and boost their resilience to depression. They provide a healthy outlet for boredom, which can often be the root cause of unhealthy habits. For instance, a hobby like gardening or painting can help to reduce a person’s screen time and encourage social interaction with others. In addition, engaging in a hobby can help to build new skills and improve cognitive function. Hobbies can also expose a person to different opinions and ideas, which can be beneficial to their lifelong growth.