No Time for Hobbies? Simple Steps to Balance Work and Leisure

Hobbies are activities we do repeatedly and enjoy, and they play an important role in our lives, according to The New York Times. They not only improve physical health but also help reduce stress, expand social circles, achieve success in professional life, and, most importantly, promote happiness, which is the ultimate goal of human beings.

However, many women may find it difficult to dedicate time to their hobbies due to increasing life pressures, especially working women who find themselves busy between working outside the home and family and children's responsibilities. This reality has led many to abandon their hobbies, which has affected their psychological and physical balance.

Finding the Right Hobby

It can sometimes be difficult to determine which hobby suits you, especially if you force yourself to practice a certain activity and then give it up after a short period. Writer and journalist Katie Heaney, who wrote about her experience on "The Cut" platform, recounts how she tried various hobbies such as drawing, knitting, and pottery, but stopped each of them after a short time. She wonders: "Why can't I commit to a hobby? Am I a woman without hobbies? What am I missing?"

Heaney points out that hobbies enhance happiness and help us discover our unique identity and personality. Also, practicing a recreational activity outside the scope of work and household responsibilities enhances activity and desire for life, which benefits mental and physical health.

The Importance of Hobbies for Health

A study published in 2009 in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine showed that people who practice hobbies regularly enjoy better health, do not suffer from blood pressure problems, and enjoy a happier professional and family life.

Challenges in Practicing Hobbies

In today's fast-paced life, introducing and maintaining a new hobby is difficult, especially with the fragile balance between work, family, and other responsibilities. David Conroy, professor of kinesiology and human development at Pennsylvania State University, explains that introducing a new hobby is like "swimming against the tide," especially for women who bear multiple responsibilities.

Criteria for Choosing a Hobby

Conroy suggests two main criteria for choosing the right hobby:

1. Ease: The hobby should be easy to practice and not require much effort or time. This does not mean that the hobby should be without challenges, but rather that it should be feasible without exhaustion.
2. Enjoyment: The hobby should be enjoyable and make you feel satisfied when practicing it. Hobbies that give you a sense of enjoyment are the ones you will continue to practice.

Tips for Choosing the Right Hobby

Dr. BJ Fogg, director of the Behavior Design Lab at Stanford University, offers several tips for choosing the right hobby:

1. Choose something you love: The hobby should be enjoyable for you. If you don't enjoy it, you will eventually stop practicing it.
2. Don't raise the bar: Set small, achievable goals. Instead of dedicating an hour a day, start with just 10 minutes.
3. Link the hobby to your daily routine: Use the "anchoring" technique to link the new hobby to an existing daily habit, such as drawing after brushing your teeth.
4. Find a partner: Sharing the hobby with a friend or family member can enhance your continuity in it.
5. Don't rely on rewards: If you really enjoy the hobby, you won't need external rewards. The real pleasure lies in practicing the activity itself.

Hobbies are not just recreational activities, but an essential part of achieving psychological and physical balance. In a world full of pressures, hobbies can be a way to escape stress and recharge energy. By choosing the right hobby and linking it to your daily routine, you can turn it into a permanent habit that enhances your happiness and quality of life.

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