There’s a lot of pressure for many people on having an interesting pastime. Often in conversation, you will be asked what you enjoy doing in your spare time; and it can be a source of discomfort if you realize you have nothing to say.
Of course, happiness doesn’t depend on having an interesting hobby to talk about. Having a pastime is your choice to make. However, if you are looking to invest in a new hobby seriously, you can become passionate about, here is a guide in helping you discover what it might be.
Figure Out What You Like to Do
It may seem obvious, but this means on the simplest level at first to get an idea of the category of hobby you would prefer. Do you feel as though a creative side of you is trying to come out? If so, a creative hobby may be the way to go. Do you enjoy playing mobile games or reward-based games like finding out about LottoGo? Then maybe a gaming-related hobby or something device-based would be better for you.
Ask yourself the basic questions of what you would enjoy and take it from there.
Decide What Your Reasons Are for Pursuing a New Hobby
This will help you decide the best course of action. For example, is your main reason for wanting a new interest to meet like-minded people and socialize? If so, you will need a hobby which you can share with other people, and ideally one which provides an opportunity to leave the house and attend classes with others.
Alternatively, are you looking for a hobby you can enjoy privately and alone? You can then think of avenues for hobbies which you can perform in a solitary way, such as painting or writing.
Once you know what the end goal is for your new hobby, you can filter out the ones that don’t provide that.
Consider Your Budget
Some hobbies are considerably more expensive than others, and some are completely free. While you can make room in your budget for a hobby you are going to enjoy; money should be a factor in deciding what you’re able to do.
For instance, if you want to learn a new instrument, you will need to consider the initial cost of an instrument, the upkeep of it and paying for lessons if applicable. Hobbies like this will be an ongoing commitment to financial dependencies.
Venture Out of Your Comfort Zone
New hobbies should be exciting. They should allow you to explore avenues you haven’t before and learn more about yourself. The best way to do this is by stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something completely new.
If you’ve always thought about a hobby but always been too afraid to try it, this is even more of a signal that you should do it.
If it doesn’t work out or you decide that it’s not for you, at least you tried – and you can move on to another.
— Featured photo by Flickr user davidmasters, Creative Commons