Health · Mental Health · 1 day ago
A Physician Reconsiders the Value of Hobbies
A physician who often recommended hobbies to patients says she spent much of her own free time on work and volunteering.
As friends began retiring and taking up hobbies, she decided to explore more interests herself.
She has painted for two years, but is still unhappy with her work, even though she enjoys the time and lessons.
Salsa classes felt stressful at first, but private lessons helped make dancing fun within a month.
The experience led her to consider that people may value hobbies for reasons beyond becoming skilled, such as relaxation, exercise, or connection.
A 2023 study of adults aged 65 and older in 16 countries found that having a hobby was associated with fewer depressive symptoms and greater happiness and life satisfaction, but it could not show that hobbies caused those benefits.
She says exploring hobbies is still a work in progress and hopes to share more observations.
A Psychology Today contributor describes deciding to take up more hobbies after years of prioritising work and volunteer work.
The contributor had been painting for two years but continued to dislike their work, while salsa dancing became enjoyable after private lessons.
The article suggests judging hobbies by goals such as relaxation, exercise, connection or learning, rather than by skill alone.
It cites research associating hobbies with better well-being among older adults, while noting that the 2023 study cannot prove hobbies caused those benefits.
The article also discusses associations between cognitively engaging leisure activities and lower dementia risk, and identifies dancing as the physical activity linked to reduced risk in the cited study.
- Who
- An unnamed Psychology Today contributor and mental health professional
- What
- The contributor reflects on trying painting and salsa dancing and on the potential benefits of hobbies.
- When
- Published October 10, 2026; the contributor had been painting for two years.
- Where
- A group salsa class and private lessons; the locations are not stated.
- Why
- The contributor wanted to develop interests beyond work and consider how hobbies can serve goals such as well-being, learning and social connection.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
I have been painting for two years, and I still do not like my work.
Within a month, something shifted: It became fun.
Each goal calls for a different measure of success.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Publication date
- October 10, 2026
- Painting experience
- The contributor had been painting for two years.
- Salsa lessons
- The contributor attended a weekly group class, then took private lessons; the experience became fun within a month.
- 2023 study
- It examined 93,263 adults aged 65 and older across 16 countries.
- Evidence caveat
- The 2023 study was observational and cannot prove that hobbies caused the reported well-being benefits.
Sources
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