A Gentle Reminder to Play Again

There was a time when weekends were for hobbies — not side hustles, not “networking opportunities,” and certainly not doom-scrolling until your brain turned to mush. Remember that? Maybe you built model airplanes. Maybe you painted wildflowers. Maybe you spent hours learning guitar chords that made your fingertips ache, just because it felt good to make a sound that was all yours.

Somewhere along the way, many of us traded that in for productivity. We turned our passions into businesses, our free time into content, and our “just because” activities into things to perfect and post. We stopped doing things we’re bad at — which, let’s be honest, is a tragedy in itself.

So, is the art of having a hobby really over?

Not quite. It’s just been buried under our collective obsession with efficiency and comparison. The good news is you can reclaim it — slowly, awkwardly, delightfully.

Why Hobbies Matter for Your Mental Health

In my work as a mental health therapist, I see what happens when people lose the simple joy of doing something for themselves — no audience, no paycheck, no pressure. We get burnt out. We start believing our worth comes only from what we produce or achieve. We forget how to be beginners, how to be playful, how to make a mess without shame.

Hobbies invite us back to our childlike curiosity. They give us a break from screens, performance, and the relentless need to “get it right.” They remind us we are more than our work.

5 Ways to Rediscover a Hobby — Just for You

Start small and messy. You do not need to become a master ceramicist overnight. Buy a tiny watercolor set and paint your dog. Badly.

Protect it from monetization. Not everything needs an Etsy shop. It’s enough that it makes you smile.

Keep it offline. You don’t have to share every creation with the world. Let it be your secret pocket of imperfection.

Remember what made you lose track of time as a kid. Build a blanket fort and read there if you want. Who’s stopping you?

Let it change. You’re allowed to abandon knitting for baking or gardening for puzzles. The point is the play — not the outcome.

A Final Word — Play is Not Optional

If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected, ask yourself: When was the last time I did something simply because I wanted to? No goals, no judgment — just that spark of joy that says, “This is mine.”

The art of having a hobby isn’t over. It’s just waiting for you to remember how good it feels to make something, break something, or learn something — with no strings attached.

So here’s your permission slip: pick up the paintbrush, the puzzle, the seeds, the guitar. Let yourself be a beginner. Your mind, your heart, and your nervous system will thank you.

Need help rediscovering your joy?

As a therapist, I’m here to remind you: you are more than your productivity. Your well-being deserves pockets of fun, mess, and wonder. Let’s talk about how to make space for that — you don’t have to do it alone.