Tips on Finding a Hobby That Fits Your Life

 As a human being, you can't spend all your time focused on your job or essential tasks looking after home or family. However much you might enjoy these, your mental health demands sometimes focusing on activities that are just for you. The problem is that many of us use that time for activities like watching TV or looking on social media, and while these aren't bad in themselves, they don't provide the satisfaction of creativity, engagement and company. What you need is a hobby — but how to you find a hobby that fits your life?

What Is the Right Hobby for You?

 No-one else can tell you what hobby you're supposed to enjoy. Hobbies can range from sports to collecting something, and which one you'll get most out of will depend heavily on your personality and your situation. Questions you might want to ask yourself before trying to find the right hobby include:

• Do I love mixing with people, or am I happiest on my own?
• Do I prefer being active or more sedentary?
• What kind of expenses associated with a hobby can I afford?
• If I'm going to be doing my hobby at home, how much space do I have?
• What kind of activity can I cope with?
• Could You Revive a Past Hobby?

 Most of us had hobbies as children or young adults, but we may have given them up as our lives became more complicated. Does this describe you? Perhaps you played a sport, collected something or were learning a musical instrument. Perhaps you loved crafts or painting. If you enjoyed the hobby then, the chances are that you may enjoy it (or something similar) now. Why not give it another go and find out, even if at first sight it might not seem suitable any more? For instance, if you loved playing football in your teens, you might think being in your fifties or sixties is too late. However, there are teams specifically aimed at those ages, or you could become a referee or organise a team.

 What Interests You?

An interest isn't the same as a hobby, but it can certainly grow into one. Do you like listening to music? Why not learn an instrument? Do pictures fascinate you? Why not start experimenting with paints or a camera? Even watching TV could turn into a hobby by learning about and collecting a favourite programme or type of programme. You never know, you might even end up on Mastermind.

 If you're stuck for ideas, one approach might be to go to your nearestlarge shopping centre and look around the special interest shops — bookshops, craft shop, music shops, sports shops. Just see what takes your fancy and try it out. Start small — for instance, if the recipe books are intriguing you, don't buy up the whole shelf, just choose one and try out a few of the recipes. You might find yourself running into a few false starts, of course, but that's OK. Just keep looking till you find something you want to go with, and then enjoy yourself.

Do You Need Help with Your Hobby?

 Many hobbies are just a matter of identifying what you want and doing it, but you might feel the urge to get good at what you're doing and need assistance. For instance, a sports coach or an art or music teacher can help you increase enjoyment of your activity by taking it to a higher level. If a private tutor could help you get the most out of your chosen hobby, register with TutorExtra for a great choice of tutors in your field.