Whatever Happened to Hobbies?
Don't ignore your single-day sparks of inspiration when you want to start a hobby and learn something new — it's more important than you might think!
by Maia Simmons ★ November 17th, 2025
Photo Credits: Maia Simmons
The guitar just sits there.
It’s been collecting dust in the corner of my room — strings out of tune, case half-open. I took lessons once, but it never really stuck. Maybe it’s because I’m a lefty trying to play a right-handed guitar, or maybe it’s just that I didn’t have the time to sit down and learn.
Don’t get me wrong. I want to get better, and I’ve tried to make it happen. But once that burst of inspiration burns out, it’s tough to find time for hobbies in a world that glorifies being busy. Between school, social life and the nonstop rhythm of hustle culture, the things we love most often end up on the back burner. Somewhere along the way, learning something new started to feel like a chore instead of a choice.
Music has always been what grounds me. Whether I’m walking to class, doing laundry or just lying in bed, it keeps my day moving. That’s part of why I keep coming back to the guitar — it’s my way of being part of the music I love. But when the weight of everything else sets in, that passion slips away. Making time for something you haven’t yet mastered starts to feel impossible, even when it’s the thing that brings you the most joy.
There was a time when hobbies were just about enjoyment — doing something because it made you happy, not because it looked good or led to anything. Now, it feels like everything has to have a purpose. We’re always trying to be productive, even in our free time. If it’s not for school, work or social media, we start to wonder if it’s even worth doing. Social media definitely adds pressure. It’s easy to scroll and see people mastering new skills or showing off perfect projects, and suddenly, your own progress doesn’t feel good enough. You start comparing instead of creating. Maybe that’s exactly why we need hobbies.
According to Harvard Health Publishing, people who have hobbies report better health, more happiness and higher life satisfaction. The study found that hobbies like art, gardening, volunteering and playing music can reduce depression and help people feel more connected. UCLA Health also found that hobbies can “boost mental well-being, improve memory and lower the risk of chronic disease.”Creative hobbies, in particular, have been shown to lower stress levels and support overall health.
For college students, that’s something we can’t ignore. We spend so much of our time learning for grades and deadlines that we forget what it feels like to learn for our own sake. Taking time to do something new that isn’t part of a class or career path can remind us that learning can be enjoyable — that it can actually make life feel fuller.
Maybe that’s what we’ve lost: the joy of being a beginner and doing something slowly, just because it feels good to try.
Somewhere between chasing grades, achievements and approval, we’ve forgotten that not everything has to lead somewhere. The real value of a hobby isn’t what you produce but how it lets you reconnect with yourself — without pressure or performance. When you do something simply because it makes you happy, you’re reminding yourself that joy is reason enough.
So yes, I’m going to pick up that guitar again — not to prove anything or post about it, but because I want to learn. Not for progress, not for anyone else — just for me.
Edited by: Madison Sherman