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Original poster

That not everyone need a hobby

18 replies

Youcannevertell · 28/01/2025 23:37

What I consider my hobby is hand to hand with my job (arts related) People have told me, like my husband, that if your hobby is your work than it's not a hobby, and I SHOULD find one. His is fishing! Couldn't think about anything more boring than that. I honestly don't feel passionate about anything in particular, but my work. Nothing that would make me go out of my way to dedicate time to it. I like sports and I practice boxing every week... Is this a hobby? Maybe I am out of imagination? I used to travel a lot before my DD came along, and I had a pretty fulfilling social life. I am aware of slowing down from my previous life before her but never thought I needed a hobby to make up for the time I can't spend away from the family home, now that's she's still so young. What do you do as a hobby? Any suggestions are welcome

OP posts:
MuseumAssistant · 28/01/2025 23:40

My work is also my hobby but that's because I wanted to get paid for doing my hobby.

Outside of work I like the theatre and love taking my dogs on long walks but I wouldn't say they're hobbies.

Why are you bothered though whether others think you have a hobby or not?

Enough4me · 28/01/2025 23:40

It's fine if elements of your work are a hobby. I bet you do other things to relax that could also be counted as a hobby, e.g. reading, crosswords, walking at weekends?

MissUltraViolet · 28/01/2025 23:45

Does laying in bed at midnight scrolling through MN count as a hobby?

If not then I don’t have one and I’m cool with that.

Original poster
Youcannevertell · 28/01/2025 23:48

I am not really bothered about it, and yes, I use my free time to do a bunch of things that pleases me. But hobbies seems to be a thing around me these days. X is cycling every Sunday while Y goes to a book club and so and so have pottery classes...

OP posts:
Original poster
Youcannevertell · 28/01/2025 23:52

MissUltraViolet · 28/01/2025 23:45

Does laying in bed at midnight scrolling through MN count as a hobby?

If not then I don’t have one and I’m cool with that.

Bloody hell, it's midnight already! Lol

OP posts:
POTC · 28/01/2025 23:55

Yes, boxing is your hobby.
You don't have to have a hobby separate from your work, it's often said that the dream is to be paid for doing something you love and that you'd be doing anyway, even if you weren't paid for it.

latetothefisting · 29/01/2025 00:05

I don't think everyone needs a hobby, as in a specific activity they do on a regular basis just for pleasure, but do find it a bit weird/boring when people don't seem to have any interests at all.
FWIW I would consider your boxing a hobby, and your interests traveling, sport, and the field your work is in, which sounds fine to me

It's hard to say without knowing your job, but is there anything related to your field but isn't actually part of your job that you could class as a linked but separate interest? Either something you already do or might like to explore? e.g. if your job was playing in an orchestra then I would still consider going to see other live music, listening to recordings, playing a different instrument to the one you play professionally, reading biographies of famous musicians, etc., as other interests even if they are linked to your job.

If your job was illustrating children's books, I'd still consider any other type of drawing or painting you might do, reading other people's books, visiting galleries, etc. separate interests, not just write them off as the same thing because your job also involves art.

Original poster
Youcannevertell · 29/01/2025 00:10

latetothefisting · 29/01/2025 00:05

I don't think everyone needs a hobby, as in a specific activity they do on a regular basis just for pleasure, but do find it a bit weird/boring when people don't seem to have any interests at all.
FWIW I would consider your boxing a hobby, and your interests traveling, sport, and the field your work is in, which sounds fine to me

It's hard to say without knowing your job, but is there anything related to your field but isn't actually part of your job that you could class as a linked but separate interest? Either something you already do or might like to explore? e.g. if your job was playing in an orchestra then I would still consider going to see other live music, listening to recordings, playing a different instrument to the one you play professionally, reading biographies of famous musicians, etc., as other interests even if they are linked to your job.

If your job was illustrating children's books, I'd still consider any other type of drawing or painting you might do, reading other people's books, visiting galleries, etc. separate interests, not just write them off as the same thing because your job also involves art.

Thanks for your answer. I am an art restorer (paintings and ceramics) Drawing and painting is part of my everyday life either for work or not.

OP posts:
echt · 29/01/2025 00:15

Years ago I was asked in a (teaching) job interview what my hobby was. I said I thought of hobbies as an essentially masculine construct and the reading, gardening, etc. was just stuff I did.

They moved on to what I was reading at the moment.

I got the job Grin

ChangingHistory · 29/01/2025 00:18

I would consider your boxing a hobby.

How wonderful to live your job so much.

Do you work from home? Do you or others think you need to get out more so are using a hobby to facilitate that?

Do you feel you have nothing to talk about when you are with others and a hobby might help?

I can't see a problem tbh, if you love how you're spending your time you are living the good life.

sandyhappypeople · 29/01/2025 00:23

If it's anything like my PIL, he wants to fish more!

He may be encouraging you to get a hobby of your own so he can spend more time guilt-free on his hobby!

ComtesseDeSpair · 29/01/2025 00:28

I don’t think most people are invested enough in other people’s hobbies that they design precise definitions for what can be one. Hobbies are just things you enjoy doing in your spare time. Boxing would count, playing sport would count, art would count. I suspect most people assume that professional artists also often enjoy art in their spare time, and wouldn’t bat an eyelid if you said that art was both your work and your hobby.

AnneButNotHathaway · 03/02/2025 05:17

Hobby could be a broad term, to me it's pretty much anything that you do which also brings you joy and helps you to unwind. As in, gym, long walks and reading can all be hobbies just fine if that's what you enjoy doing regardless of what others think. My hobbies include said gym, reading and walking a lot and also I like photography, so I can spent either 3 hours walking around town taking pictures and then another 3 hours editing them in Photoworks 😁

Zanatdy · 03/02/2025 05:26

It’s not essential to have a hobby, but my hobby has been amazing. I responded to a message on a FB community group in May 2023 ‘do any local ladies fancy forming a walking group’. Well it’s been amazing. I am not from this area originally and although I had friends from work and a few mum friends, I didn’t know loads of local people. We do 3 walks a week (2 in winter), tonight it will be an hours walk then we go to 2 pubs on a Monday. I don’t tend to have an alcoholic drink but some do.

Saturday’s we will walk 5-7 miles (we have amazing countryside here in Surrey) then we go for a pub lunch. We have also done Theatre trips, a London charity walk, went up in a glider. So many things. We have around 30 regulars, who I consider good friends now. One of my close friends is sadly dying right now and these ladies have really stepped up, raised funds to buy my friend a gift, but also helping out practically as I am caring for friends dog. I don’t know what i’d do without them now. I always used to say I had no time for a hobby, and to be honest I didn’t, but now the kids have grown up a bit it’s so nice to have something for me. So if anyone is looking for some local friends, well worth asking in the community groups on social media if any groups exist.

lilytuckerpritchet · 03/02/2025 05:56

I mean I like to read and do crossword puzzles are they hobbies? I exercise for health reasons but other than that I don't go to any classes.

As long as you're not just working, eating , sleeping and never do anything else I wouldn't worry so much.

whatisforteamum · 03/02/2025 07:50

My lifelong hobby has been my job for over 40 yrs.
I'm a chef so I can research bits online when I'm chilling too.
I also love walking in nature to relax and my current job is a 3 mile walk daily.
I get told to get a hobby but I'm lucky enough my hobby is my job.
Df was the same.loved photography did a college course and worked in the film industry all his life.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 03/02/2025 07:54

I think if you are doing art stuff which you're not being paid for then that is a hobby, as is boxing or any kind of exercise you choose to do.

Also, if you have an art based job which is something you love, enough to do it both for work and in your spare time, I don't think you necessarily need other hobbies, no. It would be more important for someone who does a job they don't particularly like, or which is very stressful, to have an unrelated hobby to help them unwind.

Midnightlove · 03/02/2025 08:11

I don't think I have a hobby.. I'm not sure I really ever have!

I like to travel but obviously that's only a few weeks a year, and at home on an evening I like to chill and watch tv 🙈

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