02/12/2025
A huge pattern I notice working with clients with anxiety, burnout and depression is their lack of engagement in hobbies and interests.
Life is so easily sucked away with "tasks and jobs" - the next bit of cleaning, personal admin, work, kids stuff, and whilst this is all important it denies ourselves access to long term soul food.
As Occupational Therapists we consider hobbies essential for health. A 2025 study backs this up on multiple levels:
* Hobbies mitigated the effects of working long hours and should be promoted to enhance workplace wellbeing
* Hobbies significantly improved recovery for adults with depression and those that regularly participate in hobbies are less likely to develop depression
*For adolescents, hobbies reduced the likelihood of engaging in problem gaming and reduced negative interactions and criticism from friends
* Relaxation, self expression, flow state, connection with others - its all fantastic stuff!
Hobbies don't have to be expensive or use heaps of time; but they do require planning and intention.
Local hikes - Roaring meg track up to the beautiful wee lake, 10 mins from town, 2hr return, roadside coffee on the way back $6
Breast Hill - Lake Hawea, solid day trip 8hrs, 50 min drive each way, appropriate gear, food, pint at the Hawea pub $12
Gardening - Iceberg rose from Nichols (impossible to kill!) $39
small lavenders $15 or use cuttings. Time - 10 mins here and there. Utube how to prune, fertisliser, when to spray etc.
Pottery - starter kit $17 The warehouse - cheap as chips! Fun little project despite the handle snapping off minutes later ;)
Reading - free sign up to the library, place holds on new releases or buy a book/magazine $15-40
Backyard fireworks with the kids - Bad boy fireworks - Bucket of family rated fun $30 or $150 for a full experience!!
And actually if you don't have the cognitive capacity for any of this at the end of 2025, and fancy a series binge, I highly recommend Clarksons Farm, Prime Video $10.99 per month!
So, happy hobbying everyone!
