My one big hobby is tea. Crazy loose leaf stuff from specialist vendors, often pressed into round cakes. Some sessions with particularly good aged teas can go on for much of the day. Pretty minimalist (since I don't buy loads of fancy teaware!) and meditative too.
Oh I love this Molly! I'm nowhere near your level of minimalism just yet but I'm definitely striving for it. I took up cross-stitching last year because I felt like I needed a new hobby, and I completely fell in love with it. It's good for my wellbeing, I'm working with my hands and I get to make cute things for my home or gifts for others! Last Christmas I made all of my family members a gift tag that doubled up as a tree decoration - win, win!
Molly this was such a nourishing read, I feel really inspired!
I too, had let my hobbies go - especially during and after University. In the last couple of years I have been slowly exploring and discovering what I enjoy doing - and my list is pretty similar to yours!
Plenty of writing, journaling, reading - but I have also tried to tap into my creativity more with colouring in books (I love Johanna Basford's books), Nature Journaling and playing with watercolours! I also really enjoy creating - I am a beginner knitter, and I also make my own candles!
I try and keep materials to a minimum, I bought some storage boxes with lids, and I have one for my knitting, one for candle making and one for my art supplies. Being able to pack everything away in these boxes really helps.
I have just been practicing, casting on, the knit stitch and casting off - and I’ve made a hat, scarf and baby blankets so very simple! I really love it!
Hi Molly! Reading your text I discovered that I have few hobbies and I was thinking about the difference between a hobby and a job. Currently walking, watching films at the cinema, play my guitar, reading and writing are mine. But I also use some of these to make a living. Your hobbies inspire me. Thanks for the text!
I loved this! I’m glad you talked about the clutter of hobbies. I’m so wary of hobbies that come with (or that convince you that you need) ten tonnes of paraphernalia. It’s that saying about “all the gear, but no idea” that springs to mind!
Looking back, I’ve picked up a hobby roughly every decade. Reading from childhood, gardening in my teens, hiking when I met my partner in my 20s and crochet in my 30s. Nothing new yet in my 40s so I’m keeping an eye out 😂. I’ve always dabbled a tiny bit with writing and painting so perhaps I could lean in to one of those. I’d quite like to learn some useful DIY basics so that’s an option (but the dreaded equipment seems a given with that one😬)
Do you find your hobbies are also seasonal? I’d say I garden spring, summer and early autumn then switch to crochet in the winter. I walk more in the better weather and read more in the winter. I think each hobby has a rhythm (or I do?!)
Thanks for the post. As always plenty to think about and reflect on.
Yes my hobbies defo fluctuate with the seasons and my interest/energy levels! But its nice to have a toolbox of activities to come back to when the time is right :). Intrigued by what your new hobby will be this decade!
I had to look up the word hobby as baking and exercise seemed to me to be things that one has to do to keep fit and to provide cakes etc for the family which comes under 'domestic stuff'. meaning -a hobby is a relaxing and enjoyable pursuit. When I go for a walk it is usually a long affair as I am stopping a great deal to look at flowers, sheep, trees and the sky so while this is exercise it is enjoyable. Thank you Molly for making us look at hobbies and how important they are for our well being.
I agree that there is a lot of overlap between things that feel like chores and activities that are just for fun, but I quite like merging them all together! :)
I love this article—especially the idea that hobbies don’t need to be all consuming. It can be so hard to fight off the gremlin that tells me that I “should” be committing more to a hobby to make it “worthwhile”. Thanks to you, I now have a response to the gremlin: doing a little of something often is enough.
Hobbies truly are the best and bring so much joy and value to life :-) but there certainly is a lot of overconsumption out there with them these days when it really doesn't need to be that way. I also really enjoy reading - it's definitely my number one hobby! Recently we've started doing large puzzles together as a family which has been great. We just pick away at it over a few weeks, doing bits here and there and I find it quite meditative as well as a great alternative to mindless scrolling ( especially while dinner's cooking!) I garden also and do a little bit of simple weaving here and there :-)
This was a lovely morning read. I am very much trying to slow down as so much going on in life and work. This resonates a lot. My hobbies are always reading, being with my ponies, writing for myself and walking in nature with my husband and dog (occasionally teenagers). At the moment I am also embracing cold water swimming and the nourishment it brings. Not needing a lot of stuff and hobbies being part of a bigger picture is very grounding.
I've always had a solid hobby in reading, but over the years l have felt the pull to widen my range. However, I never was good at sticking to hobbies outside of reading but I'm proud to say since 2020 journaling, yoga have been consistent. I struggle with keeping when it comes to nature despite all the good it does to me. I am lucky to have several parks in the city I live in France, but sometimes I let my tiredness take over.
But as always you are inspiring me to take one step at a time and also find the rhythm that I can work with alongside my other commitments and responsibilities.
My second pregnancy is taking making more tired than usual but I am making the little effort ^^.
I love to read, and have done since I was a child 😊 I feel lucky that my local library is so close to where I live and that I can utilize it as much as I able to 📚
Great newsletter! I'm currently in the middle of trying to let go of some hobbies and all the clutter that comes with them. This is a good reminder that its ok to let them go.
This is such a great approach to have! I also think it's super important to try out new hobbies outside of the house (either at a local group or a friend's house, etc.) before buying a bunch of stuff to keep in our homes. There have been so many times that I've bought new hobby supplies with the intention of building it into my routine, and then they've ended up being abandoned because life got in the way, or perfectionism got in the way, or it just wasn't right for me! I love the idea of building hobbies in one by one as well, I often find I get overwhelmed because there are too many hobbies I can do! Thanks so much for writing this Molly 😊
This really intrigues me - several of the things you list are part of my way of life, and I’ve not considered them hobbies. So what makes a hobby a hobby?
My one big hobby is tea. Crazy loose leaf stuff from specialist vendors, often pressed into round cakes. Some sessions with particularly good aged teas can go on for much of the day. Pretty minimalist (since I don't buy loads of fancy teaware!) and meditative too.
Yes, without a doubt, JOY!
I love this so much! Tea sounds like my kind of hobby :)
Well, if you're ever feeling daring, I can send over some. I'll make sure to add stuff that's aged nearly 20 years!
Oh I love this Molly! I'm nowhere near your level of minimalism just yet but I'm definitely striving for it. I took up cross-stitching last year because I felt like I needed a new hobby, and I completely fell in love with it. It's good for my wellbeing, I'm working with my hands and I get to make cute things for my home or gifts for others! Last Christmas I made all of my family members a gift tag that doubled up as a tree decoration - win, win!
What a lovely idea, I've always fancied having a go at cross-stitching! :)
I highly recommend it! You can start out with very little and all of my ‘kit’ fits in a tote bag so it’s pretty minimalist too 🥰
Molly this was such a nourishing read, I feel really inspired!
I too, had let my hobbies go - especially during and after University. In the last couple of years I have been slowly exploring and discovering what I enjoy doing - and my list is pretty similar to yours!
Plenty of writing, journaling, reading - but I have also tried to tap into my creativity more with colouring in books (I love Johanna Basford's books), Nature Journaling and playing with watercolours! I also really enjoy creating - I am a beginner knitter, and I also make my own candles!
I try and keep materials to a minimum, I bought some storage boxes with lids, and I have one for my knitting, one for candle making and one for my art supplies. Being able to pack everything away in these boxes really helps.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Curver-Stockholm-Deco-Storage-Litres/dp/B0BQ3WQRTJ?ref_=ast_sto_dp
It has taken me a very long time to realise that my hobbies are worth my time, attention and effort.
Thank you for such a lovely read.
Oh those boxes look really handy! I'm so happy you enjoyed lovely :)
Those boxes look beautiful as well as practical. Love your choice of hobbies. Is someone teaching you to knit or are you learning off YouTube?
I'm teaching myself ... Slowly !!!! But I really love it ! Do you knit ?
No, I don’t knit. I tried a few years ago on large needles, and I found it very therapeutic but I wasn’t really quite sure what to make!
I have just been practicing, casting on, the knit stitch and casting off - and I’ve made a hat, scarf and baby blankets so very simple! I really love it!
Hi Molly! Reading your text I discovered that I have few hobbies and I was thinking about the difference between a hobby and a job. Currently walking, watching films at the cinema, play my guitar, reading and writing are mine. But I also use some of these to make a living. Your hobbies inspire me. Thanks for the text!
I'm the same as many of mine cross over!
I loved this! I’m glad you talked about the clutter of hobbies. I’m so wary of hobbies that come with (or that convince you that you need) ten tonnes of paraphernalia. It’s that saying about “all the gear, but no idea” that springs to mind!
Looking back, I’ve picked up a hobby roughly every decade. Reading from childhood, gardening in my teens, hiking when I met my partner in my 20s and crochet in my 30s. Nothing new yet in my 40s so I’m keeping an eye out 😂. I’ve always dabbled a tiny bit with writing and painting so perhaps I could lean in to one of those. I’d quite like to learn some useful DIY basics so that’s an option (but the dreaded equipment seems a given with that one😬)
Do you find your hobbies are also seasonal? I’d say I garden spring, summer and early autumn then switch to crochet in the winter. I walk more in the better weather and read more in the winter. I think each hobby has a rhythm (or I do?!)
Thanks for the post. As always plenty to think about and reflect on.
Yes my hobbies defo fluctuate with the seasons and my interest/energy levels! But its nice to have a toolbox of activities to come back to when the time is right :). Intrigued by what your new hobby will be this decade!
I had to look up the word hobby as baking and exercise seemed to me to be things that one has to do to keep fit and to provide cakes etc for the family which comes under 'domestic stuff'. meaning -a hobby is a relaxing and enjoyable pursuit. When I go for a walk it is usually a long affair as I am stopping a great deal to look at flowers, sheep, trees and the sky so while this is exercise it is enjoyable. Thank you Molly for making us look at hobbies and how important they are for our well being.
I agree that there is a lot of overlap between things that feel like chores and activities that are just for fun, but I quite like merging them all together! :)
I love this article—especially the idea that hobbies don’t need to be all consuming. It can be so hard to fight off the gremlin that tells me that I “should” be committing more to a hobby to make it “worthwhile”. Thanks to you, I now have a response to the gremlin: doing a little of something often is enough.
Love this!
Hobbies truly are the best and bring so much joy and value to life :-) but there certainly is a lot of overconsumption out there with them these days when it really doesn't need to be that way. I also really enjoy reading - it's definitely my number one hobby! Recently we've started doing large puzzles together as a family which has been great. We just pick away at it over a few weeks, doing bits here and there and I find it quite meditative as well as a great alternative to mindless scrolling ( especially while dinner's cooking!) I garden also and do a little bit of simple weaving here and there :-)
I love the puzzle idea! One I may have to pick up someday, if I can find anywhere to put it! :)
My son has a very demanding job and he too has found puzzles mindful and relaxing.
This was a lovely morning read. I am very much trying to slow down as so much going on in life and work. This resonates a lot. My hobbies are always reading, being with my ponies, writing for myself and walking in nature with my husband and dog (occasionally teenagers). At the moment I am also embracing cold water swimming and the nourishment it brings. Not needing a lot of stuff and hobbies being part of a bigger picture is very grounding.
I love reading your hobbies and keen to try cold water swimming myself one day, I've heard such good things :)
I've always had a solid hobby in reading, but over the years l have felt the pull to widen my range. However, I never was good at sticking to hobbies outside of reading but I'm proud to say since 2020 journaling, yoga have been consistent. I struggle with keeping when it comes to nature despite all the good it does to me. I am lucky to have several parks in the city I live in France, but sometimes I let my tiredness take over.
But as always you are inspiring me to take one step at a time and also find the rhythm that I can work with alongside my other commitments and responsibilities.
My second pregnancy is taking making more tired than usual but I am making the little effort ^^.
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and I'm really glad you found this useful! :)
I love the article 😍
Waw, hobbies can change our mindset. But sometimes we do not have enough time to hone them.
I love to read, and have done since I was a child 😊 I feel lucky that my local library is so close to where I live and that I can utilize it as much as I able to 📚
Libraries are the best! :)
Great newsletter! I'm currently in the middle of trying to let go of some hobbies and all the clutter that comes with them. This is a good reminder that its ok to let them go.
I'm so glad you find this useful :)
This is such a great approach to have! I also think it's super important to try out new hobbies outside of the house (either at a local group or a friend's house, etc.) before buying a bunch of stuff to keep in our homes. There have been so many times that I've bought new hobby supplies with the intention of building it into my routine, and then they've ended up being abandoned because life got in the way, or perfectionism got in the way, or it just wasn't right for me! I love the idea of building hobbies in one by one as well, I often find I get overwhelmed because there are too many hobbies I can do! Thanks so much for writing this Molly 😊
Such good points, thank you Leah!
This really intrigues me - several of the things you list are part of my way of life, and I’ve not considered them hobbies. So what makes a hobby a hobby?
Good point! I was the same until I re-categorised them and feel its made them both more enjoyable and easier to prioritise :)