Research indicates that engaging in hobbies significantly contributes to life satisfaction and mental well-being, yet many Americans struggle to find time for such pursuits.
The average American enjoys more than five hours of leisure time each day, according to recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This statistic holds steady across various demographics, including differences in wealth and education. Despite this substantial amount of free time, a majority of Americans spend less than five hours per week actively engaging in hobbies, as revealed by a recent survey. Furthermore, Americans allocate over two hours per day to social media and other screen-based entertainment, which often replaces time that could be spent on more fulfilling activities.
Experts distinguish between passive entertainment—such as watching television or scrolling through social media—and active hobbies, which are considered vital for maintaining a healthy and rewarding life. Daisy Fancourt, a professor of psychobiology and epidemiology at University College London, emphasizes the importance of hobbies in personal development. “One thing that separates a hobby from other kinds of leisure is that it involves the acquisition of skills, or learning,” she states. “Hobbies provide a sense of accumulation and growth—of stretching ourselves to improve or to meet new goals—and that can help us fulfill our needs for meaning and purpose.”
Research led by Fancourt and her colleagues indicates that older adults who engage in hobbies report higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction, alongside lower instances of depression. Similarly, studies show that younger adults also benefit from hobbies, which support mental health, enhance quality of life, and diminish anxiety and stress.
Defining Hobbies and Their Importance
Jessica Bone, a senior research fellow at University College London, elaborates on the characteristics that define a hobby. “It’s not a paid activity—it’s something done for its own reward or pleasure, not for money—and it involves an active element. So you’re actively creating something or investing your energy and resources in something that builds your skills or competencies,” she explains.
Bone and Fancourt’s research identifies several key elements often found in hobbies, including novelty, creativity, sensory activation, self-expression, and cognitive stimulation. Examples of hobbies include exercise, gardening, arts and crafts, and learning a new language. Bone highlights the benefits of hobbies in building self-esteem and confidence: “They give us an opportunity to use our brain or social skills or abilities in ways that our jobs might not provide.”
Hedonic vs. Eudaimonic Happiness
Scholars often differentiate between two forms of happiness: hedonic and eudaimonic. Hedonic happiness is derived from fleeting pleasures, such as enjoying a delicious meal or watching a comedic show, while eudaimonic happiness relates to deeper feelings of fulfillment and purpose. Hobbies, often categorized as “serious leisure pursuits,” tend to foster eudaimonic experiences.
Yazdan Mansourian, a senior lecturer and leisure researcher at Charles Sturt University in Australia, comments on the significance of hobbies in personal development: “They support the more authentic dimensions of life and create conditions for self-actualization. People are not only doing what they enjoy, but becoming who they really want to be.”
Mansourian also notes that hobbies can fulfill needs left unmet by paid work and passive leisure: “At work, achievements are typically tied to income, performance metrics, or career progress,” he explains. However, accomplishments in hobbies retain their significance without the pressure of external validation, leading individuals to pursue excellence for its own sake.
Challenges in Finding Hobbies
Despite the recognized advantages of hobbies, many individuals encounter challenges in identifying and committing to pursuits that genuinely interest them. In the United Kingdom and some areas of the United States, healthcare providers are increasingly adopting “social prescribing” practices, in which they recommend hobbies and other healthy activities to patients similarly to how they would prescribe medication. “I think social prescribing is a really great route to hobbies,” Bone remarks. This approach encourages discussions about personal interests and ways to integrate hobbies that resonate with individuals.
Fancourt elaborates on the transformative potential of art-based hobbies in her new book, Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Save Lives. She highlights the benefits of engaging with music, painting, dance, and other forms of artistic expression, which include enhanced well-being, reduced stress, and lower risks for mental health issues such as dementia and depression. “Arts engagement provides multisensory stimulation, and it involves creativity and imagination,” she notes.
Exploring and Committing to Hobbies
Fancourt advises individuals to approach new hobbies with an open mind. “I recommend that people start by giving themselves lots of new arts experiences,” she suggests, encouraging activities like painting classes, dance lessons, or learning to play an instrument. She also recommends committing to a new hobby for at least 10 to 12 weeks to allow for comfort and confidence to develop. “Typically, studies show improvements in mental health and well-being within three months,” she explains, advising individuals to reassess if they do not experience these benefits within that timeframe.
Mansourian emphasizes that the essence of a hobby is not achievement but rather the joy of engaging with something that captivates one’s interest. “I would suggest starting not with the question ‘What should I do?’ but ‘What pulls me?’” he advises, noting that exploring various possibilities is a crucial part of the journey and, importantly, the enjoyment of hobbies.
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