Hi everyone, longtime lurker on the forum but wanted to get to know people's view on this. I'm a second year analyst and now that I have (slightly) more free time as well as more visibility into my weekends, I was thinking about getting back into some hobbies that I've had in the past. However, any time I've made an attempt to return to them, I've found it hard to stay on track and it's almost as if my mind was treating them like a chore. Has anyone had a similar experience? If so, how have you been able to keep going at your hobbies? Any advice you could give? Thank you!
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Rekindling past hobbies can be a challenge, especially when your mind starts associating them with "tasks" rather than enjoyment. Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some actionable tips to help you stay on track and truly enjoy your hobbies again:
Start Small and Set Manageable Goals
Instead of diving in full force, ease back into your hobbies with small, achievable steps. For example, if you used to enjoy reading, commit to just 10-15 minutes a day rather than finishing a book in a week. This reduces the pressure and helps you rediscover the joy.
Focus on the Process, Not the Outcome
Many people lose interest in hobbies because they focus too much on results. Shift your mindset to enjoy the activity itself. For instance, if you’re into painting, don’t worry about creating a masterpiece—just enjoy the act of putting brush to canvas.
Incorporate Variety
If one hobby starts feeling stale, mix it up. Try exploring new activities or hobbies that are adjacent to your interests. For example, if you like sports, consider trying a new one like rock climbing or basketball, as suggested in WSO threads.
Schedule It Like a Meeting
Treat your hobbies as non-negotiable appointments in your calendar. This helps you prioritize them and ensures you carve out time consistently, even during busy weeks.
Find a Community or Partner
Engaging with others who share your interests can make hobbies more enjoyable and keep you accountable. Whether it’s joining a local club, attending meetups, or even just sharing progress with a friend, the social aspect can reignite your passion.
Reframe Your Mindset
If hobbies feel like a chore, remind yourself why you enjoyed them in the first place. Reflect on the positive emotions or memories tied to them. This can help shift your perspective and make the activity feel rewarding again.
Experiment with New Hobbies
If returning to old hobbies feels uninspiring, consider exploring new ones. WSO users have shared ideas like antiquing, board games, or even volunteering in community projects. Sometimes, a fresh start can be just what you need.
Be Patient with Yourself
It’s normal to feel rusty or unmotivated at first. Give yourself grace and time to ease back into the rhythm. Remember, hobbies are meant to bring joy, not stress.
Ultimately, the key is to approach hobbies with curiosity and a sense of playfulness. Don’t overthink it—just dive in and let yourself enjoy the process!
Sources: Feel empty, Selfish Ask for Help in Situation, What are the best "interests" to list on resume?, beyond bored - can't even motivate to change jobs again, 2 steps to killing it in 2016 (Pt 2)
What are your hobbies? Sometimes interests change and that’s fine. I would say I’ve gained some hobbies and dropped others because some of them require too much time or specific settings that are not readily available.
Agreed, my interests have changed over time. For me my hobbies primarily include cooking, classical music + jazz, watching soccer matches, and travelling out of the country. I'm also looking to get into running just for long term health benefits. I think cooking might be the most difficult here as I'm not really a "meal prep" type person and I like to make things fresh. Also, meal stipend every night helps cover the food expenses, so that's definitely pulling me away
For cooking what about classes? It’s fun, you learn new styles and techniques plus potentially meet some interesting people.
I wanna get into classical music chief. Whats the move?
Hmmm I would first listen to the most popular pieces to get some surface level exposure. Using that, I would then explore various eras (i.e. baroque, classical, romantic, etc.) and figure out the kind of composers you like within those time periods. You can then determine if you're someone who likes symphonic pieces, pieces for soloists, chamber music, etc. I found that in college I most easily did this by putting classical pieces on while studying or walking around campus and constantly added pieces that I enjoyed to a playlist.
Drop some recs king
Can't speak for everyone, but the below are my personal favorites. Also happy to give my personal jazz recommendations as well (biased towards a certain era however)
Concertos:
Rachmaninoff Piano Concertos (I think most people start with No. 2)
Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1
Elgar Cello Concerto
Rodrigo Concierto de Aranjuez (II. Adagio Movement is the most well known section)
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto
Brahms Violin Concerto
Sibelius Violin Concerto
Symphonic Pieces:
Scheherazade
Brahms Symphony No. 3
Brahms Symphony No. 4
Dvorak Serenade for Strings
Mendelssohn Symphony No. 5
Beethoven Symphony No. 7
Mozart Symphony No. 40 (Pretty well known, but Mozart isn't really my cup of tea as you can tell from this list)
Sibelius Symphony No. 7
Bruckner Symphony No. 7
Solo Pieces:
J.S. Bach Sonata No. 1 for Violin (Hilary Hahn has best recording)
J.S. Bach Goldberg Variations
Song Without Words Op. 109 (Yo-Yo Ma has my favorite recording)
J.S. Bach Partita for Violin (V. Chaconne)
Chopin Nocturnes (They're all fantastic, you'll likely recognize a couple already)
Tchaikovsky Valse Sentimentale (This one has a special place in my heart)
Sibelius 13 Pieces for Piano, Op. 76 II. Etude
Finding people who share a hobby has helped me stay dedicated. My younger brother started learning a language I wanted to learn, so it finally pushed me over the edge and helps to have something further to discuss or bond over. Same thing with running/cycling. Find a group of people who are interested in the same hobbies and it’ll motivate you to continue with it. Not to mention it opens you up to an entirely new social group.
Yeah I think that's definitely step 1 for staying motivated in certain hobbies. And I'm always open to meeting new people! Thanks for the advice
Join an MMA gym. Do BJJ Gi and no Gi. Muay Thai.
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