How many hobbies is too many hobbies?

Asking for a friend.

Lemons by me, inspired by Stacie Martinez

If you’d asked me what my hobbies were back in 2022, I might have struggled to list any.

Going for a walk? Going on holiday?

I don’t think either of those count. This distinct lack of interests was likely due to that fact that I was burnt out. It took every ounce of energy I had just to get up and go to work and make it through the day. I couldn’t see this at the time, but I can now. Everything felt like a challenge.

Now, I might have gone to the opposite extreme. To the point of having far too many hobbies, and not really being able to fully focus on any of them.

But does that really matter?

I suppose it depends on your reasoning for having a hobby in the first place. If it’s with the goal of getting really good then having many isn’t likely to help that happen. But if the goal is to find activities to lose yourself in, then surely having many is to be encouraged.

So what are all of these hobbies anyway?

Over the past two years I’ve found myself experimenting with:

• polymer clay to make earrings

• pottery and ceramics; taking an 8-week course and then continuing to do ‘free wheeling’ sessions.

• drawing and using colour with ProMarkers, coloured pencils, watercolour pencils, oil pastels (my latest acquisition).

• cross stitch and embroidery (got a lovely new kit for my birthday)

• pom-pom making

There could be more that I’ve forgotten about.

I definitely have hyper-focus tendencies which I think I get from my Dad (Hi Dad! He sometimes reads this). I become a bit obsessed with something for a while and then cool off and sometimes move on completely. I used to think this was a bad thing but I don’t anymore. At least I give things a go and allow myself the chance to see if I want to keep doing it. How would I know otherwise?

Why should I bother with any hobbies at all?

One of my favourite things about getting stuck into a hobby is that I absolutely lose myself. Forgotten are any anxieties I might have about work and all I can do is be absorbed in the task in hand. It’s wonderful.

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Below is a selection of hobby-related creations. One is actually by my almost 3-yo niece who likes to do ‘scissoring’ and cut up bits of toothpaste boxes and similar. See if you can spot that one! The lemons were inspired by a drawing by

Stacie Martinez

that she had posted on her notes - check out her Substack if you want brilliant drawing inspiration!

If you would like to join me for an hour of creative hobby-ing tomorrow (Monday) evening, I’m hosting the next edition of online Create Ensemble. Find out more by licking on the link. We start at 7pm (UK time) and you are very welcome. The sign up link will be sent again later today to paid subscribers, so it does require an upgrade if you’re not already one.

I hope to see you there!

Hannah x