The best thing you’ll ever do for yourself? Get a hobby.

Illustration by Sami Seyedhosseini, Cartoonist

Let’s all get a hobby! Of course, we all have hobbies, but there is something really special about having a side passion that you don’t give up on. Something that may not be the main focus of your life, but you attend to because it makes you feel good.

Like how famous comedian Seth Rogen writes and stars in movies and television series, but also loves pottery and constantly works on it. He actually made a whole brand, Houseplant, out of it!

Or the iconic model Nara Smith, who, as most of us know, has gained a lot of social media fame from posting TikToks cooking for her family.

I am usually bad at sticking to things, and I’m sure that’s relatable for most people. However, there are a few things that have stuck: playing guitar, reading and writing.

I got my first guitar in high school and have played for fun since. Not always every day, and at some points “she” racks up a little dust, but I always swing back into playing. 

Same thing with reading. Usually, it’s easier for me to read over the summer, but every so often during the year, I can grab a book off my shelf and get lost in the story.

Writing is the only one that ever really stuck consistently. Being able to write stories for The Panther has been a huge savior in that process and I’m thankful for that always.

I guess the “full-time jobs” of me and many readers would fall under “student,” but there is always more to us than that. 

We all need a creative outlet or something that we have control over. Having a hobby is a great way to reduce stress, meet new people and overall gain new skills and experiences.

If you don’t believe me, check out this article from the Harvard Health Letter about how having a hobby can improve your well-being compared to those who don’t. 

When I started pursuing writing more seriously, still as something I would do whether I could make work out of it or not, I started to create a new circle in my life. I found people I could write with or get feedback from, which has helped me sharpen my writing and find more joy in it.

Sometimes a hobby can be the only thing in your life that isn’t tied to a deadline or productivity. It’s more of a personal side quest that you can take at your own pace and have no reason to stress about. 

Like watching a movie or reading a good book, pursuing a hobby can help you detach from the seriousness of your life and let off some steam.

You never know, maybe you are a 40-year-old accountant who decides to buy a cheap Facebook Marketplace camera and take pictures in a park near you and you end up loving it. Or a zoologist who finds joy in doing magic for the elderly at a retirement home. 

Whatever floats your boat, hobbies can turn into lifelong passions and maybe something you choose to pursue. 

Like having a close friend to rely on, a hobby can be a stable routine in your day-to-day or week-to-week experience that is there for you, on your terms.

Leslie Jones, a Saturday Night Live alumna who attended Chapman University and even DJed a radio station before transferring to Colorado State University, had majored in computer science and accounting on top of playing basketball — until her friend signed her up for a comedy contest, which she won and led to her performing stand-up comedy. It wasn’t until she was 47 that she joined the cast of SNL, but if she had never followed that passion, who knows, maybe Jones would be an accountant. 

I could list out many examples, but I think my point is clear. Your hobby doesn’t have to or won’t always turn into a career, but it can still shape who you are, open new doors or simply add balance and meaning into your life.

So, is there anything you have wanted to do or try out? Maybe give it a chance.