You spent 17% more on your hobbies than you did last year.

I went home for a few days last weekend. My mom and I were chatting over lunch and she told me:

“I can't come, I have guitar class on Tuesday!”

I knew my mom played the guitar. She played growing up, sporadically bursting out in tune throughout my life.

By sporadically I mean like maybe 15 times in the last 27 years.

With Brian, my brother, and I off her to do list… her social life is poppin’ off.

Dinner parties, drinks with friends, a full time career, crossfit and yoga, vacations with my dad (without Brian and I…) and she now casually takes classes for fun. 

My mom does stuff all the time. 

It got me thinking: 

Why are hobbies important? Are they important? 

With a quick google search, I came to find something interesting. 

Hobbies have a funny history: Blooming in the industrial revolution as work hours were shortened and free time was newly available. 

In the late 1800’s they began classifying hobbies as productive or unproductive.

During the great depression, hobbies had a resurgence in correlation with unemployment on the rise. 

And voila- we get to the 2020 pandemic. 

Did everyone bake their first focaccia bread? Or was it just me? 

Since the Industrial Revolution hobbies and capitalism have formed a close bond.

US GDP change from 2020-2022 shows a 17.1% increase in expenditure on hobbies/personal interest alone!

The pandemic hard launched a lot of the hobbies we see today – even counting Tiktok dancing and powerpoint parties. Some of us picked up running. 

Either we identify with the hobby:

I don’t just run, but I AM a runner (this is my example, but I, ironically, do not identify as a runner…).

Or

We try to use it as investment- selling it, making it into a new career or investing in educational content. 

Hobbies are great for mental and physical health. I think so, but this research study says the same. The Mayo clinic even published research during the pandemic saying hobbies would help keep people mentally stable. 

I love this.

My mom being a great example- she’s happy and healthy, invests in herself and continues to invest in her interests! I can’t wait to hear her play the guitar again.