Juggling multiple responsibilities can leave little room for the hobbies we once enjoyed. What used to be a regular part of our lives can slowly take a stop as work, school, errands, and other responsibilities take priority.
Maybe you used to spend hours reading books, playing video games, drawing, collecting things, or learning how to play an instrument. Now, those hobbies sit untouched as you find yourself saying, “I’ll get back to it when I have more time.”
But sometimes, it’s not just about having less time.
We may have the time, but we feel guilty for spending it on something that doesn’t feel “productive” and sometimes we just don’t have the energy to do so.
Then life happened
Life gets busier as we grow older, and the things we enjoy can easily become the first things we sacrifice. What once gave us a break from our responsibilities can start feeling less important than finishing one more task.
Hobbies can give us a chance to rest and unwind for a bit, but responsibilities leave a little room for them. Even when we have time, the thought of doing something “unproductive” can make us choose to accomplish another task instead.
Several internet users shared the same sentiment that life can be taxing as an adult and they are slowly drifting away from their hobbies.
An online Reddit user shared feeling guilty for spending even one to two hours a week on a hobby, despite looking forward to it.
Feeling guilty can be normal, especially if such time could be used for other tasks. Still, it is important to remember that having an outlet can also be a worthwhile use of our time.
A study published in Nature Medicine and reported by Harvard Health found that having older adults with hobbies reported better health, more happiness, fewer depressive symptoms and higher life satisfaction than those without hobbies.
Maybe we don’t always have to feel guilty for doing something simply because we enjoy it. It’s time to make time for ourselves since being an adult is already hard enough.
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