Imagine playing football for the first time and absolutely loving it. Then, you go home, sit alone on your couch, scroll through social media, and suddenly feel overwhelmed by how much your life seems to suck—how uninteresting it is and how few friends you have. Unfortunately, this scenario is all too common. Many people spend their time doing things they dislike rather than pursuing what truly brings them happiness. That’s why I often ask: Why not give football—or any other hobby—a real chance?
It’s almost become a running joke for me to say that everyone needs hobbies, because so many people seem to lack them. As a result, they’re unhappy, simply because they aren’t doing enough of what makes them happy. The reality is, people often fall into one of these categories:
- They don’t have enough hobbies – leaving them bored and unfulfilled.
- They have unusual hobbies (at least in my opinion) – like sleeping in the middle of a lake or mastering paddleboarding.
- They claim to be too busy – but what exactly are they busy with? As I joke, even homeless people are often “too busy,” yet if you offer them $100 for an hour of conversation, they suddenly have time.
- They have too much free time – which many people crave—yet ironically, it leaves them even more bored and unhappy.
This post is for those who feel a lack of meaning in their lives—because there’s always someone who needs to hear this message.
Personally, I have too many hobbies, with even more on standby. My schedule is so packed that I don’t have time for everything I’d like to do. Instead, I focus on what truly matters to me, replacing FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) with JOMO (Joy Of Missing Out).
For example, I’d love to make time for bachata, long bike rides, roller skating, starting a new business, or learning a new language. But my days are already filled with projects, connecting with loved ones, and recharging from a life that’s already rich with rewarding activities. There’s little room for anything else, no matter how appealing.
When I see people with too much free time, I can’t help but shake my head and point them to this post. After all, becoming busy isn’t hard. We could try to visit every country, watch every movie, read every book, or meet every person, but it’s impossible. We simply don’t have enough time. That’s why we must choose wisely: which countries to visit, which movies to watch, which books to read, and which people to spend time with—and everything else in life.
And since this is a blog about happiness, and there’s a clear connection between fulfilling hobbies and happiness, my advice is straightforward: Get more hobbies, and you’ll have a more fulfilled and happy life. Start with more options at first, and later you can focus on what truly matters to you.
Get busy, but don’t forget to relax and sprinkle in some fun. If you’d like, share in the comments: What hobbies do you already enjoy?
Stay happy—and find some hobbies!
