"If you had asked me as a first-time mom what my hobbies were at the time, I probably would have politely laughed and responded with, “changing diapers.” I was knee-deep in sleepless nights, and when it came to focusing on myself, it was oftentimes easy to push “me” aside. The truth is, becoming a mom can feel like uncharted territory. At the time, I felt a little lost and a little like I didn’t know who I was. Don’t get me wrong, I love being a mom. But just like any new role, things can feel hard. I’ve definitely learned some things along the way. One of those things? Making sure I invest some time into myself, too. That’s why, as a busy mom of two, I’m committing to incorporating hobbies into my life.
If you’re in the same boat or sitting here thinking, “How?” I’ll start off with this: It’s not going to be perfect. I’m definitely not looking to become a professional in anything right now, but the most important thing I want out of any type of hobby is to just simply enjoy learning something new for myself. Here’s how I’m incorporating hobbies into my life as a busy mom.
Why hobbies are important for moms
Believe it or not, pre-kids me said, “I’m bored,” a lot. While I’m kicking myself a little bit for not finding hobbies back then, I’ll start off with, it’s never too late for anything. According to a study by Nature Medicine, people who have hobbies “reported better health, more happiness, fewer symptoms of depression, and higher life satisfaction.” I think the hardest thing to navigate is how to find “balance.”
I remember reading a post by Joanna Gaines, mom and cofounder of Magnolia (and a lot of other accolades), and her take on the word “balance.” She said, “The hidden truth about balance is it requires that everything in our lives be equally distributed at times.” However, Gaines adds, “But that’s just not the way my life unfolds every day.” That has stuck with me ever since. I’m trying to go into this idea of having hobbies with the mindset that it isn’t going to look the same every day. I may not have the same amount of time to carve out a hobby because my kids do take priority, and that’s OK. The best time for me is after the kids go to bed. IYKYK.
How to find the time for hobbies
I don’t have to tell you that being a parent can get pretty busy. It may seem impossible to fit one more thing into my schedule, but I have somewhat of a plan for myself. My approach is picking two new things I want to learn this year and breaking up my focus. I’ll learn one hobby the first half of the year and the second hobby the second half of the year. So far, I’ve settled on taking a pottery class and learning to crochet. I’m clearly leaning into “grandma hobbies.”
My execution with learning pottery is by booking a local pottery class. With this, I’ll have more of a set schedule, and I plan on working with my husband to make sure we’re on the same page about watching the kids. With learning to crochet, this one has a little more flexibility. The Woobles company has so many crochet kits for beginners that come with everything you need.
How to pick a hobby
There’s not a secret formula to picking a hobby. But if you’re unsure of where to start, start with something you used to love but don’t do anymore. Painting? Singing? Running? The pro to this strategy is having some muscle memory that requires less brain power to do it. Another way to pick a hobby is by picking something you’ve always wanted to do, like taking a pottery class! Take some time to reflect on what sounds fun to you and won’t end up feeling like a chore.
Embracing hobbies as a busy mom
The way I’m embracing hobbies as a busy mom is letting go of any expectations. Time is a huge factor, and if something comes up, I need to be OK with rescheduling. I’m not going to be perfect at these hobbies right off the bat, but that’s life. Heck, maybe I won’t like either of the hobbies I’ve originally chosen, and that’s OK too. What I will make sure of is if I’m enjoying something I like doing.
My final thoughts
It’s taken me a couple of years to realize that prioritizing myself allows me to pour my cup into my family. If you’re currently feeling a little lost, I hope you know you aren’t alone. Hobbies could be out of the question in whatever stage of life you’re in right now. For me, I’m ready and excited about it. Whether the hobbies stick or not, I know I won’t regret something that is good for me and my mental health, especially as a mom.
Patty Schepel, Editorial Assistant
As the editorial assistant, Patty works with The Everymom’s team on pitches, creating original articles, updating existing content, photo sourcing, writing shopping product descriptions, inputting freelance articles, and more. When she’s not working, you can find her spending time with her family, training for half marathons—she ran one 16 weeks pregnant—traveling, cooking, reading a rom-com, and keeping her sourdough starter, Rose, alive.