Do I Really Need a Hobby?

By: CMAA

“It’s very helpful if you have an interest outside the normal run of things,” Ian Barnett of the National Grandparent Movement said. “I wished I’d kept some things going over my time so that my future self can say, well done, Ian.”

For many, family years crowded out the fun. Ian admitted he let go of motorbike racing: “Circumstances changed… I didn’t pick something else up. I just kept being busier with work.” 

Hobbies for parents and grandparents aren’t self-indulgent; they’re part of a healthy rhythm. “Hobbies, leisure time is a gift from God… It’s okay to express [your gifts].”

Still, balance matters. “Be careful… your hobby can become an idol,” Ian cautioned. He added a practical check: “Be careful about the amount of money you spend on stuff… when you spend money on something, you’re saying no to something else.”

Picking Up (or starting) Something New

If you dropped a hobby years ago, it’s never too late to start fresh. 

“Rethink picking it up again, no matter what it is. Or try and pick up something that maybe you’ve never done before. You never know what you might like today,” Ian said.

Despite common perceptions, children can change your appetite for activities.

Parents’ and grandparents’ hobbies can become relationship-builders. “It’d be great to be doing stuff with the grandkids now… making something with your hands,” Ian said, reflecting on woodwork. 

He’s also discovered a new favourite: “My grandkids are giving me LEGO… I sat there for two hours putting it together; it was great fun.”

Simple traditions count, too. “Catching up and having coffee with friends… that’s a hobby,” Ian shared.

Practical Ways to Start (and keep) A Hobby

• Name what lifts your spirit
• Involve others
• Right-size the time
• Watch the costs

Hope, Rest and A Sustainable Rhythm

The big picture is hopeful and grounded. “I’m a child of God… It’s good to have something that emphasises who you are as a person,” Ian said.

A life-giving hobby can refresh your soul, model healthy balance, and open gentle doors for connection with your grandkids.