Fulfilling pastimes

Recently someone told me they were afraid to retire because they didn’t have any hobbies to fill up their time. This comment took me by surprise and yet I know that work and other commitments often crowd out time for hobbies we used to do or new things we’re curious about.

I know for me to feel my best, I need to make regular time for creativity that is both comforting and stimulating…for me that’s knitting.

My grandmother taught me to knit when I was 8 and it has been an important part of my life ever since. But how and what I knit now is very different from the kind of knitting I did in my teens and 20’s.

For years, I designed and knit intricate sweaters. It was something I did most days until life got busy and I stopped actively creating with wool. When I returned to a regular knitting practice, I automatically resumed doing the same type of knitting I used to do. But, I quickly found it unsatisfying and realized I needed to rethink how I wanted to knit now.

Today, I knit simpler pieces but keep it interesting by using new types of yarn, exploring different stitches, techniques and colors. Now I knit more in community with others sharing my skills while being inspired and continually learning from them..

This article Hobbies as Fulfillment reminds us that hobbies and leisure activities are important to our wellbeing. They relax and balance our life, engage our minds, keep us active and connected to others. It also reminds us to explore hobbies with fresh eyes as we move through life’s stages.

Now is the perfect time to think about how you want to add hobbies into your life, consider...

• How a hobby could balance and enrich your life?

• How you can reconnect with a former hobby in a new way?

• How you can explore new activities you’re curious about now?