Are Hobbies Still Treated as Optional Instead of Essential?

[Hazel]

Many people drop hobbies when life gets busy. Do you see hobbies as leisure or mental maintenance? Which hobbies helped you most during stressful periods? How do you protect time for interests without feeling unproductive?

 

[HikerShawn]

Mental maintenance by all means.

I won't give mine up. I'll find time to do them, or my stress level will go up and my happiness will fade.

 

[JennyorAlice]

Reading is one hobby that I won't give up. It started out as a form of entertainment but it has also become a way for me to relax and de-stress after a long day at work.

I understand being an adult and having to be a productive member of society but I think everyone should be allowed to spend some time on their respective hobbies.

 

[Shree]

Many treat hobbies as optional, but they play a key role in mental health, creativity, and stress relief. Making time for them can improve focus, wellbeing, and overall life satisfaction, turning what seems “optional” into genuinely essential self-care.