Hobbies

The dictionary defines a hobby as a leisure activity done regularly for pleasure. So, does it also mean that stamp (and other things) collecting, reading, writing, hearing music, watching movies, singing, dancing, playing the piano, travelling, swimming or playing any sport, playing with your pet all hobbies?

Not all in the above list can be called as hobbies – I think – because not all seem to be activities in the reasonable sense of the word. Hearing music can’t be a hobby and so is reading. Well, one might defend reading as a hobby, but I think only if some conditions prevail.

Classifying how we spend our time?

We spend our time either creating, or consuming or resting. If you think its stupid of me to make such a classification, then that would be fair. For instance, without consuming and resting – both which allow for maintenance – creating would be impossible. But the separation is still important to understand the essence of a hobby.

Defining A hobby

So, I’d like to define a hobby as an activity that results in a build up of a body of work – a tangible output. You may be a bird-watcher and so you might be maintaining a field diary of different birds you have seen, their photographs. Your inputs may include field guides, reference books, binoculars etc and above all, your dedication and time. May be then, a hobby is a lot like work, just a lot more fun.

Reading - say history books – too results in a build-up of historical insights. But I don’t think all types of reading can qualify. Most of it is passive and just doesn’t adds up. Like reading newspapers!

An activity should be such which requires application of the mind and that engages it and doing it makes you better at it. Your precision of that task improves.

Summing up a hobby is an activity you do regularly for pleasure, the task is absorbing and doing it makes you better at it.

My hobbies

I deliberate on writing, though I don’t think I write a lot. I like the aesthetics of words and the tranquilizing effect it has on the mind. It combs the mind and help organize my thought, like this essay.

I read books on history, economics health and fitness along with fiction. I want to especially gain some insights into evolution and the human body processes to be able to lead a healthy life.  I also want to try out origami, sketching and painting among other things.