Wellness, But Make It Fun: How Hobbies Quietly Improved My Life

Joyful, effortless and totally cool girl coded, welcome to my joy list and how hobbies quietly improved my life

Let’s be honest: in a world where self-care is often packaged as expensive facials, five-step morning routines, or trendy supplements that cost more than dinner, the humble hobby doesn’t get enough credit. But here’s my hot take: hobbies might just be the most underrated form of wellness.

Because when life gets overwhelming, when your brain is foggy from too much scrolling, when you’re tired of every app yelling at you to hustle or "glow up" — your hobbies are there. Quietly waiting. Ready to reconnect you to yourself.

Hobbies: The Ultimate Wellness Hack

There’s something incredibly healing about doing something just for the joy of it. Not for money. Not for content. Not for anyone else’s approval. Just because it feels good.

Whether it’s painting, pilates, sewing, baking, dancing around your kitchen, writing in a journal, rearranging your bookshelf, or learning how to crochet — hobbies ground you. They get you out of your head and into your body. They remind you that you're a person, not just a productivity machine.

And remember when we were younger and had entire schedules filled with joyful activities? Dance class at 5, piano at 6, arts and crafts on Saturdays. There was a structure that supported creativity. Fun was non-negotiable. Maybe it’s time to bring that back—just with a soft, adult twist. You don’t need a color-coded planner, but carving out intentional time for hobbies can bring a gentle rhythm to your week. An effortless kind of structure that protects time for what actually fuels you.

Make a Joy List (Yes, Really)

If you don’t know where to start, make a joy list. Literally, write down all the little things that make you feel calm, happy, inspired, or energized. Things that make you lose track of time in the best way. Here's a pick in my joy list:

• Singing

• Photography

• Reading a book in the sun

• Putting outfits together

• Stretching and exercising

• Drawing

• Playing tennis

The goal? Sprinkle those things into your day. Even just 10 minutes of doing something that brings you joy can shift your whole vibe.

Fill Your Free Time With You

Let’s talk about what we usually do when we have downtime. Scroll TikTok. Watch Netflix. Refresh Instagram. It’s easy. It’s addictive. But does it really make you feel better afterward? Or just more drained?

Instead of defaulting to the dopamine slot machines, choose you. Choose joy. Choose presence. Maybe that looks like painting your nails while listening to your favorite playlist. Or finally starting that beginner French course. Or going on a walk and taking photos of flowers like you’re in a Wes Anderson movie.

Starting Small Is Still Starting

You don’t have to be good at something for it to be good for you. Let me say that again for the perfectionists in the back: you don’t have to be good at something for it to be good for you.

When I started writing, I didn’t think it would lead to anything. Same with painting and sewing. I just needed an outlet. A way to feel something that wasn’t just... stress. Years later, those hobbies became not just healing rituals but the foundation for my creative business.

But even if they hadn’t? They still would’ve been worth it.

Identity Capital Is Real

There’s a concept I love: identity capital. It’s the collection of experiences, skills, and passions that make you, well, you. When you pursue your interests with curiosity instead of pressure, you build that capital. And it shows up in your confidence, your creativity, your conversations. Not just your job nor "title" but the things that make you an interesting people, because "interesting people are interested". In the world. In ideas. In their own weird little passions.

So if no one’s told you lately: go be weird and passionate. Start the hobby. Reignite an old one. Create just to create.

True Wellness Isn’t a Trend

True wellness isn’t about having a perfect morning routine, drinking a green juice or owning the latest fitness tracker. It’s about finding little ways to come home to yourself.

And hobbies? They’re one of the sweetest, simplest ways to do that. No algorithm. No audience. Just you, your curiosity, and something that makes you feel alive.

So next time you’re tempted to scroll, pause. Ask yourself: what do I actually want to feel right now?

Then go do something that brings you there.

Until next time, stay inspired, stay mindful, and always romanticize your cool-girl life.

xx,
Sisi