Hobbies: overrated or worth the hype?

One of my mums favourite stories to tell is one about me at swimming practice. I used to swim a lot when I was younger and even got quite good at it, however, like most things from my childhood, it didn't last long before I got bored.

My mum recalls a time I swam up to the side of the pool, perched on the side and told her that nothing interested me. For much of my life this was true. I like to go out to eat, watch films, shop and gossip with my friends but nothing with much substance. I can play or do almost every sport there is and was always in some sort of club but nothing ever stuck.

So at the start of this year, I decided it was time to try again, and to take up something i'd never tried before. Scouring the internet for inspiration I scrolled on tik tok and saw a whole breadth of hobbies: cooking, pottery, dance and countless others, but none of which appealed to me.

Browsing expensive courses or imagining messy painting studios, already made me feel anxious. So, I of course, in true me fashion, decided to settle for something cheap and cheerful, away from busy crowds and prying eyes and something that I could just DO.

Enter running. I know, I was surprised as well, because if you knew me at school, now is about the time you'd be snorting with laughter. I hated, and i mean HATED running all through school and would always pretend I was injured so I didnt have to run 1500 metres in PE, so when I settled on my new hobby I was sceptical to say the least.

To keep my motivation high I recruited my mum to take part in the couch to 5k program with me, with the aim of completing a 5k race in the summer.

That didn't happen. I got half way through the plan and sustained a foot injury that meant hobbling around most of the summer. However, from somewhere deep within me I summoned the determination to continue and now I can say with confidence, that I, Jessie, lifetime uninterested in everything, injury-faker, Perkins, am a runner!

I regularly run three times a week, even on the weekends, shock horror, and you know what? I even enjoy it. So much so that I am seriously considering booking a half marathon for next year. (I actually can't believe I just said that)

Seriously though, since taking up my new hobby I have felt more clear-headed, happier, more fulfilled and most importantly, I am finally interested in something.

So if you're thinking of taking up a hobby, whether that be knitting, running, crafting or something as mental as under-water basket weaving, then please, just do it. If you end up hating it then what have you lost? You never know it could be the best thing you ever do, and if its a big fat fail, then just go ahead and try another one!