A hobby is an activity that people engage in outside their normal work hours. They are often creative and artistic in nature or can be active and involve participating in a sport. Hobbies are also often a way to relax and relieve stress. Whether it’s reading, playing video games or making art, having hobbies is an important part of healthy mental development.
The word hobby has been in use for centuries. In the 13th century it was used to describe a small horse or pony and later in reference to a child’s toy riding horse — a “hobbyhorse”. By the 16th century, the term had come to be more associated with leisure activities. It is also believed that the phrase hobby was derived from a Dutch word meaning “hobby” or “plaything”.
Hobbies can be casual, infrequent and short-lived or serious where people are very dedicated to their activity. They are usually low commitment projects, such as journaling or going hiking, and they do not lead to a career in the same way that a job does.
Some hobbies are solitary in nature, while others are social and include clubs and organized sharing of products. They can be consumed or produced hobbies, depending on whether an individual is consuming an existing product or creating something new themselves. There are a number of ways to make money from hobbies, including ad revenue from websites, affiliate marketing, and selling physical products. This makes hobbies a great way for children to develop their own income streams and learn about entrepreneurship and financial literacy.