Why Having ‘Offline Hobbies’ Are Important
And why if you don’t have one, you need one
I think it’s safe to say we’re past the point of ‘no return’ with devices.
Think about it – if the power went out in your area, how long could you go before you start running into serious problems?
For some, they can say a month. Many start to sweat when they realise it’s just a few days and for good reason. Many of us pay bills and access our money online. Many can only do their jobs online (hi!), and without the ability to keep tabs on our loved ones, getting stir-crazy becomes more of an inevitability rather than a possibility.
As more and more concepts are phased out for an easier online alternative, it seems we’re being ushered into a heavily tech-reliant world.
But that doesn’t mean we have to rely on machines for everything, do we?
Is an offline hobby really that important?
Short answer: yes.
Long answer? Well, I’ll tell you.
Offline hobbies aren’t just ‘sort of important’, they’re crucial.
Not only is the possibility of not always having power a reason to have it, but also the very real reality that technology has a litany of adverse effects on you, ranging from bad sleeping habits to shorter attention spans, and eye strain.
Most curiously though, it isolates you.
I’ve talked to nothing short of hundreds of people online in the past few years, and if there’s something I’ve learned, it’s that talking to people online can never replace human contact.
We’re deeply social, innovative creatures at heart. So when we’ve essentially trained ourselves to rely on machines that choke out cognitive thinking and remove many of the key features of socialisation, there are bound to be problems.
So, what can we do about it?
My advice is to take something you like about the computer and try your best to port it to real life.
I’ve been a hobbyist writer and artist for a few odd years now. I love reading and writing with all my heart, but post Covid I’ve let myself get lousy with anything non-digital. It seemed convenient. I’d have everything in one place, and I had infinite tools for drawing and many books at my disposal without ever having to get up or strain for them.
The offline solution? Get physical books, sketchbooks, and art tools.
If you like comedy, try to attend clubs. If you like cooking and baking, get cookbooks, experiment, then invite over friends and family to eat it. If you like gardening, find like-minded locals and bond over your leafy greens.
If you can’t forge an offline hobby from your online one, start from scratch.
Start experimenting and trying to find things you like. Try out lacrosse, dip your toes into swimming – hey, start a rock collection. It’s never too late or too weird to try out.
Look at the hobbies your friends have and dip into that, too! The possibilities are endless.
Not so much finishing words of advice as it is a ‘fun fact’; I had drafted this post and was going to finish it yesterday when my power had gone out for eight hours straight.
Funny how that works, huh? ;)
