Here’s Why a New Study Suggests We Should Rekindle Our Childhood Hobbies

2025 has been a pivotal year for me—and it's only March.

My Childhood Passions

Growing up, I was passionate about two things: horseback riding and theater. When I interviewed for this job 12 years ago, one of the things that drew me in was the chance to be part of the visual arts again. You see, I'm the managing editor, but part of my role involves video production. Whether I’m in front of or behind the camera, expressing that creative side has been incredibly fulfilling.

Horseback riding, though, fell by the wayside when I went to college. My horse was older, so he retired, and as a busy student, I didn’t have the time or energy to take care of him. He stayed home while I moved on with life. It wasn’t until my daughter showed an interest in horses that I caught the horse bug again. We started small with biweekly lessons for her at Double M Stables. Then, when she fell in love with Sugar, one of the lesson horses, we worked out a lease deal with the barn owner.

Leasing is just like owning - you are responsible for all the maintenance but are not tied to it forever. If it's not working out, you just stop leasing that horse. It was a great second step for our family. Horses are a lot of work, but I genuinely enjoy being at the barn. I love learning about them, and I even love the grunt work like cleaning stalls.

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Our Horse Journey

After a few years and two county fairs, we realized Sugar was getting a little too old to keep up with everything my daughter wanted to do. So, we started looking for a new horse. We found Tucker in Kentucky, and he was a great transitional horse for her. But I didn’t realize just how quickly she’d grow. This past month, we found out she’s already outgrowing him.

I'm big on horse welfare and didn’t want him to be uncomfortable. Since she hadn’t quite outgrown him yet, we started the process of finding her a bigger, stronger horse. To my surprise, we found the perfect fit almost immediately. Now, what to do with Tucker?

Almost immediately, people started reaching out, asking if Tucker was for sale. A kid-safe horse is invaluable. And while he can be cranky, he loves my daughter and is one of the only horses I trust enough to let my preteen hang out with without constant supervision. I initially planned to sell him but then things changed.

Now, as much as I love watching my daughter pursue her passion, after chores, I’d usually just sit and wait for her or make silly Tucker TikTok videos. (Feel free to follow us here.) Anyway, it got really boring. I started longing for time in the saddle myself.

I've Ridden All My Life but Am Still a Novice

Even though I grew up with horses, spent hours in the saddle, and even write professionally for a couple of equine magazines, I consider myself a total novice when it comes to arena riding.

I had been longing to really dig in and put into practice everything I’ve been learning about. So, instead of selling Tucker, I decided to keep him for myself. I hadn’t pursued riding before because it wasn’t my time. My focus had been on my daughter’s childhood. But now that she’s older and more independent, I can start focusing on myself again.

It will be a financial strain, but I’m determined to make it work because I feel so good when I’m at the barn. I’m happy. My worries fade away. I get to spend quality time with my daughter. And after my first lesson? Let me tell you, it’s an amazing workout. Families function better when everyone feels whole, seen, and has the space to cultivate their passions.

Study Says Those Who Foster Hobbies are Happier

This morning, I had Live with Kelly and Mark on, and they started talking about a study highlighted in Frontiers in Psychology. Researchers surveyed 500 adults in 2021 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when stress levels were at an all-time high. They found that people who nurtured their playful side were more optimistic, had better coping skills, and were just generally more positive, even when faced with the same fears and vulnerabilities as others.

Barn Life is a Full-Spectrum Experience

Being at the barn is a full-spectrum experience. We’ve built a community at Double M and I have friends we’ve become invested in. There’s always work to be done, like cleaning stalls, sweeping, and chores that engage muscles I didn’t even know I had. The barn also gives my husband some much-needed decompression time after work, and he’s stepped up at home with cooking and cleaning. And I love the time I get to spend with my daughter. She’s 100 times the equestrian I am and is even giving me lessons!

Weaving Hobbies Into Your Life

The study suggests that adults who take time for themselves and foster a hobby are just happier overall. But often, we feel like there are barriers, with time and money being the biggest ones. And I totally get it. I face them too. But I knew this was important to me, so I had to re-evaluate my life to make it happen.

Here’s what I learned along the way:

Hobbies with kids: Time is precious, especially if you have little kids. I took the “it’s not my time” mindset seriously. But I’ve noticed that kids often share similar interests with their parents. So, include them! Whether it’s crafting, sports, or visual arts, start by engaging in their activities. It can be rewarding, even if you’re just doing the grunt work.

Reevaluate your week: One of my biggest barriers to being at the barn was spending my weekends catching up on housework. I needed a better plan. So, I hired a cleaning lady and watched how she worked. Turns out, I was cleaning all wrong. She tackled one room at a time, completing it before moving on. She could do in three hours what took me two days. When I adopted her method, I realized I could clean on Friday afternoons and free up my weekends. I also budget in a monthly deep clean to help me reclaim even more time.

Reevaluate your budget: Hobbies can be expensive. Pro tip: horses are the most expensive. But I was determined to make it work. So, I turned my passion into a freelance gig, writing for national equine magazines. I also buy and sell thrifted clothes online for extra income. I also have a supportive family that are helping us along the way.

Start small: I tend to dive headfirst into things, but my biggest tip is to start small. This helps you figure out how much time and money you can realistically devote to your hobby. It also allows you to build fundamentals before taking on more and helps prevent burnout.

Don’t be embarrassed to be a beginner: Yesterday, during my first English riding lesson, I was terrible. Having a preteen coach me through everything felt a little ridiculous. And I made a complete fool of myself mounting the horse. It was so bad that my best friend’s elementary-age daughter came up to me afterward and said, “Good work today! And don’t worry, everyone is bad in their first lesson.” Sometimes, we avoid hobbies that are typically learned as a child because we’re afraid of looking silly, but everyone starts somewhere. Today is your day.

Ask all the questions: I'm a big believer in asking questions. Not only do people like feeling like experts, but you'll also learn so much and make friends in your community.

Just Do It!

During the COVID-19 years, the barn was our escape. And now, the happy memories from my childhood are blending with the ones I’m making today. Whether you’re revisiting an old passion or starting something entirely new, just do it. There are so many communities out there to help you get started.

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