Why Ambitious Women Need a Hobby (and How to Find One You’ll Actually Love)
It’s time to put joy back on your priority list.
Success isn’t just about scaling a business or hitting goals - it’s about how you feel while you do it. For women who lead, build, and carry so much, it’s easy to forget that you’re allowed to do things just because they bring you joy.
Hobbies aren’t indulgent. They’re essential. Especially if you want to grow without burning out.
The Hobby That Changed Everything for Me
For years, my life revolved around work. Wake up, answer emails, skip lunch, push harder. I was chasing the version of success I thought I had to achieve - but I was tired, disconnected, and uninspired.
Then, everything paused. The pandemic forced me to re-evaluate not just my career, but how I was living. I made two decisions that changed my life: I launched my own business - and I finally joined the adult skate school I’d been eyeing for years.
Skating became my joy. My anchor. My reset button. It reminded me that I’m allowed to do things that don’t earn, scale, or optimise anything - and that feeling alive is its own kind of success.
Why Every Woman Needs a Hobby (Yes, You Too)
We talk a lot about wellness. About self-care. About balance. But what if your burnout isn’t from doing too much… it’s from doing too little of what lights you up?
Whether it’s painting, skating, gardening, or Pilates, hobbies give you something that’s just yours - no performance required.
Here’s what they offer:
They Reduce Stress and Screen Time
Most of us live half our lives on a screen - replying, reacting, consuming. It’s exhausting. Hobbies pull you offline and back into your body. They give your brain space to breathe.
For me, skating turned into a weekly ritual. I now spend up to six hours a week on the ice - fully present, fully unplugged. My stress levels dropped. My sleep got better. I started smiling more.
Think of it as nervous system support - but make it fun.
They Help You Make Real Friends as an Adult
Adult friendships can feel hard. After uni, many of us find our circles shrinking to workmates or WhatsApp threads that never quite meet up.
But hobbies change that. They introduce you to women who share your pace, passions, and personality - outside of your professional identity.
The women I’ve met through skating are some of the most inspiring people I know. We don’t talk strategy. We laugh, we fall, we cheer each other on. It’s connection, minus the career performance.
They Help You Reconnect With Your Body
So many high-achieving women live from the neck up - stuck in their heads, dissociated from their bodies. Hobbies that involve movement (think dance, climbing, or yoga) help you reclaim a different kind of power.
Since taking skating seriously (yep, I even hired a coach), I’ve felt stronger, sharper, more balanced - not just physically, but mentally too.
You don’t need to be athletic. You just need to move in a way that feels good.
The Most Common Hobbies for Women - and Why They Matter
Wondering where to start? These are some of the most common hobbies for women, but don’t let that limit you - let it spark ideas.
Creative hobbies: Journaling, painting, photography, collage, ceramics
Movement-based hobbies: Skating, dance, yoga, hiking, swimming
Skill-building hobbies: Baking, sewing, chess, puzzles, DIY
Connection-driven hobbies: Book clubs, community classes, volunteering
Mindful hobbies: Gardening, astrology, meditation, slow fashion
“Whatever hobby you choose, know this: it doesn’t have to make money. It doesn’t have to make sense. It just has to make you feel something.”
SHOP hfd's EDIT of hobby essentials for women who need a joyful reset
How to Find a Hobby That Actually Suits You
If you’re asking, “How do I find a hobby I actually like?” - you’re not alone. Here's where to begin:
Look to your past.
What did you love as a child before life got noisy?
Follow your curiosity.
Forget trends. What pulls your interest, even if it feels random or small?
Start small.
Try one thing. Go to one class. No pressure. Just play.
This Isn’t a Luxury - It’s Self-Leadership
Your hobby isn’t “extra.” It’s not selfish. It’s not silly. It’s a declaration that your joy matters.
Whether it’s playing piano, throwing clay, or gliding across a rink, what you do outside of work matters - not just for balance, but for belief. It reminds you that you're more than what you produce.
So go on. Pick something that feels exciting. Do it badly. Do it joyfully. Do it for you.
Because the most successful women I know? They’re not just building businesses. They’re building lives that feel good to be in.
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