Stepping away from a hobby periodically can be a surprisingly beneficial practice. While hobbies are typically enjoyable and fulfilling, prolonged and continuous engagement can sometimes lead to burnout or a diminishing sense of enthusiasm. Taking a break from a hobby allows individuals to regain perspective, prevent monotony, and rediscover the joy that initially drew them to the activity.
Too much of a good thing isn’t a good thing.
One significant advantage of taking a break from a hobby is the opportunity for renewed creativity and inspiration. Just as with work or other aspects of life, creative pursuits can benefit from moments of rest and reflection. Stepping back allows hobbyists to gain fresh insights, explore new perspectives, and come back to their chosen activity with a revitalized sense of purpose. In this way, breaks from hobbies can actually enhance the quality of one’s engagement and output.
All things in moderation.
After the last Rendezvous in the Ozarks I definitely needed a break. All the way up to the end of it I had a great time. We hit some trails, cooked some food, had great camp fires, lots of laughs, and an all around great time. However, the amount of work that went into that was crazy. Some trips are like that, where there is just so much going on that there is very little down time. This left me reflecting on where I was a couple of years ago when I was just starting to roam around the Ouachita National Forest, solo. Wasn’t even using Gaia or OnX and didn’t even use a radio.
After a year or so of solo trips I began to wonder if there were other people near central Arkansas who might be into this type stuff. I managed to find a group through a local Rigs & Coffee group. That was a really fun group to get to know people and to get to ride a long on some trail rides. After a year of that the group rides thing had run it’s course and I just wanted to get back to trail rides with some friends. There is only so many trails you can really run before it’s time to just go explore again and that’s sort of where I am not.
I want to just go explore like I use to when all the roads were unknown. Maybe I’ll go solo, or maybe go with a friend or two. I know it won’t take long until another big group run happens, so at some point I need to start planning out more trails. There is a cycle that I’m starting to appreciate, but keeping it in moderation will be the challenge for me!
Taking a break from a hobby you love can be kind of a bittersweet experience. On one hand, it can feel strange to step away from something that brings you so much joy. But on the other hand, a break can also bring some much-needed perspective, refreshment, and reinvigoration. It’s like hitting the reset button on your passion for that hobby, giving you a chance to come back to it with fresh eyes and a new sense of excitement. Ultimately, taking a break can help you appreciate your hobby even more when you come back to it.