Why Hobbies Are the Best Thing You Can Do for Yourself (As a Mom)

Motherhood is a lot of things.

It’s beautiful. It’s exhausting. It’s somehow both the most meaningful and most all-consuming thing you’ve ever done.

And it’s possible to love it deeply…and still feel like you’re disappearing a little inside it.

Both can be true.

At some point, a lot of us realize:

We’ve gotten really good at taking care of everyone else…
and kind of forgotten what we even like anymore.

Not in a dramatic way.
Just in a quiet, “wait…what do I do for fun?” kind of way.

If that feeling sounds familiar, I wrote more about my own version of this—
including the part where I literally googled “hobbies” like a confused adult.

->You can read that story here

That’s where hobbies come in.

Not as another thing on your to-do list.
Not as something you should be better at.

But as a way back to yourself.

Hobbies Aren’t About Crafts (They’re About You)

Let’s just say it:

This isn’t about becoming a “crafty mom.”

You don’t need to start a Pinterest board or suddenly fall in love with hot glue.

This is about having something that’s yours.

Something that isn’t:

• for your kids
• for your partner
• for your house
• or for being “productive”

Just… yours.

I remember the first time I tried to get back into something.

My husband had a pile of old t-shirts he couldn’t part with, and I decided I was going to turn them into a quilt.

Which sounds wholesome and simple.

It was not.

I hadn’t sewn in years. I was relearning everything, calling my mom for help, messing things up constantly.

But also?

I kind of loved it.

Even just sitting there, working on something that didn’t need to be done…
felt different.

Like a part of me woke back up.

That whole experience—being weirdly bad at something, wanting to quit, then slowly getting into it—
that’s pretty much how this whole thing started for me.

(Again, full story—including my very humbling first attempts—is here if you want it.)

It’s Not Just “Fun”—It Actually Changes How You Feel

Here’s the part no one really talks about:

When you do something you enjoy—even for a short time—your brain shifts.

You feel lighter.
Less reactive.
Less stuck in the loop of dishes → laundry → snacks → repeat.

Not because your life magically changes.

But because you do, even just a little.

One of my favorite hobbies has become trail walking with my chocolate Lab. It checks every box—movement, sunlight, quiet, and time with my favorite furry companion. I usually pop in an audiobook too. It’s amazing how much a walk in nature can calm your mind and lift your spirits.

If you’re exploring ideas, don’t overlook physical hobbies. Anything that gets you moving outdoors can work wonders.

For me, one of the simplest things has been walking trails with my dog.

Nothing fancy.
No big routine.

Just getting outside, moving my body, listening to something interesting, and having 20 minutes where I’m not needed every second.

It’s small.

But it adds up.

Your Kids Are Watching (In a Good Way)

This part matters more than we think.

When your kids see you:

• take time for yourself
• enjoy something
• have interests outside of them

They don’t feel neglected.

They learn what a full, balanced life looks like.

You don’t need to explain it.
You don’t need to announce, “Mom is practicing self-care now.”
You just… do it.
And over time, they start to understand:
Oh. I’m allowed to have things that are mine too.

Motherhood Doesn’t Have a “Done” Button (Hobbies Do)

One of the hardest parts of this season?

Nothing ever feels finished.

You clean something—it’s messy again.
You fold laundry—there’s more.
You feed everyone—someone’s hungry again in 12 minutes.

IHobbies are different.

You start something.
You work on it.
And eventually—you finish it.

Even if it’s small.

Even if it’s imperfect.

And that feeling?

“I made that.”
“I did that.”

It hits in a way that daily life just… doesn’t.

I remember being deep in the newborn stage—feeding, pumping, barely sleeping—and feeling like I’d done nothing all day.

Even though I had been busy nonstop.

Hobbies gave me something to point to.

Something tangible.

Something that reminded me I was still capable of creating, finishing, doing.

If you’re anything like me, the hardest part isn’t wanting something for yourself—
it’s figuring out how it fits into real life.

That’s where this gets simpler than you think.

So…Where Do You Even Start?

This is usually the sticking point.

Not time.
Not motivation.

Just… where do I begin?

Start small.

Like, almost-too-small.

Pick something simple.
Something low pressure.
Something you can finish (or at least make progress on) in 20 minutes.

It might feel random.
It might feel a little silly.

That’s okay.

That’s kind of the point.

Because once you start?

Momentum takes over.

Not in a dramatic, life-changing way overnight.

But in a quiet, steady way that actually fits your life.

Why This Matters (More Than It Seems)

This isn’t about having the perfect hobby.

It’s about:

• feeling like yourself again
• having something that’s yours
• remembering you exist outside of your roles

And the wild part?

When that shifts…everything else feels a little easier too.

You’re more patient. More present. Less stretched thin.

Not perfect.

Just… more like you.

Ready to Start (Without Overthinking It)?

If you’re feeling that pull of
“I want something that’s mine again”…

but also thinking
“I have no idea where to start”—

I’ve got you.

I put together a simple 20-Minute Starter Kit with:

• a few easy, try-tonight hobby ideas
• simple ways to actually take those 20 minutes (without the guilt spiral)
• and a plan you can come back to when life gets chaotic again

Nothing overwhelming.
Nothing to “keep up with.”

Just a way in.

→ Get the 20-Minute Starter Kit

P.S. If you want the full, slightly messy version of how I got here (including the Google search moment)…
you can read that here.