Rediscovering Passions: How Midlife is the Perfect Time to Reignite Your Hobbies
idlife often comes with a unique set of challenges and opportunities. As children grow up and careers stabilize though, many of us find ourselves with a bit more free time and a lot more life experience. This makes midlife the perfect time to rediscover and reignite your hobbies that may have been put on hold due to career or family obligations. Here’s how you can embrace this phase of life to reconnect with what you love.
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Why Rediscovering Passions Matters
Reconnecting with your passions is not just about filling time; it’s about enhancing your quality of life. Engaging in hobbies and activities that you are passionate about can:
Boost Mental Health: Studies have shown that participating in enjoyable activities can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. According to the American Psychological Association, hobbies can act as a buffer against daily stressors, promoting overall mental well-being.
Foster Creativity and Learning: Rediscovering hobbies allows you to explore new skills and ideas, keeping your mind sharp and engaged. The National Institute on Aging suggests that engaging in mentally stimulating activities can help maintain cognitive function as we age.
Build Community and Connection: Hobbies often bring people together. Whether it’s joining a local book club, a hiking group, or an art class, these activities can help build social connections and combat feelings of loneliness.
My Journey Traveling the World
For years, my life revolved around my son and trying to maintain a career in real estate while battling my son’s narcissistic father for 13 years of custody battles (not once was I the one to initiate the court room dramas, but that’s another story for another time). Needless to say I was always exhausted leaving little room for personal pursuits.
Traveling, a passion that started as a child, was relegated to the back burner. However, when my son decided to move out on his own, I knew this was my chance to seize the moment, I made the decision to dust off my passport and explore the world, and has turned out to be a life-changing decision for me.
For some starting small is the way to go, maybe with a weekend getaway to a nearby city. For me, on the other hand, I am a jump-in all the way, with the loud splash of a cannonball from a tall cliff into the deep blue lake below.
My journey started with selling everything I own and moving to Bali in 2023. I didn’t recognize it at the time, but that midlife solo trip to Bali reignited my wanderlust, and soon I was exploring new destinations far and wide. Traveling reintroduced me to a community of like-minded adventurers and provided a fresh perspective on life. Each new city, town, country… brought new experiences, challenges, and joys, making me feel more alive and connected than ever before.
Coping mechanisms, like stress eating and drinking naturally subsided to activities like walks on the beach, site-seeing, paddle boarding, and yoga. The weight I accumulated in my 40’s thanks to the not even remotely glamorous perimenopause metabolism shift (around 70 lbs), effortlessly disappeared and, over the course of one year, I developed a new mantra “my body is a temple” which has helped me refocus my attention on my health. It finally occurred to me that this is the only body I will ever have, and it needs to be cared for, respected and loved!
Expert Insights
Dr. Barbara Mark, a psychologist specializing in midlife transitions, emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with passions: “Engaging in activities that bring you joy and satisfaction can significantly improve your mental health and overall well-being. Midlife is an ideal time to rediscover what you love and make it a priority in your life.”
Similarly, career coach Nancy Collamer highlights the benefits of pursuing passions during midlife: “Reconnecting with hobbies and interests can provide a powerful sense of purpose and satisfaction. It’s a way to inject new energy and excitement into your life, which is especially important during midlife transitions.”
ChaCha Before & After Weight Pics
Tips for Carving Out Time for Your Passions
Schedule It In: Treat your hobby like any other important appointment. Set aside dedicated time each week to engage in your passion. Whether it’s early morning, late evening, or a weekend slot, make it a non-negotiable part of your routine.
Start Small: Don’t overwhelm yourself by diving in headfirst. Begin with small, manageable activities. I recently started jogging again, thanks in large part to two things:
I started taking collagen, and OMG, the pain in my knee immediately started subsiding and almost overnight my mobility improved exponentially – it honestly feels like a miracle, and
The 5k running app which is helping me transition from a proverbial couch potato to a runner again with combined walking and jogging intervals. Admittedly, being in Barcelona and jogging along the gorgeous coastline is very inspiring and definitely also helps.
Involve Others: Share your passion with friends or family members. Join travel groups or online communities related to your hobby. This not only keeps you motivated but also adds a social element to your activities. For me, living in a new city and not yet speaking the language, using Meetup has been a fabulous way to meet new people.
Create a Space: Creating space is key to reigniting hobbies in midlife. By setting aside a specific area in your home and dedicating regular time in your schedule, you create both the physical and mental room needed to reconnect with passions. This intentional focus helps turn midlife into a period of renewed creativity and personal growth.
Be Kind to Yourself: Remember, the goal is to enjoy yourself. Don’t put pressure on yourself to be perfect or to achieve certain milestones. The journey is more important than the destination.
Finding Your Passion
If you’re not sure where to start, think back to activities you enjoyed in your youth. What made you lose track of time? What brought you joy? Here are a few ideas to spark inspiration:
Physical Activities: Hiking, cycling, yoga, or dancing.
Creative Arts: Painting, drawing, sculpting, writing, or playing a musical instrument.
Intellectual Pursuits: Reading, learning a new language, playing chess, or solving puzzles.
Crafts and DIY Projects: Knitting, woodworking, gardening, or cooking.
ChaCha Rowing
This is me in 2017 at age 44 in the bow (front, kind of) of the boat at my first learn to row class. This class ignited a passion for rowing, reignited my love of sports and the outdoors, and forged new friendships with other mid-lifers also discovering new passions.
Embrace the Journey
Midlife is a time of transformation and self-discovery. Embrace this opportunity to reconnect with what you love. As you reignite your hobbies and passions, you’ll find that this phase of life can be incredibly fulfilling and joyful. Remember, it’s never too late to start something new or to rediscover something old.
ChaCha in Costa Brava, Spain 2024
I ❤️ Your Comments
Let’s build a community together!! Join our community of like-minded individuals who are embracing life’s second act with enthusiasm and passion and share your inspiration and tips on celebrating midlife below. Want to connect on a more personal level!? You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, & Pinterest!
xo, ChaCha
