PEAK TO PEAK — “I sit all day at my job so I have to make sure I’m moving on the weekends,” Bryce explained. “In the winter (well, normal winters) I’m on the slopes boarding or on a trail with skis or snowshoes. Spring and summer I’m hiking and mountain biking, and in fall I’m conditioning and getting ready for the slopes. I’m always moving.” 

“That sounds like a lot of fun,” I commented, although I sensed a hesitation from Bryce.

“It is, but my family complains I’m never around. It’s really frustrating. I work hard to bring in our income and make sure I’m home for dinner every night, but it’s not enough.” Bryce looked deflated, then angry. “I do so much—don’t I deserve my alone time?” 

Harvard Medical School talks about a 2023 study by Nature Medicine that reports that people with hobbies experience better health, more happiness, fewer symptoms of depression, and higher life satisfaction. 

The Mayo Clinic points out that when our hobbies include exercise we get added bonuses of increased endorphins, a decrease in the negative effects of stress, and an improved mood.

“My dad doesn’t get me,” Sylvia whispered, staring at the floor and fiddling with her bishop chess piece. 

“What do you mean?” I asked. I know Sylvia’s dad as a very involved parent who volunteered at the school, always had dinner on the table, and sat with Sylvia every night helping her with homework.

“I love chess, I mean I LOVE it. No one really likes me at school, but I have the best friends in the chess club. They don’t think I’m weird, they want to talk about chess, and they think I’m smart,” Sylvia explained. 

“Is your dad not a chess guy?” I wondered out loud. 

“He isn’t!” Sylvia exploded. “He’s always trying to get me to go rock climbing or snowmobiling, or work in the garage with him on an old Jeep. He loves getting dirty and sweaty. I do NOT. I think those things are dumb.” 

Nature and Medicine researchers report hobbies like games and participation in clubs includes creativity, sensory engagement, self-expression, relaxation, cognitive stimulation, social connections and reduced loneliness and isolation. Arts and crafts, gardening, and volunteering are other hobbies with similarly positive impacts. 

Bryce uses his hobbies for a work-life balance, but as his kids have grown and their family life has gotten more complicated, his work-personal-family time equation has gotten out of balance. 

During his next session we created a big grid with all the activities he loved, all the weekend family activities, and what activities different family members enjoyed that intersected with his interests. It turned out that there was a lot of crossover and, although he did need to cut back his personal time to accommodate other family members’ schedules, he was able to continue his hobbies and spend time with everyone.

For Sylvia and her dad, we scheduled some joint sessions where we explored what life is like when parent and child experience the world so differently. Sylvia absolutely lived in her brain, while her dad was an experiential person who thrived with hands-on activities. 

Eventually we were able to get to a place where they both accepted and valued the other’s life perspective, and even experienced some crossover. Sylvia discovered she enjoyed snowshoeing or hiking in the woods if they took their time and looked for specific animal tracks.

Her dad wasn’t up for chess, but he did enjoy Monopoly. Soon they had a table set up for an ongoing Monopoly game that they’d play weekly.

A 2025 study in the Mental Health Nursing journal explains that, unlike leisure activities, hobbies involve structured practice, enhancing one's knowledge, mastery and skills over time. Hobbies do not include professional or financial gain, and contribute to our self-identity. 

They also discovered that hobbies can improve our mental health, but it’s important to be aware of incorporating our hobbies into our family and friend structure so they don’t bring added stress.

How are your current hobbies? Talk with your family and friends to garner their opinions, and make 2026 the year of setting up health hobbies for your mental health.   

I always appreciate hearing your experiences at amy@peaktopeakcounseling.com, 303-258-7454, and you can find past articles at www.peaktopeakcounseling.com or find us at www.facebook.com/peaktopeakcounselingservices.