Question:

Dear Emily,

I’ve noticed since Coronavirus that being out of work, I’ve lost a small piece of my identity. Twiddling my fingers and being stuck at home has drawn attention to my serious lack of hobbies outside of work.

Have you experienced any revelations yourself during this social isolation period? What have you observed? Also, how can I best explore what motivates me outside of work and find new hobbies? On the bright side, I’m grateful to be going through this crisis now vs. after retirement. Find your why, right? What motivates you?

Sincerely,
Twiddly Fingers

Answer:

Dear Twiddly Fingers,

Sometimes what motivates me is very little, tbh. I’m a basic bitch.

Finding hobbies and interests as adults can be fun and challenging. We already know what we like and don’t, for the most part, right? It’s a good time to look at what you think you don’t like. Really ask yourself, “why haven’t I liked this or done this,” or “what’s keeping me from trying it out, just once?” Additionally, ask yourself if there are some social biases or someone else’s belief being imposed on you. If so, are you avoiding things you’ve wanted to do before for this reason?

If you know you like art, let’s say, and have painted before, how about trying something within that same vein but a new technique? Or if you like games, make your own board game to play with your friends once we can all hang out again. If you like reading, how about trying to write your own short stories or a memoir?

Looking at people that you admire, what kinds of hobbies are they into? Maybe look to those people for some ideas of where to look that you haven’t before.

Best of luck,
Emily

About Ask Emily

Ask Emily is a whacky, satirical (but sometimes serious) advice column brought to you by Content Spew.

Have a burning question you want to have answered? Seeking sound advice for a problem or dilemma? Curious about something that has you perplexed? Well, Emily is here to answer your questions. You may not like the answers or find them helpful, but they should at least provide some comic relief. Hey, at least it’s cheaper and more fun than therapy.

If you’d like to ask Emily a question of your own, fill out the form below or on the Ask Emily page. She’ll try to give you an answer as soon as possible.

You can also visit our Facebook Group page to ask her questions directly. Come join in on the fun!

11 + 8 =