What I learned about hobbies and energy
I’m sure you saw those videos when a mom gets asked “What are your hobbies?” and then she responds… “Girl, I’m a mom. My hobbies are sitting in silence, scrolling my phone and drinking my coffee hot”. (or something similar in every video, you get the point;))
Although this can be definitely funny and also somewhat true… this also brings the attention to a major PROBLEM.
Which is… that as a mom it’s so easy to get lost in motherhood, overwhelmed by the todos and simply feeling that we have zero energy left to do things for ourselves.
But this happens the other way around. WE GET ENERGISED when we do things that truly recharge us, make us happy.
So let me tell you how it happened for me:)
Me and hobbies… we have a very weird relationship you see, because as a child I never really had hobbies.
I was raised in a chatolic family having tons of expectations. My mom wanted me to do everything she believed was useful and beneficial… so first and foremost it was all about THE school. Be the good girl, the type A girl, write ALL the homework…then in the afternoon I went to music class, bible class, flute class and then to drawing class. From all of these I only enjoyed the drawing class.
I remember I was not allowed to do ballet - because according to my parents it was stupid and unhealty.
I then wanted to play the piano, but I was forced to play the flute because it was more practical (we didn’t have a piano at home).
Later when I attended dance classes, I wanted to upgrade my skills and go to competitions, but again I was not allowed to , because that more professional class was in a different town and my mom didn’t think dance was important enough to take me there.
I’m sharing all of these not for you to feel sorry for me:) but for you to see WHAT A TRUE HOBBIE IS and what it isn’t.
These after-school activities were never my hobbies because I never chose them myself and I never felt that they brought me much joy or energy. (apart from swimming and dance…but never took them further)
The very fist time in my life, when I felt that THIS is it. THIS brings me so much joy and I can’t wait to do this AGAIN… was when I started pole fitness. It was not for others… it was not for simply “working out”, it was for ME because I was so interested.
I loved it soooo much. It’s painful and hard and makes you push your limits…and motivates you to try to get to the next trick, the next level.
Then we moved countries and I became a mother …and I left pole fitness in 2016. 😒
My body changed, I had diastasis recti and I was busy becoming a mother, moving countries again, building my business while raising my kids.
I KNEW I needed to recharge myself so there was no question about going to the gym, having walks and meeting other fun moms “being my hobby”. They recharged me very well.
Pole has been always on my mind though, I remember I was googleing where in the area they have pole fitness classes when we moved here.
But I never booked a class. I was always busy.. and honestly I also thought it’s not for me anymore. My body changed, I’m weaker (with more cellulite :D:S). I wouldn’t be able to do it. It takes way too much time… (all the excuses). But the idea kept bugging me…
So…
🥁🥁🥁 I went to my very first class after 10 years.
And it was AWESOME.
I’m incredibly proud of myself that I went. We had a rought night beforehand and I felt so energised after the class, like I was walking over the clouds. (I still have pain here and there:D of course my skin has to get used to it again)
And I felt this incredible feeling in my bones again… that I can’t wait to come back.
THIS is what I want for YOU. Not necessarily pole fitness:D but THIS FEELING. That you feel SO ENERGISED, so YOU, so in your POWER.
Don’t search for a HOBBY just because you SHOULD…. Because otherwise you would be boring or whatever…Don’t do anything from “should”!
You don’t even need to call it a “hobby”
But start something (or just like me) re-start something that brings you joy, which feels super recharging.
I highly recommend you do something which includes moving your body - walk, dance, hiking, tennis, zumba, rollerskating,… because moving our body creates EXTRA energy… but the main point is that you do something FOR YOU, because YOU WOULD LOVE to do it.
It’s never too late for that.
It’s never too late to start a hobby, to start something new or to discover what would make you feel energised.
Being a mom doesn’t have to mean giving up hobbies or to never carve out time for US, for what makes us feel alive.
I’m a big believer in - and I teach this too - HAPPY MOM HAPPY BABY (happy mother = happy kids).
Book that class.
Order that first kit.
Go to that trial.
You deserve to FEEL alive and ENERGISED, and finding these activities will help you with that.
(And don’t belive your brain that you don’t have time or you’re too old, too weak or too busy…;))
Xx