Brits give up hobbies to focus on work

How long do you dedicate yourself to a hobby? Odds are you may lose interest quicker than you expect, as the British public has revealed that most of us give up on casual pursuits in order to focus on their workload. The study, commissioned by Barclaycard, revealed that despite hobbies being responsible for us meeting new people and improving our mental health, life often gets in the way.

The average shelf-life of a British hobby is around one year and two months, according to results that showed more than one in four having to choose work commitments, and 27% admitting they have had to put their family first. 80% are still taking on new hobbies and learning new skills, but we’re only managing to spend around nine days a year on them.

“It’s fascinating to see that so many people daydream of turning their passion into a career – and there’s no reason why they shouldn’t,” said Andrew Hogan, Head of Brand Strategy at Barclaycard. “Taking that first step could be as simple as signing up to ukulele lessons or buying a bike.”

Although 13% admit they are too lazy to spend additional time doing their hobbies and 22% revealed they tend to procrastinate in their spare time instead. Regardless of this, 54% are more relaxed thanks to their passion, around a third believe they are healthier and 23% seen their confidence levels increase.

On average, those who have made new friends as a result of their hobby have made 16 new bonds, with one fifth of those who made friends even meeting a partner. A third have a hobby they would like to try one day, with ten per cent hoping to give it a go some point in the next 12 months. A quarter would like to turn their interest into a career someday, but more than half agree everyone should have a hobby or passion.

“That’s why it’s so important that we overcome obstacles to getting going, whatever that may be,” continued Hogan. “We encourage everyone to prioritise their passions and start today.”

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