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The Transformative Power of Hobbies
Discover a new passion in your third act
Cara Gray
January 22, 2025
In partnership with
Dear Friends,
In my 2025 planning/dreaming over the holidays, one thing that kept coming up for me was cultivating my interests, outside of my work, and intentionally making space to learn new things. These things can also be described as hobbies, and for me, they include learning (or relearning) a language and continuing to explore my love of modern art.
Over this past weekend, I signed up for Jumpspeak, which was magically served up to me via an Instagram ad (Zuck now hears my thoughts 🤣). Seriously, this app is more of an immersive experience than others and I know that I learn best when I am “in” it. For example, I lived in Sweden for 2 years in my 30s and went to school fulltime M-F, 9-5 to learn the language. No English was spoken. At times, it was incredibly frustrating, but I learned! Now, I really would like to relearn French 🇫🇷 (when I worked for Havas they reimbursed me to take classes at Alliance Français, but sadly, I forgot a lot of that), and outside of moving to Paris for a few months (which isn’t out of the question), this app seems like a good option.
I am fortunate to live in the great city of Chicago, where two world-class modern art institutions exist, and I am a member of both the Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum of Modern Art Chicago. I go to both regularly to co-work (the Art Institute, in particular, has a gorgeous member’s lounge that is inspiring to work from), but they also offer lectures on the latest exhibits and other programming that I had not been taking advantage of. That is all changing in 2025!
How am I making sure these hobbies are front and center in my life? For the first time in a very long time, I purchased a monthly view paper calendar. From the WMS&CO website, “Studies show you’re 42% more likely to achieve your goals when you write them down. The undated 2-year planner from Wilde House helps you embrace the potential of each new month by setting intentions in 8 key areas of your life. It’s your space to commit to your growth and define how you want to evolve. Every page offers a fresh start—a chance to connect with your inner voice and align your life with your deepest aspirations.”
Even though I live by what is in my Google calendar, I am putting only hobby/social activities on this calendar so I can easily take a look at the big picture and make note of where I have gaps. And to make sure plenty of art lectures and outings are scheduled to keep my cup filled in 2025!
Why Hobbies Matter in Your Third Act
Hobbies offer a myriad of benefits that are particularly valuable as we transition from our main careers. They provide structure to our days, foster social connections, stimulate our minds, and often keep us physically active. Moreover, engaging in activities we’re passionate about can boost our mood, reduce stress, and even improve overall health. In essence, hobbies are not just about filling time – they’re about fulfilling our lives.
Unearthing juicy hobbies to prototype is a big part of the work I do with my clients and often the most fun!
Identifying Your Perfect Hobby
Finding the right hobby is a personal journey of exploration and self-discovery. It’s about reconnecting with interests you may have set aside during your busy career years or discovering entirely new passions.
To identify potential hobbies, reflect on activities that:
• Bring you joy or excitement
• You’ve always wanted to try but never had the time
• Align with your values or life goals
• Utilize skills from your professional life in a new context
• You enjoyed in your younger years and might want to revisit
đź’ˇ Remember, the best hobbies are those that resonate with you on a personal level and provide a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.
How to Find Your Hobby: A Step-by-Step Guide
Finding a hobby that truly engages you might take some trial and error, but the process can be as rewarding as the hobby itself.
Here’s a guide to help you on your journey:
1. Reflect and brainstorm: Make a list of activities you’ve enjoyed in the past or have always been curious about.
2. Research: Explore various hobbies online, in books, or by talking to friends. Look for local clubs or classes in areas of interest.
3. Try before you commit: Many hobbies have low-cost entry points. Attend a class, borrow equipment, or watch online tutorials before investing heavily.
4. Give it time: Don’t dismiss a hobby too quickly. Give yourself a few sessions to see if it grows on you.
5. Be open to surprises: Sometimes the most fulfilling hobbies are ones we never expected to enjoy.
6. Consider your lifestyle: Choose hobbies that fit your physical abilities, schedule, and budget.
7. Balance your choices: Aim for a mix of physical, creative, and intellectual pursuits for well-rounded engagement.
8. Connect with others: Look for hobbies that offer opportunities to meet new people and build community.
✨ Remember, there’s no pressure to stick with a hobby if it doesn’t resonate with you. The joy is in the exploration and discovery.
As always, I like to give you more resources to explore this topic. Here are some hobby thought starters:
🔥 BONUS: If you have any interest in AI, I think that could be a brilliant hobby and potentially a consulting opportunity in your respective field (if that interests you). I am digging into YouTube on this subject myself, so it might be the topic of a future newsletter!
If you missed it, a new episode of my podcast Act Three was published this week featuring Kevin Newby, a visionary executive life coach. From his days in Silicon Valley to overcoming personal challenges, Kevin's journey is both inspiring and insightful. Tune in to explore how Kevin navigated transitions in his career and life and how he's helping others uplevel their lives and careers.
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Warm regards,
Cara Gray
Third Act Consultant, CPRC, CEPA™️
P.S. If you want to start planning your third act, set up a time on my calendar for a chat: Schedule a Chat with Cara
P.S.S. If you are curious about my consulting work, there are two options to work with me: deep-dive, transformative 1:1 consulting or a 90-minute intensive, quickstart session. Details about both options can be found here.