Hobbies, interests, R and R, call it what you want, come in many and varied forms.

Do we need them and why?

For most of us looking after the house, caring for pets, working and keeping the family entertained is more than enough, and often too much at times, to occupy our days. Retirement seems an age away and having an abundance of spare time is unimaginable. This is true but all of a sudden the realisation becomes a reality or a very close one.

Not having to work may appeal to start with but I am sure (as I can only imagine at present as I still have to work being only 50yrs of age) it becomes monotonous and boring once the novelty has worn off and all the little jobs have been completed.

I think it is so important to have something to do in life as it keeps the mind and body healthy for longer and can lead to some very productive and rewarding results, even a new lease of life.

However, the biggest set-back is finding what is best. A massive amount of issues will influence what hobby one takes up.

Money (the rot and root of most evil), space, ability, location and interest being some of the biggest factors.

There are those who will disagree but I cannot contemplate getting up, watching television, tootling off for a lunch time pint, sleeping for the remainder of the afternoon, pubbing it again for the evening and then repeating seven days a week.

The problem is that apart from cycling, walking and reading I am finding it hard to be drawn towards any other hobbies and my fear is that through age and fitness things like cycling and walking will become painful and less enjoyable.

It’s a very similar situation when one is faced with a career choice on leaving school. I still have no idea about that so settle with being a postie.

I don’t want my retirement to be that way though so I feel it important to think of how to fill my latter years. Why I hear some of you cry, you may be dead before then? Well the short answer is that it won’t matter then but the chances are I may not so being prepared is the better option.

So what do I choose?

I hate fishing. I’m no daredevil. I have very little room and lack pots of cash.

Mmmmm…… I see a big pull towards having to learn something new. Drawing, writing, a history degree, playing an instrument properly, bird-watching or photography. Maybe collecting “stuff” but small enough “stuff” to fit in my small abode. I’d say cooking and baking but for me that would be a very dangerous endeavour as I would eat it all and become a bloater like “Monty Python’s Mr. Creosote”.

The thing is thinking about it now is fraught with problems and the main ones are time and energy. What I mean is that trying to engage in a hobby now is difficult due to working full-time and being constantly drained from doing that and all the daily chores incurred in day-to-day living. Yes, yes, yes I know that’s a feeble excuse but trying to research and learn for a history degree when tired is not what I would call fun and that is exactly what a hobby should be.

My original questions were do we need a hobby and why and the simple response is yes we do for reasons of sanity and enjoyment as the majority of people have spent years doing work they hate or find too demanding.

The other question I have yet to ask is when to embark or take up a hobby and there is no right or wrong time. Fill your spare time doing what you like and if you get into a position where work becomes less or a thing of the past then increase in the areas that take your interests.

Speak to any doctor and they will say that retirement without an interest or hobby will be short-lived.