Hobby, Hustle, or Just Because? My Midlife Knitting Confession
- GR
- Aug 17
- 2 min read
How to approach new skills without pressure.
I once bought a Groupon that single-handedly transported me into a vision of my future self. There I was: sitting in a cozy armchair (by a fireplace I did not own), knitting needles clicking away, a glass of wine within reach, and some perfectly binge-worthy show playing in the background. My family would drift through the room, tossing me into the conversation like a warm, well-loved blanket.
Reality check?
It was a three-hour knitting class. I signed my daughter and myself up for a “fun day of bonding and learning,” which sounded idyllic in theory. We each left with one set of knitting needles, an orange ball of yarn, and a sobering realization: I was not as ready to start this new journey as I’d imagined. The yarn is still somewhere, possibly judging me from the back of a closet.
Why Picking Up a Hobby in Midlife is Brain Food
Still, if we did need a “reason” beyond the joy, here are some science-backed perks hiding behind those quirky hobbies:
1. Boosts Brain Flexibility
Learning something new—like knitting, salsa, or watercolor painting—is great for neuroplasticity, aka your brain’s ability to rewire and grow. Turns out, even in adulthood, we’re constantly building new neural connections as we learn, adapt, and explore.
2. Sharpens Memory & Reduces Brain Fog
Trying a new hobby can lighten mental fog, sharpen memory, and improve focus—basically giving your overworked brain a stretch session it didn’t know it needed.
3. Lowers Stress & Lifts Mood
Psychologists say hobbies reduce the stress hormone cortisol and boost mood and self-esteem. They even create that eustress—“excited to try something” energy—that makes life feel lighter.
4. Protects Long-Term Brain Health
Even casual hobbying helps slow cognitive aging. Some studies show people who start fun classes later in life—like dance or language—perform closer to folks decades younger.
Pretty impressive for something that’s supposed to just be fun, right?
Hobby, Hustle, or Just Because?
Here’s the thing—sometimes we put so much pressure on hobbies to become something that we forget they can exist simply because they spark curiosity.
If a hobby becomes a passion, wonderful. If it fizzles out after a single afternoon, that’s fine too. It still gave you a story, a laugh, or maybe just a reminder that you’re allowed to try something without making it your next side hustle.
The older I get, the more I realize that exploration for exploration’s sake is wildly underrated. We live in a culture that loves a good before-and-after, but what about the middle? The part where you’re just learning, fumbling, and enjoying yourself—with no finish line in sight?
Your Midlife Permission Slip
So here it is: your midlife permission slip. Sign up for the class. Buy the kit. Try the thing.
Not because it has to lead somewhere, but because it’s okay to simply enjoy the spark. Even if all you walk away with is an unused ball of orange yarn and a great story—you tried. And that, in itself, is worth celebrating.
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