ADHD and Hobbies: How Doing Something You Enjoy Can Improve Your Wellbeing

When life is full of work, family commitments, and everyday responsibilities, it's easy to put the things you enjoy at the bottom of your to-do list. When you have ADHD, everyday life can involve a lot of effort; between work, family commitments, household jobs, and all the little things you need to remember, it's easy to put your own interests to one side. However, having a hobby you enjoy can make a real difference to your overall wellbeing.

How can hobbies benefit adults with ADHD?

A hobby gives you something to enjoy outside your usual responsibilities, whether that's a chance to relax, spend time with other people, or get absorbed in an activity that interests you. When something captures your attention, you may find it easier to concentrate than when you're faced with a task that feels boring or repetitive.

Physical activities can offer additional benefits, too - research suggests that exercise may help improve aspects of attention and executive functioning in adults with ADHD, as well as benefiting mood and sleep. For people who experience restlessness or feel as though they have lots of energy with nowhere to put it, activities such as tennis, cycling, swimming, or just running can be a helpful outlet.

Of course, everyone is different, and hobbies won't remove the challenges of ADHD, but this is about finding something you genuinely enjoy that hopefully helps manage some of your symptoms too.

Hobbies don't have to be productive

I play tennis and padel, and I'm also a qualified tennis coach. I enjoy being active, the social side of playing, and having something to concentrate on away from my usual working day.

Your hobby might be completely different. Perhaps you enjoy gardening, painting, gaming, playing an instrument, or learning a language. It doesn't matter what it is - what matters is finding something that you enjoy, rather than choosing an activity because you think you should do it.

It's also fine to be a beginner, make mistakes, or try something and discover it isn't for you. You don't need to become an expert, win competitions, or turn your hobby into a business. It is perfectly fine to do something simply because you enjoy it!

Making time for yourself

When there are always jobs to finish and responsibilities to take care of, spending time on a hobby can sometimes feel unproductive. But life can't be all about ticking things off a list, and taking time to do something you enjoy is a perfectly good use of your time.

Having a hobby can give you something else to look forward to, help you stay active, and bring enjoyment into your week; you don't need to justify that time by achieving something or being productive.