Can fitness be a hobby?

Can fitness be a hobby, or do you have to commit to it like you would a job to see results? You often hear the phrase “fitness is a lifestyle” and while this is true, there are many things that make up a lifestyle and not all of them are good! Hobbies, friends, habits, goals, and work patterns all determine what kind of lifestyle you live, and you may wish to change some of these.

Hobbies are different things to different people, and they can be basically anything! So, by default, exercise can fit into this category, but should it?

Is fitness something you love?

Generally, a hobby is something people do in their free time. An activity that you enjoy but still takes up mental or physical energy. Typically, it’s also based on a skill or personal development goal. For example, you might enjoy relaxing in front of the tv at the end of a busy day but probably don’t consider this a hobby.

Many aspects of fitness or types of exercise may fall into this category for you. But at the same time, keeping a regular schedule or getting up early to fit in the gym before work may feel like a chore on occasion.

Should fitness be a hobby?

The short answer is yes, you should enjoy moving. With the huge variety of sports and exercises available everyone can find something that they want to do on a regular basis.

But realistically this isn’t always the answer. The things you may enjoy the most might not be helping you reach your goals, or you may hate exercise altogether! You may also be doing specific exercises for things like rehabilitation. If you’re working out to hit certain necessary health targets, then no, fitness is likely not a hobby for you. However, this doesn’t mean the right motivation isn’t there.

Equally, the exercise you enjoy as a hobby might not be quite enough to hit the recommended levels of activity each week. Loving rock climbing is great but if you can only go once a month you will be missing out on a lot of the important health aspects that come with regular movement.

So, the other short answer is no. Fitness is personal, the choices you make should be goal-based, and it should be an enjoyable challenge whenever possible.

Making movement and exercise a hobby could be one of these goals, and it’s a really great hobby to have. But maybe, for you, fitness is a commitment to yourself or your health, maybe something closer to a lifestyle.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our blog mailing list to be the first to hear about new articles and advice. You can also check us out on Instagram or Facebook for regular inspiration and wellbeing information.