It’s January and New Year, New You… but it doesn’t have to mean you have to hit the gym, restrict your calories, and diet, diet, diet!! No, there are much simpler ways to bring joy into your life in 2026. I’m talking about hobbies. January is Hobby Month, so I am here to extol the virtues of picking up a hobby, or two, or three! And even better, how the library can be the gateway to getting you started for free.
What is a hobby? A hobby is anything you engage in during your leisure time for pleasure. It can vary widely from outdoor gardening to reading, writing, or crafting. It is something you enjoy doing when you have free time.
Why a hobby? There are numerous studies about the benefits of having a hobby. Nature.com conducted a
study in 2023 that linked happiness, higher life satisfaction, and fewer depressive symptoms for those people who had a hobby. Participating in a hobby is shown to have a positive impact on your social, emotional, and physical well-being.
How can the library help you? To start with, our programs have “hobby” written all over them. Want to pick up a craft? We have crochet, monthly crafting classes, art, and jewelry making. Want to learn a new game (and meet new people)? Sign up for one of our many game days: Mahjong, Canasta, Chess/Backgammon, and Scrabble. Want something quieter? Join our book discussion group, creative writing class, or stop by for one of our puzzle programs. You can learn a language, pick up cooking, or start learning yoga. The possibilities are all here waiting for you to start your new hobby today, register through our
Events Calendar.
But it’s just too cold in January to make it to the library? Nope, I’m not taking that old excuse. The library gives you access to so much content right from the comfort of your home. Reading is a fantastic hobby to keep your brain engaged, download eBooks and eAudiobooks from
Libby or
Freading. You can learn a language through
Mango, track down your family history with our
genealogy database, or stream music with
FreeGal. And if you want to try a craft, there are numerous tutorials through Craftsy available on the Libby app.
The bottom line is, a hobby can help better your health, happiness, and well-being in so many ways and the library is here to help see you at your best. Come and explore to find your next hobby to get your new year started right.
