New Year, New Hobbies with Gretchen Rubin

Summary

Podcast Summary: All Of It – "New Year, New Hobbies with Gretchen Rubin"

Release Date: January 2, 2025

Host: Alison Stewart
Guest: Gretchen Rubin, Founder of The Happiness Project, Author, and Host of "Happier with Gretchen Rubin"

---

Introduction

In the January 2, 2025 episode of All Of It, host Alison Stewart welcomes Gretchen Rubin to discuss the transformative power of hobbies as people embark on their "New Year, New Hobbies" resolutions. The conversation delves into how picking up new hobbies can significantly enhance personal well-being, foster creativity, and build community connections.

The Importance of Hobbies for Well-Being

Gretchen Rubin emphasizes the critical role hobbies play in both mental and physical health. At [02:22], she states:

"Research shows that hobbies have a big role to play in our mental well-being and our physical well-being. They can give us a sense of identity... They give us adventure and novelty. And they give us a feeling of the atmosphere of growth that's so important for happiness."

Rubin explains that hobbies provide a sense of growth and progress, contributing to overall happiness by allowing individuals to feel they are continually improving and developing new skills.

Understanding the "Vital Nine" for Happiness

Rubin introduces her concept of the "Vital Nine," nine categories essential for a happy life. Key elements discussed include:

• Energy ([02:52]): Maintaining a sense of vitality is crucial, and hobbies are inherently energizing.

• Relationships ([02:52]): Building and nurturing relationships is paramount, as both ancient philosophers and modern scientists agree that relationships are central to happiness.

• Mindful Investment ([02:52]): Investing time, energy, or money into hobbies is seen as "productive leisure," which feels fulfilling compared to passive activities like scrolling through social media.

Creativity: Learn, Practice, and Play

Alison and Gretchen delve into the significance of creativity within hobbies. At [03:45], Rubin highlights:

"When you feel like you're creating, when you're producing, when you're learning, when you're gaining skills or knowledge, that just feels good."

She encourages embracing creativity without the pressure of perfection, noting that everyone possesses creative potential, whether it's crafting tablescapes, writing newsletters, or building sculptures from Legos.

Listener Stories and Experiences

The episode features several listeners sharing their hobbies, providing diverse perspectives on how hobbies enrich their lives.

1. Christian from Brooklyn ([04:37] – [05:19]):
   Christian developed a passion for collecting rocks and minerals during the pandemic. He found community through Facebook groups like the Young Mineral Collectors, which provided resources and shipped materials directly to him.

2. Reed from Brooklyn ([05:19] – [06:03]):
   As a home chef and new espresso machine owner, Reed seeks artistic hobbies with low financial barriers. Gretchen advises exploring free resources and connecting with local communities to minimize costs.

3. Ted ([06:03] – [09:12]):
   Ted breeds and raises tropical fish, highlighting the social benefits of his hobby. He participates in monthly exchanges and enjoys the friendships formed through this shared interest.

4. Marie from Brooklyn ([09:12] – [10:25]):
   Marie advocates for puzzles, emphasizing their versatility and mental benefits. She enjoys both solitary and group puzzle-solving, noting how it fosters problem-solving skills and provides a screen-free activity.

5. Rebecca ([15:05] – [15:36]):
   At 64, Rebecca took up the harmonica, joining the Long Island Harmonica Club. She appreciates the community and knowledge-sharing within the group.

6. Jasmine ([15:36] – [17:17]):
   Balancing motherhood and personal interests, Jasmine is eager to pursue ceramics but faces budget constraints. Gretchen suggests exploring shared spaces or community centers to access equipment affordably.

7. Madeline ([17:17] – [18:28]):
   Madeline, a long-time crocheter, is interested in learning knitting. Gretchen recommends seeking guidance from local stores or experienced individuals to navigate the initial learning curve.

8. Sarah from Astoria ([18:59] – [19:23]):
   Sarah participates in the New York City pinball community, enjoying the game's social and competitive aspects.

9. Gwen from Princeton ([21:16] – [21:46]):
   Gwen shares her experience with needlework, emphasizing the value of mentorship and hands-on learning over digital tutorials.

Tips for Starting and Sustaining Hobbies

Throughout the episode, Gretchen offers practical advice for listeners looking to cultivate new hobbies:

• Start with Affordable Tools ([12:02] – [13:02]): Invest in beginner-friendly equipment to minimize financial risk. Upgrade tools only after committing to the hobby.

  "If you're starting out, maybe invest in less expensive tools... if you really take to it, you might then invest in, you know, much higher-level tools." — [12:05]

• Leverage Free Resources ([06:05] – [06:21]): Utilize free online tutorials, community groups, and shared resources to learn without significant expense.

• Follow Your Instincts ([22:12] – [22:26]): Choose hobbies that genuinely interest you and bring joy, rather than what you think you should do.

Gretchen Rubin’s Personal Practice

At [13:34], Gretchen Rubin shares her personal habit of visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art daily:

"I go every day. It's like recess for my brain... I can just go in. I do whatever I feel like. It's like recess for my brain."

This routine underscores the importance of consistency and integrating hobbies seamlessly into one's daily life to enhance enjoyment and commitment.

Encouraging Children to Develop Hobbies

Rubin discusses fostering hobbies in children, advocating for parental support without imposing specific activities. She shares her childhood experience of creating "blank books" and how it evolved into her adult interests.

"Sometimes it's like, if there's supplies that they want, maybe you want to give them that. But again, I wouldn't make a huge investment because children's interests might change." — [19:49]

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Gretchen Rubin wraps up with a heartfelt reminder to pursue hobbies that resonate personally:

"Just look for something that's fun for you. Don't be swayed by what you think you should want to do. But follow your instincts." — [22:12]

Alison Stewart thanks Gretchen and the listeners for their participation, highlighting the diverse ways hobbies can enrich lives and build communities.

---

Key Takeaways:

• Hobbies Enhance Well-Being: Engaging in hobbies contributes significantly to mental and physical health by providing growth, identity, and fulfillment.

• Creativity is Central: Embracing creativity within hobbies fosters personal expression and satisfaction.

• Community and Connection: Hobbies often lead to meaningful social interactions and community building.

• Practical Starting Tips: Begin with affordable tools, utilize free resources, and follow personal interests to sustain long-term hobby engagement.

• Encouraging Youth: Support children’s interests without pressure, allowing their hobbies to evolve naturally.

This episode of All Of It offers valuable insights and practical advice for anyone looking to start or deepen their engagement with hobbies, making it a must-listen for those seeking personal growth and happiness in the new year.

Transcript

[Gretchen Rubin]

All of it is supported by BetterHelp. Every January brings you 365 blank pages waiting to be filled. What do you want your 2025 story to be? Therapy can be your editorial partner, helping you craft the next chapters with purpose. BetterHelp offers therapy 100% online with a diverse network of over 30,000 therapists worldwide. Visit betterhelp.com allofitt today to get 10% off your first month. That's BetterHelp. H-E-L-P.com all of it listener support at WNYC studios.

[Alison Stewart]

You're listening to all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. We've all heard the expression New Year New Mexico. But what if this year your goal is New Year, new hobby? Especially in the winter, having a hobby can take up free time. When it's cold, go out, it's too cold to go outside. It can be important. Key to Happiness for me, needlepoint is my jam, but I was thinking about starting to sew again. My dolls when I was a kid had these fierce outfits made by yours truly. But it can be daunting to pick up a new hobby or figure out how to get started. Joining me now to talk about how the importance of picking up a hobby can be and tips for turning your hobby into a hab is Gretchen Rubin. Gretchen is the founder of the Happiness Project and author and the host of Happier with Gretchen Rubin. Welcome back to ALL OF it.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Hi, I'm so happy to be talking to you listeners.

[Alison Stewart]

We want to hear from you. What's your hobby? How has having a hobby changed your life? Or maybe you want to share what hobby you're hoping to pick up in the new year? Our phone lines are open. 212-433-969-2221, 2433. WNYC. You can call in or you can text that number anytime during this conversation. We're talking what's a hobby that you've picked up, Gretchen?

[Gretchen Rubin]

Ooh. This year I am starting to watercolor. I have vowed that I will watercolor every single day in 2025. But even like watching a video counts, I don't have to actually put a brush in water or paint, you know, if I'm traveling or something. But this is something I really want to pick up.

[Alison Stewart]

Why was that so important to you?

[Gretchen Rubin]

You know, research shows that hobbies have a big role to play in our mental well being and our physical well being. They can give us a sense of identity. They often give us a way to connect. They give Us adventure and novelty. And they give us a feeling of the atmosphere of growth that's so important for happiness. A feeling that we're growing, improving, making progress, and that really contributes to our happiness.

[Alison Stewart]

You have something called the vital Nine. Nine different categories for happiness. I'm gonna ask you to list them off, and then we can dive into a couple.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Oh, my gosh, I don't know if I could do them off the top of my head. Well, one of them is energy. And having a sense of energy is so important for happiness. And a hobby definitely is very energizing relationships. Ancient philosophers and contemporary scientists agree that if you had to pick one thing for a happy life, it'd be relationships. So you want to pick relationships, and one of them is mindful investment. Mindful investment of time, energy, or money. And I think one of the reasons that hobbies feel so valuable is that hobbies are sometimes called productive leisure or serious leisure. We feel like we're making good use of our time and our energy. You know, it can feel bad to sort of passively scroll or consume, but when you feel like you're creating, when you're producing, when you're learning, when you' skills or knowledge, that just feels good.

[Alison Stewart]

I want to dive into that creativity as one of the objects you write. Creativity, Learn, practice, and play.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes.

[Alison Stewart]

All right. Why are those three actions important? Learn, practice, play.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Well, again, it's this feeling of growth that, you know, it's one thing to do something one time or two times, but it's another thing to really feel like we're practicing, we're learning, we can see ourselves getting better. Maybe we're teaching someone else. That's another way to have a. Have an atmosphere of growth and, you know, creativity. You know, one of the things that I think is too bad about creativity is I think sometimes people have too high a bar. Like, they think, oh, I'm not creative, but I'm like, but you make these amazing tablescapes, or you write these hilarious holiday newsletters, or you've got a newsletter that you send about documentaries to your friends, or, you know, I think you make amazing original sculptures out of Legos. I think sometimes people don't recognize their creativity and how they could build a habit, a habit of a hobby out of that creativity.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's talk to Christian from Brooklyn. Hi, Christian, thanks for calling all of it.

[Caller]

Hello. Happy New Year.

[Alison Stewart]

Hey, you too.

[Caller]

So, yeah, I collect rocks and minerals. I got on into it during the pandemic, and it's been a great hobby to learn new things and really appreciate nature.

[Alison Stewart]

How did you get into collecting rocks and minerals?

[Caller]

Well, we were all stuck at home, so I was on Facebook and there's Facebook groups dedicated to rock and mineral collecting, including a big nonprofit organization called the Young Mineral Collectors. And you know, I saw their post during the pandemic and it was something you could do at home and have them shipped to you and really enjoy it.

[Alison Stewart]

Thanks for calling in. Let's talk to Reed from Brooklyn. Hi, Reed.

[Caller]

Allison. Long time, long time. So I kind of have a similar issue where I'm a big home chef. I just got a big espresso machine as a Christmas present. So I'm very financially tapped out and I'm looking for hobbies that are artistic but have a very low like dollar buy in price because I can't afford it. And I'm also looking for something that is artistic for someone who isn't super artistically drawing, esque inclined. And something that would create, like things that I could hang on my wall or some form of decoration or gifts for people would be great.

[Alison Stewart]

Do you have any ideas?

[Gretchen Rubin]

Well, I think you'd have to do some research, but in terms of materials, a lot of times with like free cycle and, you know, Facebook groups, you can, because a lot of people have hobbies. I mean, tell me if you know this feeling. Sometimes you can kind of get ahead of your. You may experience this as a needle pointer. You can get ahead of yourself in terms of buying stuff.

[Alison Stewart]

Oh, yes.

[Gretchen Rubin]

You know, and so there might be people who would say, like, oh, you know, I'm really not in one lifetime going to use all this stuff. So here you can have some materials now with YouTube, there's so many ways to learn how to do for free. There's so many tutorials. You don't have to necessarily take a class. And so I think it's great to have an idea of sort of what you're looking for. And I'm sure that there are ways to do it without spending a lot of money to get that.

[Alison Stewart]

Yeah. What are some of the ways you can figure out what my hobby might be?

[Gretchen Rubin]

Okay, this is a big question because a lot of times people are like, I would like to have a hobby, but what is my hobby? Here's a handful of questions to consider. One is, what did you do for fun when you were 10 years old? You just gave us a perfect example of that. When you were 10 years old, you liked making doll clothes. This is probably something that you would enjoy returning to as an adult. If you liked walking in the woods. With your dog or making arts and crafts or woodworking. Whatever you might do, think about is there. I have a friend who got back into baseball cards because that's what he had enjoyed as a child. So what did you do for fun when you were 10 years old? Another thing to ask yourself is, whom do you envy? Are there people around you where you're like, oh, wow, it's so cool the way she's, like, making all this jewelry or, wow, taking all those trips to go bird watching? It's like, well, maybe they are doing something that you wish you could have for yourself. Oh, all that rock climbing. Like, I wish I had the time to go ahead and rock climbing. I was like, maybe you do think about it. And another question is, what is something that you take a casual interest in that you could maybe dial up that interest, take it more seriously, get involved in a more sophisticated way? So let's say you like, you like watching documentaries on TV and you want to make that into a hobby. Could you learn more about it? Could you read criticism? Could you take a class? Could you start a newsletter where you make recommendations? Could you start a group with people where you start a TikTok? Start a TikTok. Yes. It's like, take something that's already interesting to you, deepen your knowledge of it, and then expand the way you share what you think and learn.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's talk to Ted. Hi, Ted, thanks for calling all of it.

[Caller]

Hi, Alison. How are you? I think the best part of a hobby has to be brought up is not only the hobby you do, but the social network of other hobbyists that you have. So I breed and raise tropical fish. I have 30 tanks in my basement. This is a hobby. It's been around for over 100 years. The oldest club in the country is in Queens, the Greater City Club. And we, we breed fish down our basement. We raise the live foods. But then once a month, we all come together and we exchange fish. We talk. So it creates friendships and fellowships on top of doing a hobby. And if you'll read the book A Bowling Alone, that's what's really missing now, right? We're so isolated now, so I really get a lot out of it, and it's a fun hobby.

[Alison Stewart]

Thanks for calling. Let's talk to Marie from Brooklyn. Hi, Marie.

[Caller]

Hi. So I'm putting a plug in for puzzles. You can do them solo, you can do them with a group. I generally have a puzzle out all the time, and I can't even tell you how many people it brings in, particularly young Teenage boys who apparently love puzzles and they gather around and do them. It's problem solving. You can do it with the radio on, you can do it with the television on. I can't even tell you. I mean, I listen to NPR all the time doing puzzles. I'll have movies on in the background. And my friend Alana turned me onto wooden puzzles, which are a whole new level. They're beautiful, they're tactile, and they're shaped like you can. You'll get a puzzle that has like animal shapes if the theme is an animal. I did basket puzzle that had all kinds of different artistic shapes. It's just a great thing to do that kind of eases your mind. It doesn't require a screen. Like I said, you're problem solving. You can do it over time. And for those who are space challenged, you can get a felt puzzle mat and you can just pick it up and move it around so you don't have to worry about having it out all the time and taking up your space.

[Alison Stewart]

Marie, thanks for the call. My guest is Gretchen Rubin, author, podcast host and founder of the Happiness Project. We're discussing the importance of having a hobby and we're taking your calls. What's your hobby? How has it changed your life? What hobby do you want to try out in the new year? 212-433-WNYC 212-433. Okay, here's a tough question. What if you're just not very good at what you choose to do if you pick a hobby and you're not great at it?

[Gretchen Rubin]

Well, that's a good question because part of the fun is getting better. If you really feel like you cannot do it, I think in the end you might feel so frustrated that you would give up. But in my observation, a lot of times people are attracted to hobbies that are within their ambit, and that's part of why they choose one thing instead of another. We're sort of attract attracted to things that are within our reach. But yeah, give it a try. And if in the end it's just, you're just not feeling it, move on to something else. Because as your listeners are showing, there's such a range of things. I think sometimes people think of the same three things and there's so many things that you can choose from.

[Alison Stewart]

You might not have the answer for this, but this is one of these things. I went down looking for sewing machines. I don't want to spend a lot. I want to spend too little. I don't want to buy one that I'm going to be tired with after a year sort of figuring out the machinations of a hobby. Like, where do you start with something? Do you start with the easiest? What do you do? It's a hard question, but.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Well, one thing that can be good advice is if you're starting out is maybe invest in less expensive tools. And then if it really, if you really take to it, you might then invest in, you know, much higher level tools. Now, with some things, a really bad tool might be very discouraging.

[Alison Stewart]

Oh, that's. Oh, that's true.

[Gretchen Rubin]

But, you know, with something like a sewing machine, you don't need to get the top of the line until you realize, like, oh, I can really use this. Or like professional knives. Like, a professional knife set is extremely expensive. You don't need that. If you're just like, okay, I've always wanted to learn how to cook, you know, or try to borrow something so you can get a feel for it. And then you know, whether it's a good investment of your money. Because beautiful tools make work a joy. But sometimes buying tools can be so fun that people forget that now you actually have to do the pain of learning how to use the tools. I have a friend who got herself completely outfitted for rollerblading and then went once and never went again. She really enjoyed buying all the stuff, but she didn't actually want to learn how to rollerblade.

[Alison Stewart]

While we're talking about creativity from your point of view, why is it so important?

[Gretchen Rubin]

It's just an exercise of our faculties that gives us enormous satisfaction. As one listener pointed out, it connects us to other people. It allows us to express ourselves and put our identity out into the world. It allows us to develop our taste. It allows us to see the world in a new way. When you're doing a creative project, everything is more interesting and more vital.

[Alison Stewart]

I read in your background information that for creativity you go to the Met.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes, I go every day. Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

Every day?

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes. Well, I live within walking distance of the Met, so that's a huge.

[Alison Stewart]

Wait a minute.

[Gretchen Rubin]

This is a whole other conversation.

[Alison Stewart]

So why do you go to the Met every day?

[Gretchen Rubin]

Okay, so I'm somebody and I would recommend this to people. I'm a big believer in doing something every day. I'm kind of an all or nothing person.

[Alison Stewart]

Okay.

[Gretchen Rubin]

And what I found is that if I go every day, no one day matters that much. Like, I can just go in. I do whatever I feel like. I love it. It's like recess for my brain. The more I go the more I love it, the more I appreciate it. The deeper it becomes, the richer it becomes. When I decided to do this, I thought I was kind of exceptional. But there are a lot of people I've learned who like to do, like, they'll do the same, walk through their neighborhood every single day. I talked to a guy who went to the same drugstore every single day. I'm like, there's a lot going on in a big chain drugstore. I would be very interested to see this every day. Seeing something change gradually. And also, then there's no stakes. Like, that's why I decided to watercolor every day. Cause I'm like, no one day matters. I have plenty of time to try this, try that. It doesn't matter if it's not that linear, because I have so much time. I don't have to be efficient. I can just do whatever I feel like. And if it doesn't work out, that's okay, because I've got so many more times to come.

[Alison Stewart]

Do you select a certain portion of your day to devote to your hobby?

[Gretchen Rubin]

I. Every day. I would love to. I would love, like to have, like, the life of a monk where every. But I can't. So no. So I just have to. Whenever you can. I fit it in every single day differently. Yes.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's take some more calls. Rebecca. Hi, Rebecca.

[Caller]

Hi.

[Alison Stewart]

What are you gonna learn to do?

[Caller]

I'm. I have taken up the harmonica at age 64.

[Alison Stewart]

That's so good.

[Caller]

And it's my first musical instrument. I joined the Long Island Harmonica Club, where a bunch of really talented people who have been playing for a zillion years are incredibly generous with their knowledge, and it's just a ton of fun.

[Alison Stewart]

That's excellent.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Love it.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's also talk to Jasmine. Hi, Jasmine. Thanks for calling, all of it.

[Caller]

Hi, Alison. Thanks for taking my call. So I am a mother of two, so a lot of my money goes to all the activities my kids do, and it leaves very little budget for myself. But I'm really interested in ceramics. But I find that ceramics classes are generally, like, $600, like, maybe to one and a half weeks. So, like, if you want to learn something really in depth, but you don't have that kind of budget. I know one of your callers alluded to that before. How do you maintain it? Like, if I could, maybe I can afford one class, and then I don't even have the equipment to continue and have to save up another six months to resume. Like, how does one continue on their education if they don't have the budget or the equipment at home.

[Alison Stewart]

Yeah. Oh, you touched on this a little bit earlier, but if you could repeat what you said.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah. One of the things is for some materials, can you do free cycle or Facebook groups where people trade supplies? That's trickier with something like ceramics, where there's a lot of equipment that is needed. But there are all these places that are springing up where they have materials and equipment where you can go in for an afternoon and use it. So I would maybe experiment, but the fact is, it's true. Some things are just less expensive. Doing puzzles is a less expensive hobby than doing ceramics. And that's just, you know, maybe you could do some kind of trade like.

[Alison Stewart]

Oh, that's idea. That's a good idea.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah, but that's more of a challenge for sure.

[Alison Stewart]

We got one here. Low cost hobby. Birding.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

Someone said, I just got Into Street Photography. Shooting 35 millimeter. Another text. My hobbies include drawing on the iPad, playing guitar and cooking are the other ways my hobbies turn into a trifecta. In 2025, I plan to take course at the Students Art League of New York, get into jamming with others, and invite more friends to come over for dinner. Wow, you got a lot of hobbies. Good on you. This one says, I joined a wood carving group, which I sort of enjoy. That's sort of interesting. Madeline on line five. Hi, Madeline.

[Caller]

Hi. Long time listener, first time caller. So excited. Thank you all for taking my call. I started crocheting and grade. My teacher actually taught me and so continued on. Then, you know, put it down, went through schooling and all that and picked it back up. So I'm trying to learn a little bit more, get more. I learned more techniques for crocheting, but the daunting thing is that I want to pick up knitting and I don't even know where to start. I have no idea what size needles I need. I've been watching a lot of YouTube videos, YouTube University. But I just don't know where to start.

[Alison Stewart]

What do you think? Someone who wants to start knitting.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I have to believe that there's a lot of material out there for somebody who's just an absolute beginner or ask somebody that you know. There might be people that you know or go to a good knitting store.

[Alison Stewart]

I was gonna say the knitting stores teach, don't they?

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah. A lot of time, places that sell supplies are a great place for beginners or even, you know, anybody to get more information about it because that's where people gather who are Interested in that?

[Caller]

Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's talk to Sarah from Astoria. Hi, Sarah, thanks for calling all of it.

[Caller]

Hi. Happy New Year.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah.

[Caller]

So I'm a part of the pinball community in New York City. It's like a co ed Sport. There's like 40 teams in the city. We play around in every bar every week. And then there's a women's league where like that happens every season. It's phenomenal. It's just very nice to like play pinball. It's like a dollar a game. It's nice.

[Alison Stewart]

Thanks so much for calling in. This says this is interesting. I'm baking and cooking in a really different way. I'm learning so much and trying new things. I'm also donating a lot of the successful results to either the community fridge or the soup kitchen. That has helped me, an entire whole wonderful community. That's a really nice way to think about your hobby. Kids and hobbies. What are some ways we can encourage kids to develop hobbies and creative practices?

[Gretchen Rubin]

I think part of it is just get out of their way, let them do what they do. Don't have a lot of preconceptions about what you want them to do. Or what I see is a lot of times parents, there's something they would like to do, so they want their children to do it and then they can kind of free ride along with it. I think sometimes what is a hobby to one person doesn't really register as a hobby. When I was a child, I did something called blank books. I would cut pictures out of magazines, glued them into blank books, and then illustrate them with my favorite quotations from novels. This is something I did starting back when I was like 9 years old. And is this a hobby? This isn't like a traditional hobby. And I would do this watching tv. And my mother and father might have said, like, why don't you learn to play chess or play the piano?

[Alison Stewart]

But it made you happy?

[Gretchen Rubin]

It made me happy. And you know what? It's the kind of thing that as an adult I've sort of adapted. I have a newsletter where I have. I've done a lot of things with quotations. That's my huge trove of quotations. So it is something that as an adult I still tap into it, but it didn't look like a traditional hobby. And so I think sometimes it's like, if there's supplies that they want, maybe you want to give them that. But again, I wouldn't make a huge investment because children's interests might change. So just kind of Let them. My daughter used to make catalogs. She would make fake clothes. Catalogs by the hour. It's strange, right? But who's to say that's not a hobby?

[Alison Stewart]

Let's talk to Gwen from Princeton. Gwen, you've got about 45 seconds.

[Caller]

I've done needlework since I was in seventh grade and I'm in my 60s. And when I spoke to your screener, I said with all Due respect to YouTube, one way to really learn and to answer many of these questions is to find a person or people who've done what you want to do for a long time.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah, yeah.

[Caller]

Because it's not only what you see on YouTube, it how you use your hands and what sort of long time tricks there are.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah.

[Caller]

And it in a more meaningful way. The only real needlework lessons I ever took was were when I was in ninth grade and two old Russian sisters taught me a trick. And for the rest of their life who had taught me.

[Alison Stewart]

Gonna stop right there. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, Gwen. We've got about a half a minute. Any last things, Gretchen?

[Gretchen Rubin]

Just look for something that's fun for you. Don't be swayed by what you think you should want to do. But follow your instincts. Go deeper into what already catches your curiosity. It's a great way to make your life happier in the new year.

[Alison Stewart]

Thanks to everybody who called in. And thank you to Gretchen Rubin, author, podcast host and founder of the Happiness Project. It's nice to see you.

[Gretchen Rubin]

It's so fun to be talking to you.

[Alison Stewart]

We'll have more after quick. I'm Ira Flato, host of Science Friday. For over 30 years, our team has been reporting high quality news about science, technology and medicine. News you won't get anywhere else. And now that political news is 24 7, our audience is turning to us to know about the really important stuff in their lives. Cancer, climate change, genetic engineering, childhood diseases. Our sponsors know the value of science and health news. For more sponsorship information, visit sponsorship.wnyc.org.