By Sinéad Kelly
Achieve a new year, new you by kick-starting your new year’s resolutions with National Hobby Month this January. According to National Day Callendar it was originally established in the early 2000s to encourage everyone to have hobbies. It takes place in January to start the new year with new past times. During National Hobby month, people are encouraged to share their favourite hobby, try a new one or take up a class!
Northern Ireland is home to many popular pastimes such as golf, water sports, birdwatching or hiking to some of Northen Irelands famous views. Some of the most popular hobbies are sport-related with 3 local schools in NI benefitting from £500m of Sport NI funding through the Your School Your Club initiative in 2025. There are also over 100 affiliated Northern Ireland athletics clubs, approximately 42 rugby clubs and the Northern Ireland football league, which includes 46 clubs as members.
Having hobbies is also important for staying mentally active. NI Direct state that “People who lead intellectually stimulating lives are more likely to be free of dementia conditions like Alzheimer’s disease” they recommenda “healthy diet, aerobic exercise and mental stimulation” to keep your brain in shape. The Mental Health Foundation says physical activity can boost your mood, lower stress levels, enhance your self-esteem, reduce symptoms of depression and lower anxiety levels.
From sewing to shopping, those on the Coleraine High Street speak about what some of their hobbies are. One woman described how “I started out sewing for my kids, one is taller and a lot skinnier for what’s out there in retail, so I started sewing for her” Another said how she “doesn’t have much time for hobbies as I have three young children… I like to read, listen to audiobooks or go window shopping.”
Neil, a keen reader from the North Coast, urges others to read more “I enjoy reading books of many different genres, and I really enjoy my job as I can recommend books to my customers. The best part of it is when someone enjoys my recommendations. However, for one Ulster University student it can be a struggle to have hobbies “ I don’t have any hobbies at the moment because exams are coming up so most of my time has been studying.
Leave some of your unique hobbies in the comments below for #NationalHobbyMonth
Student journalist UUC