## Balanced living [(00:00:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=0s) - Hobbies are essential to fill one's life with meaning, as without them, it is easy to waste hours scrolling online and wondering where the time went, which can lead to feelings of emptiness and regret [(00:00:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=0s). - When coming home after a long day at work or school with nothing else to do, scrolling online often becomes the default activity, but the solution is to fill this void with something wholesome and meaningful, such as a hobby [(00:00:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=12s). - It is not possible to do everything, and instead of trying to take on every hobby, it is recommended to focus on covering every aspect of life with something, including intellectual, physical, social, and creative activities [(00:00:31)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=31s). - Having a balanced set of activities, including something intellectual, physical, social, and creative, can lead to feelings of fulfillment and balance, allowing individuals to accomplish things in a material, creative, and spiritual sense [(00:00:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=42s). - Exploring different hobbies is necessary to find what works best for each individual, and some hobbies can serve as good starting points for those looking to get started [(00:00:55)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=55s). ## Intellectual hobbies [(00:01:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=61s) - Everybody needs an intellectual hobby, which can be pursued by letting natural curiosity guide the exploration of new ideas and learning new skills, allowing individuals to find what truly speaks to them [(00:01:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=61s). - [[Reading]] is a favorite intellectual hobby, specifically careful, deep, and active reading of great literature, as it improves vocabulary, helps articulate thoughts, and provides a deepened understanding of the world, other people, and oneself [(00:01:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=111s). - Reading offers the opportunity to learn from intelligent and interesting people, regardless of when or where they lived, and allows for the exploration of different perspectives, giving a more complete view of the world beyond personal experience [(00:02:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=123s). - Intellectual hobbies, such as reading, are incredibly affordable, fun, relaxing, and can make a person more interesting, with access to a wide range of free resources, including debates, interviews, articles, and podcasts [(00:02:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=148s). - Approaching intellectual hobbies with an active mind, through note-taking, reflection, repetition, and conversation, is essential to making the learning experience effective and preventing the forgetting of newly acquired information [(00:03:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=181s). - Engaging in intellectual hobbies can help individuals develop a more nuanced understanding of the world and themselves, and can be a valuable pursuit for personal growth and development [(00:01:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=89s). ## Physical hobbies [(00:03:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=194s) - A physical hobby, such as going to the gym, running, martial arts, or group sports, is essential for maintaining happiness, health, and energy throughout life, and it can also improve one's physical appearance [(00:03:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=194s). - Having a home gym can be a cost-effective option, as it eliminates the need for a gym membership and allows for a personalized workout routine, even if the equipment is not perfect, such as a rusty and makeshift setup [(00:04:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=254s). - Starting a home gym does not require a significant investment, as basic equipment like adjustable dumbbells or a pull-up bar can be affordable, with dumbbells costing less than $100, and can provide a good workout [(00:05:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=313s). - In addition to strength training, incorporating cardio exercises, such as running, is crucial for overall health and fitness, as it can help improve cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of being out of breath after physical activity [(00:06:04)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=364s). - Group sports, like football, squash, and tennis, and martial arts are excellent options for physical hobbies, as they provide a social benefit, are fun to play, and allow for competition and improvement of cardio and fighting skills [(00:07:05)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=425s). - Engaging in physical hobbies can lead to numerous benefits, including improved health, confidence, attractiveness, discipline, routine, and mental fortitude, which are essential for maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle [(00:07:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=456s). ## Social hobbies [(00:07:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=476s) - Strong friendships are becoming rarer due to people drifting apart after leaving school or college, and the internet has ironically made people more isolated, which is why having a social hobby is important to build meaningful connections and find a sense of belonging [(00:07:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=476s). - Engaging in social hobbies can help individuals find people who respect them for who they are and potentially lead to forming good friendships or even meeting a future husband or wife [(00:08:39)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=519s). - Joining college societies, gyms, board games nights, and other group activities can be a good way to meet people and develop social skills, even if it's not always successful at first [(00:09:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=564s). - Group sports and team activities are great ways to start building a social life, as they naturally bring people together who share a common interest, making it easier to form connections [(00:10:04)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=604s). - Other social hobbies, such as board games nights, hobby groups, dance, run clubs, gym, and martial arts clubs, can also provide opportunities to meet like-minded people and build relationships [(00:10:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=623s). - Meeting people through shared interests can be an effective way to form connections, as it allows individuals to find others who share their passions and values, making it easier to build bridges and form meaningful relationships [(00:10:39)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=639s). - Social activities don't have to be centered around a specific hobby, as simply meeting with people to share a drink or walk around the city can be an important way to keep connections alive and have meaningful conversations [(00:10:57)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=657s). ## Creative hobbies [(00:11:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=676s) - Engaging in excessive consumption, such as buying unnecessary items and constantly switching between screens, can activate the brain's reward centers, releasing dopamine and providing a temporary feeling of pleasure, but ultimately leading to depression, isolation, and other negative consequences [(00:11:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=676s). - Having a creative hobby can serve as an outlet for expression and a way to slow down, allowing individuals to find peace and showcase their character, making them not just consumers, but creators as well, with the added benefit of a sense of achievement that comes with effort [(00:12:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=721s). - Writing is a valuable creative hobby that can be practiced with just a few minutes of dedication per day, enabling individuals to discover more about themselves, articulate their thoughts, and even make a living from it, as businesses often rely on good writing [(00:12:26)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=746s). - Creating online content, such as videos or posts, centered around one's passions and interests, is a viable option, and while it may seem unrealistic to some, it can be started with simple actions like recording videos on a phone or posting artwork on Instagram [(00:12:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=770s). - Cooking is also a recommended creative hobby, as it requires practice, intuition, and various techniques, ultimately resulting in something both creative and useful, such as delicious meals, and can be a valuable skill that improves life for oneself and others [(00:13:57)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=837s). - There are numerous other creative hobbies to explore, including film making, photography, design, painting, music, fashion, and niche activities like perfumery, ham radio, and painting miniatures, offering a wide range of options for individuals to discover and pursue [(00:14:43)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=883s). ## Finding what sticks [(00:14:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=899s) - The process of finding a suitable hobby involves trial and error, and it is okay to start and quit different activities until you find what you love, as this exploration is necessary to discover what clicks [(00:14:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=899s). - It is understandable to feel like you don't have the skills to start something new, but it is recommended to keep trying and pushing to see if it is really for you, and it is also okay if you don't enjoy a particular hobby [(00:15:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=917s). - If you don't know where to start, it is recommended to explore your interests, look online, and see what people are doing, as getting stuck in these "rabbit holes" can lead to discovering your lifelong passion, even if most of them lead to dead ends [(00:15:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=942s). - You don't have to have exactly one hobby for each of the four areas - intellectual, physical, social, and creative - as one hobby can cover two or three areas, such as boxing, which is both physical and social, or coding, which is both creative and intellectual [(00:16:05)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=965s). - The goal is to build a set of hobbies that gives you a balanced life, and you don't feel deficient in any area, allowing you to have a fulfilling and well-rounded life [(00:16:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=994s). ## 17:27 Newsletter [(00:16:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=996s) - A free newsletter is available to sign up for, which covers similar topics to the channel, including [[Reading]], Writing, and creativity, as well as more unique and different things, and it is not spammy at all [(00:16:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=996s). - The newsletter includes exclusive content, such as a recently sent book review, which would not be found on the channel, providing subscribers with access to a wider range of information [(00:16:49)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=1009s). - The community is encouraged to share their hobbies and interests, which can serve as inspiration for others to learn about new things and try them out, with many people sharing helpful and interesting information in the comments [(00:17:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=1027s). - The comments section is a helpful resource where people can find inspiration and learn about new hobbies, with many users sharing their experiences and providing support to one another [(00:17:20)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk&t=1040s). ## Sources - [website](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JFOA023Kk?si=pz8kgF6_qsWkB9I5)