Do you remember the last time you were truly bored: nothing to do, no show to watch, podcast to listen to, nothing to think about at all besides how bored you are? Because I don’t, but I have a feeling the timeline aligns pretty closely with the first iPhone I had. Once social media, endless games, and Spotify were within my grasp, I never had “downtime” like I did before. Tasks like homework and chores took twice as long as they did before. And for a while I didn’t even pay attention to the changes. How my phone became a necessary addition to every activity that consumed my time.  

        When I was young, I loved to bake, draw, read, write, among other activities we affectionately label “hobbies”. As I grew older, I always claimed I didn’t continue these hobbies because I was too busy. In reality, when I sat down to complete a coloring page or make a batch of cookies, I found I lacked the patience or initiative the complete anything from start to finish. Yet it was easy, too easy, to scroll on my phone for hours and hours, completely sedentary other than the rolling motion of my finger from video to video.  

        This phenomenon plays into our internal feedback loop system, specifically how it applies to habit-forming behaviors. The body’s reward system controls the release of dopamine, traditionally triggered by submission of assignments, exercise or other manual labor, or alleviation of a physical or mental stressor through practicing hobbies or mindfulness. However, the body has learned how to simulate completion of a task by scrolling on social media, triggering the same part of the brain to release dopamine almost on a nearly instantaneous basis. Once the system becomes used to that constant stream of dopamine, time and effort required activities like hobbies become unappealing. Necessary tasks still get accomplished still get done due to the pressure of deadlines while recreational activities often get postponed and later forgotten.  

         But hobbies hold important roles in our lives. Consistent use of social media during free time can lead to heightened anxiety and loneliness, feelings combated through regular sessions of an enjoyed hobby. Hobbies also encourage dedication, and positive habit-forming. The skills learned can be transferred to school, clubs, or careers, making other areas of your life more efficient. So don’t give up your beloved hobbies, no matter how tempting in the fast-paced, busy world we live in. Or, if it’s a little too late, maybe spend your next late-night tiktok session browsing for something to try. You may just find a new passion you can carry for a lifetime.