As many people begin the New Year with resolutions to eat more healthily, exercise regularly or learn new skills, new research suggests that hobbies may offer benefits that extend beyond personal wellbeing. Rather than simply making life more enjoyable outside work, hobbies can also enhance creativity, engagement and a sense of meaning in the workplace.

A study by researchers from the University of East Anglia and Erasmus University Rotterdam examined the idea of “leisure crafting” — the intentional shaping of free time through goal-setting, learning and social connection. The researchers found that when people approach their hobbies in a more purposeful way, the positive effects can spill over into their working lives, particularly for older employees.

Published in the journal Human Relations, the study shows that giving people simple, practical guidance on how to develop through their hobbies can lead to noticeable improvements in how they feel and behave both at work and outside it. While it is already well established that hobbies support wellbeing, the findings suggest their value goes beyond relaxation or entertainment.

According to the researchers, hobbies that promote personal growth — rather than passive activities such as excessive screen time — are especially beneficial. By setting goals, learning new skills and connecting with others through leisure activities, individuals can feel more fulfilled and behave more creatively in their jobs.

The study involved nearly 200 working adults with an average age of 46. Participants were asked to take part in a short “leisure crafting” intervention, which began with watching a brief video. The video guided them to create a personal plan for engaging with a hobby in a more meaningful way. This included choosing activities that increased their sense of control, encouraged learning, and fostered social connection, such as sharing a hobby with others or seeking feedback.

Over five weeks, participants completed weekly surveys about how their plan was progressing, what worked well, and what they wanted to change. They were also asked about their emotions and behaviour in both their work and personal lives. Their responses were compared with those of a control group who did not watch the video or make a plan.

The results showed apparent differences. Those who took part in the leisure crafting intervention reported that their work felt more meaningful and worthwhile, and they also described behaving more creatively on the job. Participants aged over 61 additionally reported experiencing more positive emotions overall.

One striking finding was that leisure crafting appeared to have a more substantial effect on work outcomes than on personal life. The researchers suggest this may be because many participants were already reasonably satisfied outside work, while their working lives offered greater scope for improvement. This highlights the potential for activities outside work to play an essential role in improving workplace experiences.

The authors argue that organisations could benefit from recognising employees as whole individuals rather than focusing solely on job performance. Supporting personal growth outside work — for example, by allowing development funds to be used for hobbies or offering short leisure-focused development programmes — could ultimately benefit both employees and employers.

The study is one of the first to demonstrate that leisure crafting can be learned and applied by a mature working population. Its findings underline a simple but powerful message: what people do in their free time can help them become more fulfilled, creative and engaged at work.

More information: Paraskevas Petrou et al, The leisure crafting intervention: Effects on work and non-work outcomes and the moderating role of age, Human Relations. DOI: 10.1177/00187267251407641

Journal information: Human Relations Provided by University of East Anglia