As a junior in high school who is balancing schoolwork, after-school clubs, a part-time job, and social time, life can get extremely full and overwhelming. The assignments continue to pile up, yet you have a shift to catch in fifteen minutes. You end up staying up until eleven to finish all your homework and finally go to bed at midnight.

Then, you wake up at five. And do it all over again.

That’s how life felt for me at one point last year. It’s hard to describe the feeling if you haven’t experienced it firsthand. In this life, everything seems to lack color. The days and weeks blur together. And, when I ask myself, “Are you happy?” I can’t even stare myself in the face and give a definite answer.

But, whether you’re super busy or bored out of your mind, one thing remains true. To truly live a sustainable and fulfilling life, something more is needed, particularly activities that fit your interests and give you a sense of purpose beyond the teachings of the classroom.

A 2019 study from the Pew Research Center shows that teens today are now spending more time sleeping and doing homework than those in 2005. Adolescents are also now spending an average of three hours a day in front of screens rather than dedicating the time to more beneficial pastimes. Research has also shown that hobbies can help reduce stress and lower depression and anxiety. Regularly engaging in activities that require creative, physical, or social aspects can all help transform a person in one or multiple different areas of their life.

Time Breakdown Infographic by Liujiang Tao

While it’s no surprise that technology has become a huge part of people’s lives, it’s no excuse for not having genuine hobbies that allow one to have fun and destress. Having a hobby allows you to dedicate a structured time to an activity, turning empty hours spent doomscrolling into a passion that will stay with you for a lifetime, if you maintain it.

Finding an enjoyable pastime can also be surprisingly easy. As suggested by a famous Chinese saying, there are hundreds of different paths in life, and excellence can be found in every one of them. Finding the thing that gives your life color, then, is not a one-and-done decision, but a journey of curiosity where you explore all possible directions until you stumble upon “the one”. So, whether it’s academics, creative talents, or problem-solving, every person has an ability unique to them, which could ultimately become their hobby. All it takes is a change of heart and recognizing your potential rather than pinpointing your weaknesses.

However, in the world today, many have argued that hobbies become out of reach. A poll on children’s health by the University of Michigan in 2019 found that pay is the leading reason for why many middle and high schoolers do not participate in extracurriculars. The concept is referred to as “pay-to-play,” which is an activity that requires significant fees before participation, such as youth sports. Although this can be seen as a challenge for parents to find meaningful activities for their children, it is more about the will to explore that matters. Pastimes, such as reading, writing, or even running, take up more time than money and allow one to explore activities that they truly have a passion for.

For me, I’ve always believed in service and inspiring others. To turn that belief into action, I looked for something I was already good at and found a way to connect the two together. That’s what ultimately led me to a job at Mathnasium as a tutor for other students. I always did well in school, and becoming a tutor became an outlet to do what I love. Every day, as I walk through the front door, I feel a sense of purpose and fulfillment, knowing I’m playing a part in influencing the newer generation of kids, who will soon be in the same position I am today. By developing hobbies that teach valuable lessons, it also makes it easy to find and transition into future jobs and a career that allows you to do what you already love and make a difference.

At the end of the day, our lives will not be remembered as a series of obligations. Rather, it is the moments we choose to spend exploring what we truly love that will stick with us for the rest of our lives.