A colleague recently told me about his son, a young man in his early 20s who had taken up fishing as a hobby. Initially, his parents were delighted as fishing seemed to offer a healthy escape from work stress.
Spending time by the sea, away from screens and deadlines, appeared to be exactly what he needed. Over time, however, the hobby began to dominate his life. He started waking before dawn every weekend to go fishing. Sometimes he would head to the shore before work. On one occasion, he left at sunset and did not return home until 10 pm, causing considerable concern to his parents. What had started as a leisure activity was beginning to look like something more intense.
This raises an interesting question: when does a hobby stop being a hobby and become an obsession?
Psychologists often distinguish between two types of passion. The first is what researchers call harmonious passion. In this form, a person enjoys an activity and finds meaning in it, but the activity remains in balance with other aspects of life. The hobby enriches life rather than controlling it.
The second type is obsessive passion. Here, the activity begins to dominate a person’s thoughts and behaviour. The individual feels compelled to engage in it, even when it interferes with relationships, work responsibilities, or other important commitments. The activity is no longer simply a source of enjoyment; it becomes a source of psychological dependence.
The distinction is important because hobbies generally offer significant mental health benefits. Studies have shown that engaging in leisure activities can reduce stress, improve mood, enhance concentration, and even lower the risk of depression. Activities such as gardening, painting, photography, hiking, or fishing provide opportunities for mastery, relaxation, and social connection.
Indeed, one of the most overlooked benefits of hobbies is their ability to bring people together. As we grow older, maintaining friendships becomes increasingly difficult. Careers become more demanding and finding time to meet friends often requires careful planning. A shared hobby can help overcome these barriers.
I have heard people describe how taking up fishing allowed them to reconnect with old friends through a common interest. Whereas they previously met only once every three or four months, they suddenly found themselves gathering more frequently . It became a pleasant and active way to catch up, offering something more meaningful than simply meeting in a café or restaurant.
Psychologists have long recognised that social connectedness is one of the strongest predictors of emotional well-being, resilience, and life satisfaction. In this sense, hobbies can strengthen not only individual mental health but also the social bonds that sustain us.
Yet, sometimes hobbies can become difficult to regulate. The sense of achievement from catching a fish, completing a painting, or improving a skill activates the brain’s reward system. For some individuals, especially during periods of stress , the hobby can become a refuge from life’s challenges. Gradually, they may start relying on it not just for enjoyment but to avoid uncomfortable emotions or unresolved problems.
A useful rule of thumb is to ask three questions. Is the activity harming important relationships? Is it interfering with work or daily responsibilities? Does the person become irritable, anxious, or distressed when unable to engage in it? If the answer to these questions is yes, the hobby have reached unhealthy territory.
The goal is not to discourage passion but to ensure that our passions serve us rather than control us. The healthiest passions are those that help us navigate life, not those that cause us to lose sight of the shore.
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