Having an interest or a hobby that people might consider a little more practical than relaxing is nothing to be ashamed of. If you find it fun and interesting and it’s not hurting anyone, then there’s no harm done; you shouldn’t let those opinions stopping you from doing what you enjoy. However, sometimes you might get the urge to combine your niche interest with something that’s a little bit more conventionally fun.
Your reasons for doing this might be that you want to mix it in with the time spent with your friends or even to try and get them interested in it too. Alternatively, you might just be looking to push the boundaries of what you can do with your current hobby and try to enjoy it in ways you haven’t already.
Get Your Friends Involved
Sometimes, if your friends are sceptical about something, it might be because they haven’t tried it or aren’t the kind of thing they would usually consider. This allows you to have them try something important to you, in a setting where you can combine it with other activities to take the pressure off of them to like it so much. If they feel like they’re doing something just for your sake, they might be inclined to lie about how they feel about it, and they might even enjoy it less. You want to create an environment where your friends don’t feel pressured to partake but can dip in and out as they please. Seeing you naturally enjoy your hobby might also encourage them to get involved.
Furthermore, for the sake of compromise, you could consider giving the interests of your friends a chance – seeing you want to get involved with their hobbies might make them feel more comfortable opening up to you, and they might, in turn, want to return the favour. It might also help introduce the concept of trying each other’s hobbies at a more relaxed event, such as an evening when you’re all having drinks at someone’s house, where the idea might feel more spontaneous.
See What Aligns with Them
Sometimes, you’ll notice that two seemingly entirely distinct interests will go together very well, creating a perfect bridge of opportunity between the two. If you happen to be interested in one of these, there is good cause to believe you’ll like the other. For example, if you have a deep-seated interest in math, then you might as well have a potential hobby in the form of casinos and gambling. You can rectify this theory by researching the best casino games for math fans and seeing anything there that you would be into.
It doesn’t have to stop here, and you might find as well that your other interests might have similar bridges. For example, those who enjoy taking an analytical approach to film and television might also find a home in the world of gaming, where narrative-driven games can offer a similar experience.