Six in ten Brits took up new hobby during lockdown – and almost all have continued it

Six in ten Brits (59%) took up a new hobby during lockdown – and almost all of those still continue the pastimes regularly, a study has found.

Gardening, reading, and baking were among the top activities taken up when Covid-19 hit in 2020 – with one in five saying they chose their new hobbies simply to fill the time at home.

But 80%, of the 2,000 adults polled, now say they cannot imagine ever giving up their lockdown hobby – as 91% continue to practice it.

Two-thirds (65%) of those who took up a new pastime said it was, and continues to be, a great way to battle stress – with three in ten (29%) saying painting and drawing are the best pursuits for doing so.

And more than half (57%) said their newfound passion has helped improve their mood, and boost their mental health – with outdoor activities including hiking and running also appearing on the top 10 hobbies list.

The research, commissioned by Samsung, even found that three in five (58%) would like to turn their lockdown hobby into a fully-fledged side hustle to make some extra cash – while a third wish it could be their full-time job.

The most popular start-up ideas include baking, gardening, jewellery-making, and photography.

But even those with no plans to take their hobby to the next level would secretly like to do so – with two in five (41%) admitting the only thing stopping them was time.

And a further 47% worried they don’t have the right business know-how to make a go of a new venture.

Almost two-thirds use their phone or laptop to research their pastime – and nearly three-quarters (71%) said their phone was an important tool for their hobby, whether that’s for taking pictures or capturing inspiration.

Samsung ambassador Fearne Cotton said the brand’s new Galaxy Z Flip4 has made her painting and drawing hobby so much easier – which will be music to the ears of the 10% of respondents who have recently taken up the pastimes.

Author, broadcaster and founder of Happy Place, Fearne Cotton, said: “It’s great to see that so many people are using hobbies as a way to improve their overall wellbeing, just like I do with my sketching.

“Being joyful pioneers of the tech world, Samsung is the perfect partner for me, as the brand shares my passion for showing how we can harness the positives of technology to help support us and make the world a better, happier place.”

Like Fearne, many polled revealed their lockdown hobby had given them a new lease of life – with 86% admitting their chosen pastime is the highlight of their week.

And 28% revealed they’d rate time spent on their hobby above time with loved ones or work, while 37% said they preferred it to watching TV.

Annika Bizon, Marketing and Omnichannel Director at Samsung, said: “We wanted to work with Fearne to showcase the power of technology in helping people push boundaries and fulfil their passions.

“It’s clear that people in the UK have continued to pursue their passions and hobbies that they picked up in lockdown over two years ago.

“We hope that through her enthusiasm and creativity, Fearne will showcase how technology can make wellbeing accessible to everyone.”

BRITS’ TOP 10 LOCKDOWN HOBBIES:

1. Gardening
2. Reading
3. Walking
4. Baking
5. Video games
6. Cooking
7. Running
8. Puzzles
9. Painting
10. Drawing