Everything changes when you emigrate to another country – your environment, your routine and your social circles. For many people the initial adjustment is an exciting event, but as the novelty wears off, loneliness, longing and even depression can take hold. This is where hobbies can make a big difference.

1. It is a door to new friendships and communities

A hobby is more than something to spend the time with: it can be the key to new friendships. You meet people who share the same interests, whether you join a local sports team, a book club, a cooking class or a gardening group. This shared passion is a natural starting point for discussions and can help you to build valuable networks in your new community.

2. It serves as a natural booster for your mental health

Research shows that hobbies like cooking, music, sport or nature hobbies may decrease the risk for depression and anxiety. By focusing your attention on something creative and challenging, you can achieve a sense of control and achievement, even if your life is still in an adjustment phase.

3. It gives you a purpose and something to look forward to

The first few months (or even the first year or two) in a new country can make the days feel monotonous. A regular hobby – whether a weekly class, online group or sports event – gives you something to look forward to. It builds structure and motivation into your week and gives you a reason to come home and be a part of your life.

4. It helps you to co-build valuable memories as a family

When emigrating together with your family, a joint hobby can be a wonderful way to spend quality time together. Things like cycling, walking, cooking or even board games can help to strengthen family ties while you explore the new culture together. It is also a way or preserving family habits, which offers a sense of stability.  

5. It can connect you to your identity

Sometimes a hobby can be a way to celebrate your own culture and heritage. By reading Afrikaans books, for example, or cooking Afrikaans dishes or participating in Afrikaans cultural groups in your new country, you can build a bridge between your past and present. Moreover, you are sharing a part of your culture with others.  

Emigration is a major life change, but this does not mean that you have to give up your joys and connections. A hobby can be the anchor to help you find your feet, to raise your spirits and to enrich your life abroad – one joyful, creative or adventurous moment at a time.

Which hobbies helped you to adjust to a new country and to find your feet?

Share your favourite activities with us, whether it’s sports, cooking, art, music or something completely unique. Tell us what difference it has made in your life. Do you have practical tips for meeting people, keeping your culture alive or enjoying life abroad? Your story may just inspire someone else to jump at new opportunities and to build their own networks.

Also read: When words are not enough to say goodbye