Stressed Out Brits Turn to Hobbies to Relax

Nearly half of Brits have taken up outdoor pursuits like swimming, hiking and running over the last two years

Samsung is working with Broadcaster, Author and Founder of Happy Place, Fearne Cotton to help show how technology can support health and wellbeing

• Britain is now a hobby hotspot, according to new research which shows that over half (59%) of Brits found passion for a new hobby over the last two years
• Samsung has commissioned the research as part of a partnership with Broadcaster, Author and Founder of Happy Place, Fearne Cotton to show how technology can be utilised in positive ways to support people’s overall health and wellbeing
• Over a third (38%) would like to make their hobby their full-time job
• 71% said their phone was an important tool for their hobby, whether that’s for taking pictures or capturing inspiration
• Nearly half (46%) of Brits took up an outdoor pursuit like swimming, hiking and running
• Nearly a third (29%)% of Brits say hobbies like painting and sketching have helped them to destress, boosted their mood and made them feel more positive

Britain is now a hobby hotspot, according to new research which shows that our passion for hobbies has soared.

59% of Brits found a new passion for a hobby during lockdown – and well over a third (37.5%) would love to make it their full-time job, according to new research released today.

A fifth of Brits (20%) indicated they initially started their hobby as a way of filling time during weeks spent at home, but 91%  have continued practising it regularly.

The new report of 2,000 UK adults commissioned by Samsung revealed the top reason for keeping up their passion were to battle stress, with 65% saying their hobby helped. Painting and drawing were among the top pursuits around this, with 29% saying they were great stress-busters.

The top 10 hobbies that Brits listed that they’ve taken up over the last two years were:

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

Samsung recently announced Broadcaster, Author and Founder of Happy Place, Fearne Cotton as an ambassador in a first-of-its-kind programme for the brand.

As a lover of wellbeing and someone deeply curious with happiness, Fearne will bring her expertise and passion to showcase how technology can be utilised in positive ways to support overall health and wellbeing.

In the latest piece of content for the partnership, Fearne is seen capturing an image in Richmond Park using the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 which she then proceeds to use as inspiration for her hobby of sketching once she gets home. All while relaxing and winding down listening to music on her Galaxy Buds2.

Gardening, reading and walking were also named as the top new hobbies adopted by Brits, and nearly half (46%) of Brits have taken up outdoor pursuits like swimming, hiking and running over the last two years.

While a fifth (20%) said they initially started their hobby as a way of filling time during weeks spent at home, 91% have continued practicing it daily/weekly.

In fact, 58% would love to turn their lockdown hobby into fully-fledged side hustle, with baking, gardening, jewellery-making and photography the most popular start-up ideas.

Even those with no plans to take their hobby to the next level would secretly like to do so – as 41% stated the only thing stopping them was time and 47% said it was a lack of business know-how.

Of those who found a new hobby during lockdown, 65% say it’s helped them destress, boosted their mood and made them feel more positive.

A newfound love of gardening, video games, and reading has helped improve the mood and mental health of 57%of those surveyed too.

This was the main reason most have stuck with their new hobby, as they say it’s helps them relax and deal with work and home-life pressures more easily.

Most were complete novices around their chosen hobby when Covid hit in 2020, with 80% now saying they could never imagine giving it up.

Almost two-thirds of those surveyed use their phone or laptop to research their pastime, with 37% indicating they use their phone to take photos or capture other inspiration.

And 71% said their phone was an important tool for their hobby, whether that’s for taking pictures or capturing inspiration for arts and crafts. Samsung ambassador Fearne Cotton backs this, after finding the brand’s new Galaxy Z Flip4 has made her painting and drawing hobby so much easier. The handset is designed for self-expression, features an ultra-compact design and an innovative FlexCam, perfect for taking pictures at any angle of inspiring plants and landscapes for painting and sketching.

Fearne Cotton, Author, Broadcaster and Founder of Happy Place explains: “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.”

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.”

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

In fact, 28 per cent revealed they’d put time spent on their hobby above time with loved ones or work, and 37 per cent said they preferred it to watching TV.