In November of 2024, Driveresearch published statistics and trends on New Year’s resolutions and how many individuals actually keep them. According to this article, only about 9% of Americans actually fulfilled their New Year’s goals.

But why?

Sure, life gets in the way, people are busy doing things for their friends and family or their job, but shouldn’t everyone’s priority be to put themselves first, and therefore also their goals?

That is what everyone should be doing. Even if the goals aren’t health or fitness-related, everyone should want to do something for their own personal enjoyment or benefit. Why wouldn’t you want to do something that makes you happy?

I may be an outlier here, but I put myself first in everything I do. And that may be because of this quote my dad has shared with me numerous times: “You are the only person you have to live with for the rest of your life. Make sure you like yourself.”

At first glance, that may seem harsh or even cynical, but to be completely honest, it’s not. It’s a vital message everyone needs to hear, especially college students like me who constantly try to please everyone. You don’t get any benefit from doing that, and it only makes you question your character more.

This article segued into a little bit of advice, but I wanted to share how much hobbies have changed my life for the better. Which, in turn, has made me like myself better, if we are referring to this quote.

Right before Christmas, I saw many social media posts, especially on Instagram and TikTok, about needlepointing.

I had always known what needlepointing was and even had some needlepoint products, but I finally wanted to learn to do it myself.

For some time, I have been looking for a new hobby. I have always loved to read, but if I have any free time, I want to scroll on my phone (which I am trying to do less of) or sit on the couch with my roommates and watch TV.

Needless to say, needlepoint became the obvious choice (no pun intended). I enjoy creating and being productive, yet I can still socialize with others. It truly is the perfect hobby.

Before I found needlepoint, I had looked for months for what I wanted my signature hobby to be. You know, that one hobby you are just known for. I tried crocheting — didn’t love it. I considered starting a blog — as a writer, you would think I would love that, but it ended up being too time-consuming for what I wanted to use it for.

Essentially, I either hated the activity or made up an excuse for not wanting to do it, which happens a lot when people try to choose a hobby.

However, just seeing posts of people needlepointing or the needlepointed pillows my friend’s mother had made and displayed in their home, I immediately felt drawn to it. It is such a unique craft that is creative and therapeutic at the same time — it helps my anxiety, which I know many of us college students struggle with as well.

For those who are unaware of needlepoint, the simplest way to describe it is paint-by-numbers, but with thread. The one downside, though, is that this is a costly hobby, and I mean very costly.

The two most popular canvas sizes are 13- and 18-mesh. Essentially, 13-mesh has larger holes, which are often easier for beginners to manage, while 18-mesh has smaller holes.

Most canvases are hand-painted, which is why they tend to be so expensive. Prices range from $20 (very rare) to $600, sometimes even more. Most of the time, you can get away with buying a canvas in the “normal” range, which is typically around $120 or less. The threads I use personally are about $2.50 per skein — some brands are even more expensive.

Although this hobby is expensive, I truly haven’t had this much joy from doing an activity in years. I love making personal, unique pieces for myself, my friends and my family.

As the new year begins, I want you to know it is OK if you don’t have a hobby yet, but you should be looking for your next one. Hobbies are not only entertaining and fun but also help you stay off your phone and other devices, and they support brain health.

An article published by Stanford’s Lifestyle Medicine explains why, as we get older, it is increasingly more important to challenge our brains in different ways.

The article explains that “the human brain tends to establish patterns, many adults fall into a state of ‘automatic pilot’ and don’t challenge their brains as often as they did when they were children. Over time, when we no longer take on mental challenges, our brains begin to atrophy.”

When our brains no longer learn new things or challenge themselves against their routines, people often see a decline in their health in many ways. In 2026, we are all about health and wellness — being the best version of ourselves.

So why not learn a new hobby? And don’t tell me you don’t have enough time for one. You have enough time, you just choose to spend it on other things — which is fine — but don’t complain that you’re bored, that you have nothing to do or that you have nothing interesting to share about yourself.

I’m only half-kidding, but seriously, you should choose activities and hobbies that make you a more interesting person. You want to enjoy yourself and surround yourself with people who share your interests.

Remember, you are the only person who has to live with yourself for the rest of your life, so make sure you fill your time with people and things you love and strive to be the best version of yourself every single day.

That should be the focus, not a trivial resolution you will forget or end up scrapping three weeks into the new year. Find something you are passionate about and something that brings you pure joy and excitement. After all, those are the most important things to search for in our lifetime.

Natalie Dripchak is a junior at UT this year studying advertising. She can be reached at [email protected].

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