As the school year kicks off, many students find their personal hobbies gradually fading as academics take priority. Activities that once filled free time are often phased out or paused as coursework and scheduling demands increase.
For freshman psychology major Weston Ridgeway, the change has been substantial.
“I used to drive down to the record store and the thrift store every other day,” Ridgeway said. “The only ones close to the Dahlonega campus are 20 to 30 minutes away, versus having a Goodwill two minutes from home.”
The increased travel time has made those activities less accessible to him, turning a frequent pastime into something he now does only occasionally.
This experience reflects a broader trend among college students. According to a 2023 survey by the American College Health Association, more than 60 percent of students reported spending less time on hobbies after starting college, most often citing academic workload and lack of time as the reason.
Sophomore art education major Alexandra Parrish said she has faced similar challenges in maintaining hobbies during the academic year.
“I recently learned to crochet, and I have had to stop most of that because it is time-consuming, and my class and homework come first,” Parrish said.
Parrish also cited gardening as an activity she has had to slow down on. She said being away from home during peak sunlight hours has made maintaining plants difficult.
However, there are some things students can’t negotiate on. Some things can’t be chopped.
“I make time for my pets and social life,” Parrish said.
While she continues to care for her pets, she said her walks with her dog have shifted from multiple long walks a day to shorter and less frequent walks.
Even cadets have to make sacrifices with their hobbies. For one young cadet, video games are the first to go.
“I don’t really have any desire since there’s not any time. I really only play them whenever I’m trying to fill time, and I don’t have as much to fill, I stay busy with ROTC stuff, same goes for fishing. My boat stays at home in Thomasville, and it’s kind of a hassle to bring it up to school.” – Cam Jones, ROTC Cadet, sophomore criminal justice major
Jones fills his free time with other things now and is not as dependent on video games for connection. He says that more often than not, he played video games with his friends from school, and now that he’s back, he does not need it as much.
Jones was also adamant about keeping time set aside for his faith; reading the Bible and going to church were things he had to carve out time for because of how important it is for him.
As students adjust to college life, they often must reevaluate how they spend their limited free time. Hobbies that require extended focus, travel or specific conditions are frequently scaled back, while academic and personal responsibilities take priority.
