The sun sets before five, the wind is whipping, the Christmas trees are on the curb: You’re back at work and the post-holiday haze is hitting. Cookie cravings, a tinge of melancholy, and the urge to hibernate and fix your life all at once. In other words, it’s January.
You may already have your New Year’s resolutions all drawn up, but if we may, let us suggest one that might be a bit easier than getting up at 5 a.m. to train for a marathon: Pick up a hobby.
Scientific research suggests that having a hobby–especially one that takes you offline, out of the doomscroll, and into analog pleasures–is tied to increased happiness and wellbeing. Hobbies may even help you live longer: A 2025 study found that having a hobby reduces mortality risk by 29% in people over 50. The study says that hobbies differ from other leisure activities because they involve “intentional engagement and enjoyment.” So whether you’re crafting, making art, or volunteering, basically, you’re doing something for yourself, and the benefits are plentiful.
If you’re looking for a little inspiration for your new activity, look no further than Vogue’s January digital cover star and bona fide hobby queen, Amanda Seyfried. Over the years, she has shared insight into her many delightful hobbies, from crocheting to magic tricks, and more.
“I can’t do one thing. I have to be crocheting and doing something else,” she told Seth Meyers last year, appearing on his show to promote her crime drama Long Bright River. “I can crochet, which is very therapeutic, and then I listen to books on tape,” she added. She gifted Meyers a crochet Icelandic poppy she made, and said she often gifts her creations to friends, including a crochet purse for Sydney Sweeney after wrapping The Housemaid.
She is well-known for her musical talent, singing in The Testament of Ann Lee, Mamma Mia!, and Les Misérables. She grew up playing the piano and clarinet, and now plays the guitar and the dulcimer, an acoustic Appalachian lap instrument she learned during the pandemic. Last year, she showed off her dulcimer skills on Jimmy Fallon with a cover of Joni Mitchell’s “California,” stunning fans with the hidden talent.
To top it off, Seyfried also moonlights as a magician; she recently made a coin disappear (and reappear) on Seth Meyers. So for a little more whimsy and joy this year, why not pick up the crochet hooks or paintbrush, or join a book club? With any luck, 2026 could be the year of the hobby.
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