Did you take up a new hobby during the pandemic? Like many people who found themselves stuck at home with extra time on their hands — or at least no commutes or business travel — Business Insurance’s 2021 Break Out Awards winners reported taking up a variety of hobbies in the past year. Some of them were new activities, while others chose to revisit a pastime that had been long forgotten or put to one side amid competing demands for their time. The ability to connect with others was not lost despite the need for social distancing. 

There were life changes — getting married, becoming a first-time parent or adopting a puppy. Many of our award winners reported trying to find new ways to exercise in a world where gyms were closed. Long and regular walks were popular, as were Zoom-based classes, including Peloton. Many found ways to get outside, whether roller-skating, kayaking, skiing, playing tennis or rounds of golf and my personal favorite, disc golf. Ingenuity played a role as one winner who lived in a large condo building reported running up and down stairs to stay fit. Yoga was among the most popular routines, with one winner even inspired to become a certified yoga teacher during the pandemic. The ability to quiet the mind amid distractions was sought after, with many practicing meditation as part of their routines. 

As many restaurants were off-limits for indoor dining and business travel took a back seat, people turned to baking, cooking and grilling at home. Family dinners, with everyone coming together in the kitchen to explore new recipes and share conversation, were a particular highlight. One honoree expanded his love of coffee by having different roasts and beans shipped in from around the world, while another brewed his own beer. Maintaining a sense of adventure and experiencing new cultures and worlds even from the confines of their homes is a lasting hobby for many.

Working where they live has also brought on a growth in DIY hobbies. Several recipients took their minds off the pandemic by focusing on yardwork and fixing things up. Others embraced gardening and developed green thumbs with one going from two plants pre-pandemic to now 17. Doing more with less became a creative outlet, and at least one winner reported developing an interest in interior design.

And that’s not all. Other winners took up photography or backgammon. One bought a speed boat, one started to play the stock market, while another found comfort in jazz. If there’s a common thread to the pandemic hobbies and habits adopted by this year’s BOA winners, it is that they didn’t let the restrictions of a global pandemic limit their free time. Just as for millions of people who had their regular lives disrupted and started a pastime as a way to take their minds off the new reality they found themselves in, many of this year’s winners said these pandemic habits have continued. The ability to adapt to change and disruption and still be creative, not an unfamiliar feature of the impressive career paths taken by the 40 BOA winners, is a long-lasting skill that insurance and risk management professionals will take with them well beyond the pandemic.