A lot of people will tell you that you need to have similar hobbies as your partner, but dating someone with different interests can actually make your relationship more exciting. But I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you about some of the struggles too. Overall, there are a lot of reasons to date someone with different hobbies so stick around 😉 .
This post is all about what to know before dating someone with different interests.
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Benefits To Having Different Hobbies
There’s honestly some pretty good benefits to having different hobbies than your significant other. And that’s coming from someone who has completely different hobbies than their S.O.. Seriously, my fiancee is super into gaming and I’m into artsy things. Our hobbies could not be more different, but we complement each other super well and that’s really what counts!
You’ll Learn Something New
When you date someone with different interests, you’ll learn something new every day. Maybe you’ve never been interested in sports, but your partner is a die-hard fan. By dating them, you get to learn more about the sport and why they enjoy it.
I never really cared too much about football until a few years into my long-term relationship. Now we literally make football bets together during games. It makes the games way more interesting for me and shows my fiancee that I’m interested in his hobbies. Guys like that apparently 😉 .
Have Time For Yourself
Having different interests and hobbies than your partner guarantees that you’ll have time for yourself. This is really helpful because in relationships it can be easy to lose your independence. So when your partner goes off to do their own hobbies, you’ll have time to focus on yours as well.
If you’re the type of person who struggles to keep a hobby (that’s definitely how I am), you might just need to get some inspiration on new hobbies to try! Sometimes you just need to mix things up, or even just focus on self-care rather than trying to fit a new hobby into your life.
You Find Balance
Dating someone with different interests can help you find balance in your life. If you’re dating an introvert and you’re more of an extrovert, you’ll definitely learn to enjoy a chill date night at home. But you’ll also be reminded that you can still go out with your single friends and don’t always have to hang out with your partner.
On the other hand, you can pull them out of their comfort zone and help them grow. Sometimes an introvert just needs a little extra push to get out there and do the social things. In an introverted-extroverted relationship, it’s all about balancing your interests.
Struggles Of Having Different Interests
I won’t lie, you’ll probably experience the struggles of having different interests in your relationship at some point or another. I’ve definitely struggled with having a gamer boyfriend at times (it’s a very time-consuming hobby), but it’s nothing we couldn’t work through. So if you experience these issues, the most important thing is to talk to your partner and figure out something that works best for you!
Lack Of Quality Time
The biggest struggle that comes with having different interests than your S.O. is that you may experience a lack of quality time in your relationship. If you’re both doing your own thing and don’t make the effort to spend quality time together, you’ll probably start to feel a disconnect in your relationship. The easiest fix for this is to communicate how you feel with your partner.
I know that my fiancee and I can easily get out of the habit of going on date nights, but they are so important for our relationship! It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but just having that time without distractions makes a huge difference in how close we feel to each other.
{Related Post: 13 Things To Do When You Feel Disconnected From Your Partner}
Less In Common
When your interests are the complete opposite from your partners, it might feel like you have less in common and that you have less to talk about. Which might be true, but a successful relationship also comes down to your core values and beliefs. And if what you want in life aligns with what your partner wants, you should be able to overcome your differences.
My fiancee and I have pretty different interests and hobbies, but we both want the same things out of life and have similar upbringings. And while day-to-day our interests may be different (no, I don’t want to play video games), we both love going to the lake, walks with our dog, watching movies instead of going out, and want to travel as much as we possibly can. And the longer you’re with someone, you might realize you have more in common than you thought 🙂 .
How To Support Your Partner’s Interests
When you’re dating someone with different interests, you’ll need to understand how to support your partner’s interests. Trust me, even if you don’t understand what the heck they’re doing with their time, you can definitely still show your support 😉 .
Show Interest In Your Partner’s Hobbies
The best thing you can do is to show interest in your partner’s hobbies. You can do this by asking the most basic questions. I tend to ask my video game obsessed boyfriend (fiancee, whatever) things like:
- What games are you currently playing?
- What kind of game is that?
- Did you have fun playing games?
I mean seriously, those are such basic questions, but I know he really appreciates it. Half the time, I don’t understand what he ends up saying, BUT it’s the thought that counts.
{Related Post: 9 Cool Gifts For PC Gamer Boyfriend He’ll Love You For}
Try Out Each Others Hobbies
You can make a really fun date night if you try out each others hobbies. You don’t have to start sharing the same hobbies, but every once in awhile it’s fun to experience what your partner enjoys doing. You’ll learn more about their interests and you’ll get to share what you love doing. Even if you have no idea what you’re doing, it’s a great opportunity for some of that much needed quality time. Just be warned, you may have to get out of your comfort zone!