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My fingertips are throbbing. The skin is red, dented and very sore. I haven't been this happy in years! At the ripe age of 33, I'm learning to play my guitar. It was tucked away in the closet for almost 11 years. Like most moms, I believed hobbies were a thing of the past. But now I'm convinced that anyone can have a hobby if they want to.

The dictionary defines a hobby as "an activity engaged in for pleasure and relaxation during spare time." In other words, a hobby involves using your brain and/or your body and is strictly for fun—unlike the rest of your activities that are done for necessity. A hobby doesn't add stress to your life, but relieves your stress. In reality, few moms have hobbies because the concept of "spare time" is almost laughable. We barely find time to eat and sleep, let alone time for ourselves.

Finding a hobby became important to me when I woke up one morning and realized a part of me was dying. There were things I was good at and used to enjoy that my husband and children didn't even know about. I'd become a one-dimensional, task-driven woman who lacked a lot of the zeal and spunk I used to have. My idea of pleasure and relaxation was an uninterrupted nap!

One of the moms in my church motivated me to try a hobby. Lisa, who has two girls and works part-time, found reading pleasurable and relaxing. So she joined a book club with 10 other women who share the same interest. She finds this hobby fun, stimulating and engaging. It's also inexpensive because most of the books they read are available at the public library or in paperback. Lisa is a more vibrant, knowledgeable and outgoing woman because she's added this dimension to her life.

I've always loved and appreciated music, so choosing the guitar as a hobby was a natural fit. I didn't have any extra money in the budget, so I found a community center that offered free lessons while my children played on the floor in the same room. I found creative times to practice, like dinnertime or during "free-play" time. At church, I open the preschoolers' lesson with a song accompanied by a few simple chords. Playing guitar is both challenging and relaxing for me. And it's great fun.

What kind of hobby would you enjoy? Think about what you have always wanted to do, and what fits into this season of your life. Then go for it. For help starting the process:

Get motivated. Find another mom who seems balanced and happy and get ideas from her. Talk to some of your friends and brainstorm with them. Take a trip down memory lane and think about what you liked to do for fun before you had children.

Gain your family's support. Help your family realize that your investment of time in yourself and your hobby is important. Strategize ways for other family members to take on responsibilities that give you time for your hobby.

Be flexible but realistic. Look at how much time and money you want to dedicate to your hobby versus how much you can truly afford. Ask yourself: Will the activity I'm considering bring "pleasure and relaxation"?

With a little planning and creativity, you can revive the fun in your life with a hobby.

Nia Ricks Davenport enjoys hobbies ranging from kickboxing to guitar. She's a Certified Public Accountant working part-time for their family business. She's also a stay-at-home mom with four children (two are preschoolers) and has previously attended MOPS.

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