For some people, defining their areas of interest is very easy: a hobby, a passion, an obvious activity.
This often comes down to answering simple questions:
-
What do I enjoy doing?
-
What naturally interests me?
-
What makes me lose track of time?
If I had a completely free morning, what would I spontaneously do?
For others, however, this question can be much more difficult. You may have many interests without any standing out clearly, or feel that you don't like anything "enough" for it to matter.
It's important to remember that an area of interest isn't limited to a hobby or a passion.
An area of interest can also be:
-
a topic that sparks your curiosity,
-
a type of activity in which you feel comfortable,
-
a theme you enjoy exploring,
-
a way of helping, creating, organizing, or understanding the world.
To help you broaden your reflection, we offer different resources depending on the language you use. All have the same goal: to open up the field of possibilities.
French
You can rely on the list provided by the Carrefour Jeunesse Emploi de Drummond (Quebec).
It offers a deliberately broad view of areas of interest and often helps bring out leads you wouldn't have thought of.
👉 You'll find this list here.
English
For the English version, we recommend the My Next Move – Interests Explorer tool.
This tool classifies interests into major categories (realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, conventional) and offers numerous examples of activities and preferences.
It's particularly useful for putting words to what attracts you, even if you don't have a precise idea at the outset.
👉 You'll find the tool here.
Dutch
For the Dutch version, you can use the Vragenlijst Interesses.
This is a questionnaire that helps identify what you like to do, the types of activities that suit you, and the themes that attract you.
It's an excellent starting point when areas of interest are difficult to formulate.
👉 You'll find the questionnaire here.
💡 Remember
An area of interest doesn't need to be a passion, nor does it need immediate usefulness.
Above all, it's a valuable signal of what nourishes you and reflects who you are.
