It depends on what X and Y are. If they are something closely related to programming then it can be directly positive (as a personal example, I spend what I ca

It depends on what X and Y are. If they are something closely related to programming then it can be directly positive (as a personal example, I spend what I call free time working on a masters in math). If it is something that makes you sound well rounded, then that can play well, at least to certain types of interviewers (one interviewee talking about writing fiction on the side, not directly related but it showed well rounded intellectual interests.) On the other hand, if your answer involves watching tv, playing video games, or reading popular fiction, then it will probably not help (though reading may be a notch up from the other two) for most positions.