As an adult, it can be more difficult to have a few hobbies that you’re into and spend your free time with. Like many, we get caught up in work, errands and our usual routine. But finding a new hobby as an adult can have some really great benefits! Hobbies are wonderful as they can be a big stress relief, can help connect you to new people and make you feel a part of something. When you have something to look forward to you ignite passion, provide stress relief and boost your quality of life.
Having hobbies can also be a great way to connect with friends and loved ones on a new level. And if you’re really lucky, sometimes a hobby can turn into a side hustle and maybe even a full-time job! Hey, that’s how this blog came about!
Some of us though may not have any hobbies and that’s what today’s post is for! How to find new hobbies that may interest you in your free time.
How To Find New Hobbies
Finding a new hobby isn’t as easy as it sounds. It can also take a little trial and error before you really land on something. Sure you may try some new hobby like knitting, but realize you hate it. That’s totally fine. Actually, it may be beneficial! You can learn through the process of eliminating what you’re really into and what you’re not. But either way, you’ll never know unless you jump in and start trying!
For me, I know I’m not a crafty person. But that took a few tries at random DIYs that made me realize that. There are parts of a DIY that I do enjoy though like painting, which was a childhood hobby of mine. Funny because this DIY accent wall was one of my favorite projects ever. Realizing that has me looking towards more painting projects as a new hobby for me, but not necessarily DIYs in general. So don’t give up if you try something new and realize it’s not for you. Figure out what you liked about it, what you didn’t, and then expand on that.
By exploring your interests and personality, you can start to narrow down hobbies to try. Below are a few tips for finding your next hobby.
Reclaiming Your Childhood Hobbies
Looking back to your childhood is a perfect way to find a hobby to kickstart as an adult. Are there are hobbies you enjoyed as a kid that you definitely haven’t done in years? Give it a try! You may find that it’s something you still love and wish you never stopped. Was there a sport you did as a kid too that you can maybe now do for fun? For me, I used to be a figure skater and I always love going to the rink even as an adult!
Start Small
You can easily start small and look at your own current interests and projects at this very moment. Or start small in the sense of biting off just a small project. No need to knit a whole sweater, try a scarf first. Starting small can also help to give you the confidence to keep going in the hobby. If you attempt a massive project you may get overwhelmed easily and never finish it. Keeping things on a smaller scale can help get you ready for bigger projects down the line.
Self Improvement
Looking inward on what you want to improve on yourself could be a great starting point for a hobby. Self-improvement can be as simple as wanting to eat healthier so you take up cooking and trying new recipes. Why not head to some cooking classes with friends? Or maybe you’re looking to improve your overall wellness so you take up a walking group with friends or try a new workout class. Or maybe it’s just trying meditation or yoga. This could be a great way to kick start a hobby as you may be more likely to stick to it if it poses personal immediate benefits.
A few other ideas could even be learning a new language, reading more books or getting involved in the community from shelters to local government.
Assess Hobbies You Partially Enjoyed
Is there a project or hobby you once tried but didn’t fully LOVE? What was it about that particular hobby that you did like, but maybe didn’t like other parts of it. This can be a really good way to figure out what you may enjoy versus what you may want to avoid. Did you once do a home improvement project and hated all of it but one part? What was that? How can you expand on that? Pay attention to what it is you like and don’t like for various projects to hone in on what you can start to expand on.
Hobby Ideas
To get the juices flowing, here are some hobby ideas in various categories you may want to try to explore. Whether you enjoy working with your hands or would like to try something that helps to benefit your local community, here are a few things to consider spending your free time on.
Physically Active Hobbies
- Ballroom Dancing
- Hiking
- Cycling
- Running
- Yoga
Adventure Seekers
- Rock Climbing
- Surfing
- Skydiving
- Scuba Diving
- Skiing or Snowboarding
Nature Lovers
- Gardening
- Kayaking or Canoeing
- Camping
- Hiking
- Fishing
Crafters & Artists
- Flower Arranging
- Knitting, Embroidery or Sewing
- Painting, Pottery or Ceramics
- Caligraphy
- Photography
Self Improvement
- Learning a language
- Volunteering at an animal shelter
- Getting involved in local politics or local community
- Volunteer at the local library
- Cooking and baking
Now that you have all these great ideas for a new hobby, which one will you choose? You can even get your friends or family involved so you have a partner in crime with these new hobbies. It can be a good way to help keep you accountable so you follow through with at least giving it a try. And you never know where a new hobby may take you. A new business venture, side hustle, or just a new way to relieve stress and zone out in something that brings you joy.
