Hobbies are an essential quality to being a well-rounded person. You can use them to kill boredom, relax, or even meet new friends. These simple activities will add so much to your happiness and fulfillment levels in life.
“Doing what you love is the cornerstone of having abundance in your life.”
— Wayne Dyer
Everyone needs a break regularly to balance their mindset and stay optimistic. Spending time doing your favorite activities gives you something to work towards and a way to build a sense of purpose. These relaxing interests help people ease the stress from their demanding lives.
Why you should get some hobbies
“Hobbies are great distractions from the worries and troubles that plague daily living.”
— Bill Malone
There are tons of benefits waiting for you to reap just from doing what you enjoy. Give yourself the gift of time to indulge in what you love. You might find that these activities make you more secure and keep you grounded.
- Many people find their passion or purpose in life in their pastimes.
- Studies show that kids who have hobbies adjust better socially.
- Tons of research shows that having a hobby melts away stress, even during chaotic times.
- Several studies from the Synapse Project state that older adults can enhance their cognitive abilities by spending a few hours per week on creative projects.
- Creative pursuit results in a better quality of life and a healthier aging process.
How to make time for your hobbies
“Hobbies are for pleasure, but rituals keep you going.”
— David Mitchell
You’re cutting yourself short if you tell yourself that you don’t have time for a hobby. You can’t run ragged for everyone else and give nothing to yourself.
So, make it a priority and dedicate regular blocks of time just for you. Having a hobby is crucial to a person’s health and mental well-being to enhance all aspects of their life!
Questions to help you discover your ideal hobbies:
- Do you like being active outside? Or are you the happiest in your inner world?
- Throughout life, are you more proud of the things you’ve learned, created, or done?
- Does being around people energize you? Or do you recharge in solitude?
Your answers will steer you in the right direction but listen to your intuition because it knows what’s best for you. Then go for it! But don’t expect to make a masterpiece on your first day. It’s best if you jump in with no expectations and savor the process.
Here are some fantastic hobbies for inspiration:
1. Learn to play guitar
Of course, you can choose any instrument you want to play, but I’m biased toward the guitar. I’ve played since I was 16 years old, and it is such a great way to release stress or emotions. I almost instantly get into the zone, and I’ll be there for hours easily.
I taught myself, but you’ll save yourself a lot of time and stress by using online lessons or with an actual teacher.
2. Take online courses
You don’t need to go back to school to enhance your resume or learn new skills. Everyone is taking online courses, so don’t get left behind in their dust! Coursera had 20 million new course sign-ups in 2021!
3. Or sell online courses
“Making money is a hobby that will complement any other hobbies you have, beautifully.”
— Scott Alexander
The online learning industry is booming, and it’s here to stay! In 2020, the eLearning market reached $250 billion. By the year 2027, it will go over 585 billion dollars! You’d be silly not to get a piece of that pie. So, if you’ve got wisdom to share and would like to make some extra income, then create a course on Teachable.
4. Hobbies like calligraphy
“A hobby a day keeps the doldrums away.”
— Phyllis McGinley
Calligraphy is so relaxing and fulfilling. I’ll admit, I was obsessed with it several years ago. I was paid to make calligraphy signs a couple of times. I highly recommend it, especially if you’re lucky enough to have nice handwriting (which I don’t).
You’ll need a practice workbook and some calligraphy pens. There are even calligraphy markers too.
5. Start a blog
“Happy is a man who can make a living by his hobby.”
— George Bernard Shaw
If you love writing, then why not get a blog? Don’t stress out about it; at first, you won’t have a ton of readers. But that’s a good thing to fine-tune your skills and decide on your niche. All you need is Bluehost to get you online, and you’re in business!
If I have 174 countries consistently reading my words, I’m sure you can do the same.
6. Start a podcast
“No man is really happy or safe without a hobby.”
— William Osler
If you’ve got things to say, then starting a podcast could be the perfect hobby for you. All you need is a quality microphone and an exciting topic! Eventually, you might make money from it too.
7. Discover your ancestry
A fascinating hobby is researching genealogy. I signed up at Ancestry.com and took a deep dive into my family tree. It was fascinating!
Okay, I’m about to nerd out, so beware. I found out that I’m mostly English, Scottish, and Romanian. My grandpa’s dad was born and raised in Transylvania!
See how far you can track your lineage. I got to the year 1316 when my 19th great grandfather was born, King Robert II Stewart (the first of the Stuart dynasty.) Aren’t I snooty? Also, King Edmund Tudor, in 1430 the patriarch of the Tudor dynasty. Anyways, it’s pretty common to be related to royalty from long ago. They had all had a ton of kids. So, there’s a good possibility you have royalty in your blood too! We could be related! LoL!
But you’ll never know until you do a little research. Or you can get your DNA tested and find out your heritage.
8. Play games
“Having a hobby is a great way to reduce the amount of stress you feel.”
— Craig W. Baird
Games are a fun way to stimulate your mind too! Some games are a thrilling adventure. Others make you think as you solve challenging levels.
Board games are great for spending time with friends or your family!
9. Read more books
“Engage in tasks and hobbies that bring you joy, like reading a book or going for a run.”
— Jeff Gunn
If you’d love to catch up on reading books, but you don’t have the time, get Audible and listen on the go! Kindle Unlimited is the solution. Otherwise, read ebooks if you don’t need extra clutter. Not to mention, it comes with unlimited free audiobooks and three magazine subscriptions. You can read your favorite novels on any device, so you’ll always have a book ready to go.
10. Become a connoisseur of music
There are mountains of incredible music you haven’t heard yet. Even if you don’t think new music is as good as it used to be, you might be surprised at what you find.
11. Learn to fly a drone
Drones film breathtaking scenes that would have been impossible to capture beforehand. Even helicopters can’t do what drones can. Plus, you could sell the footage to stock photography sites or Youtube channels.
In short, working on your hobbies is one of the most valuable uses of your time. Have patience and keep at it. No one is awesome at first, but those that stick with it become masters. So, choose some hobbies and get over the first learning curve. It’d be tragic if you gave up on your purpose before it could flourish. Above all, have a good time and cherish your hobbies.
I’d love to know about your favorite hobbies in the comments! Much love and have fun!
