How to Find a Hobby

Hobbies allow you to explore interests beyond your work. They fuel your creativity and give you the chance to try new things. If your old hobbies no longer excite you, discovering a new one could reignite your creative flow. Be sure to consider your budget before picking a new hobby, as some can be quite expensive. But don’t worry, there are plenty of options that don’t require a big investment.

Think about what excites you. What do you usually do in your free time? Do you enjoy reading books? Maybe you could try writing one. Do you look forward to a cold beer at the end of the day? A new hobby could be brewing your own beer at home. Turn the things you love into a hobby.

Think about what you value most. What qualities do you admire? Do you respect intelligence and bravery? Are you drawn to people who are willing to give? Do you appreciate art? Let these qualities guide you in finding a hobby.

Consider your skills and personality. Some hobbies require special skills.

• If you’re not particularly patient, sewing might not be the hobby for you. However, if you enjoy fixing things and building, you may want to consider hobbies like restoring old cars or woodworking. Leverage your strengths.

Pay attention to what excites you. How you talk about various topics can reveal your passions, which can then develop into hobbies.

• Think about the subjects you could talk about endlessly. Ask your friends and family what topics you seem to mention most often. Then, identify what aspect of that topic excites you the most and see how you can turn it into a hobby. For example, you might be passionate about local politics, and getting involved in grassroots political movements could become your hobby.

Think about what you loved doing as a child. Did you enjoy racing your friends on bikes? Were you immersed in comic books? Did you love drawing? Consider the activities that genuinely excited you when you were young and that could keep you engaged for hours.

Choose activities you once abandoned. If you used to ride a bike often, consider buying a new adult-sized bike and explore your neighborhood.

Take a class you once enjoyed. If you loved drawing in the past, sign up for a class at a community college or an art museum.

Find adult versions of things you used to love. If you were passionate about comic books as a child, you can now attend a comic book festival to meet others who share the same interest. Maybe you enjoyed board games when you were younger—there are plenty of new board games on the market today, offering everything from role-playing games to cooperative ones.

Visit a craft store. Browse around to see what hobbies might catch your eye. You might discover something you never thought of, like model airplane building or pottery.

Visit a tool shop. Similar to craft stores, tool shops offer a wide variety of items to explore. Whether you're interested in woodworking or gardening, a tool shop will have everything you need.

Browse your local library. Libraries are full of books that teach you how to do all sorts of things on various topics. Skim through to find subjects that interest you, which could turn into a new hobby.

Consider your time. Time is precious and not unlimited. Make sure to set aside some time each day for your new hobby, dedicating a few minutes daily to experiment.

Look for hobby-related websites. There are websites specifically designed for discovering hobbies, and you can visit them to find activities to enjoy in your free time.

Be open to trying multiple hobbies. Your first choice may not be the right fit. Don’t hesitate to keep searching and experimenting with other hobbies. You have the freedom to move on when something no longer excites you.

Say “yes”. This means don’t hesitate to agree to activities that you might usually turn down. Visiting an art museum might not sound too exciting to you, but give it a try. You might discover a hobby you never thought you’d enjoy, like painting or art restoration.

Redefine yourself. One barrier to trying new things could be your mindset: 'That's just not my thing.' You might think you're not brave enough or social enough for certain activities. Don't be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone.

• For instance, think about all the crazy hobbies you’ve dismissed because you thought you couldn't do them. Maybe you've always wanted to learn guitar or dance, but you believed you weren't talented enough. Go ahead and sign up for a class and see what happens. You might discover a hidden talent you didn’t expect.

Follow your friends. Your friends often share similar interests and personalities with you, so you might enjoy the hobbies they love. Ask them about their hobbies and try the activities they’re passionate about.

• For example, your best friend is really into swing dancing. You could join them for a dance class or ask them to teach you the basic steps before you dive in.

Check out local course listings. If you're in the U.S., community colleges offer a wide range of courses at very affordable prices. Look through their catalog, and you might find a class that sparks your interest.

• You can visit local community colleges to get a course catalog, though most schools also offer these lists online for you to review.

Keep track of your spending. Monitor your expenses for a month and record where your money goes. You can use a smartphone app or refer to your bank's monthly statement if you rarely use cash.

• Break down your expenses into categories. For instance, you can separate them into sections like ‘groceries’, ‘fuel’, ‘clothing’, ‘eating out’, ‘entertainment’, ‘rent’, ‘utilities’, and ‘fees’. You can also divide bills into two groups: mandatory ones, like insurance, and those you can cut back on, like cable or phone services.

Create a budget. Use a spreadsheet or an app to determine what percentage of your income should go towards necessities like rent and utilities. Additionally, track your most recent month's spending to understand how much you’re spending on gas and groceries. Then, figure out how much you have left for discretionary expenses.

Decide what percentage of your budget to allocate for hobbies. If you're starting a new hobby, you might need to reallocate funds from other expenses. For example, you could reduce entertainment or dining-out expenses, or even cut back on food spending. The amount depends on the hobby you choose, as they can vary in cost.

Pick a hobby that is either free or inexpensive if your budget is tight. There are several options if you want a low-cost hobby. For example, you can consider reading, writing, running, gardening, or even try camping.

• Before starting any hobby, you need to find a dedicated space for the activity and a place to store your equipment, whether it's an indoor or outdoor pursuit. Even outdoor hobbies require storage for items like hockey sticks, soccer balls, boots, bikes, and camping tents when not in use.
• Consider purchasing second-hand gear to help protect the environment and save money. You can find used items at thrift shops or through online exchanges.
• As you continue with your hobby, you'll naturally improve over time. You might even reach a point where you can make money from your hobby. For example, you could sell paintings or handmade crafts, offer coaching to other athletes, write articles, or teach others—this is also a great way to offset costs.
• Try out three different activities a few times to see which one you enjoy the most. Your first experience might not accurately represent your true interest!