As adults, managing daily life can mean just-for-fun activities get pushed to the sidelines. However, activities done for no other reason than pure enjoyment are an important component of wellbeing. Engaging in hobbies can reduce stress, support personal development, and even re-energize you so that you can get back to managing your adult life in a more relaxed state, feeling happier and able to focus.
How Hobbies Benefit Mental Health
Hobbies offer adults an opportunity to disengage from the stressors of daily life. Trying out new hobbies can feed a sense of curiosity, and curiosity has been linked to psychological, emotional, social, and even health benefits. Making space for moments of exploration can spark joy, reduce the potential of burn-out, and provide a sense of self.
Hobbies can:
- provide fun,
- enhance growth and learning,
- can serve as creative outlets.
What Hobbies Can Do For Adults
- Provide Stress Relief: Hobbies can distract from daily challenges. Creative or physical activities can also reduce anxiety and promote relaxation.
- Personal Growth and Skill Development: Pursuing new activities provides space for learning and skill-building. This can enhance confidence and grit as well as provide a sense of accomplishment boosting self-esteem and self-worth.
- Social Connections: Many hobbies provide opportunities to meet like-minded people, fostering new friendships, connections, and community support.
- Improved Focus and Productivity: Engaging in activities that require concentration can strengthen cognitive abilities, sharpen focus and improve time management skills that carry over into other areas of life.
- A Sense of Fulfillment: Hobbies can provide a sense of purpose and joy outside of work and family responsibilities.
- Better Work-Life Balance: Allocating time for hobbies helps establish personal boundaries which can improve overall life satisfaction.
How To Find A New Hobby
Looking for new hobbies as an adult can be confounding. Re-discovering hobbies from the past is a great way to start exploring but re-engaging with old hobbies isn’t always possible. So, where can a person start? First, get curious. Embrace the adventure and be willing to try new things. Schedule some free time and start exploring.
Try identifying a type of activity (list below) that sounds appealing, then drill down from there.
Types of Hobbies:
Creative Hobbies- Visual art: painting, drawing, collage
- Fabric art: Sewing and embroidery, knitting, crocheting
- Writing: Journaling, blogging, writing poetry, starting that novel
- Photography & Videography: Snapping photos, learning photo manipulation software, vlogging, editing videos
- Pottery: Try a local studio or workshop
- Jewelry Making: Collect beads, stones,metals and tools from local shops
- Theater performance: Audition for local plays, try stand-up at a local comedy club
- Play an instrument: Take up an instrument with the help of local teachers or videos online
Physical Activities
- Yoga, Pilates, Strength-training: Join a gym, participate in local classes, work out with friends, try exercise videos, or all of the above
- Biking, walking, or jogging: Get out there and move
- Hiking: Explore nature while being active and connecting with the outdoors
- Dancing: Learn ballroom dancing or take a classical dance class
- Gardening: Cultivate food and flowers, a healthy yard or garden box
- Water sports: Kayaking, surfing, swimming, diving, sailing or even crabbing and fishing
- Team sports: Try racket sports like tennis or pickleball, participate in an adult league for basketball, softball or soccer
- Fishing: Fish the legendary steelhead and salmon in the rivers of Humboldt County
- Rock climbing: Explore indoor and outdoor climbing options
- Kayaking or paddle boarding: Try Humboldt Bay or the lagoons
- Rock collecting: Beachcombing for agate or crystal hunting in local shops
- Geocaching: Combine hiking with treasure hunting using GPS
- Camping: Camp, glamp, or rent a seaside cabin
- Beekeeping: Support pollinators, collect honey
- Reading: Check out our local libraries and book stores, organize or join a book club
- Learn a new language: Broaden your cultural horizons while exercising your mind
- Chess or strategy games: Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- History research: Dive into our fascinating history, geological eras or genealogical studies
- Astronomy: Stargaze or use a telescope to explore the night sky
- Cooking or Baking: Participate in workshops and classes, experiment with new recipes and cuisines
- Wine or Coffee Tasting: Discover new flavors, develop your palate
- Home-brewing: Make your own beer, cider, or kombucha
- Meditation: Sitting, walking, even working meditation practices
- Calligraphy: Practice patience and precision through beautiful lettering
- Aromatherapy: Blend essential oils for wellness or gifts
- Bath bomb making: Create luxurious bath products for relaxation
- Adult coloring books: De-stress through intricate patterns and designs
- Crystal collecting: Learn about gemstones and their meanings
- Sound healing: Explore singing bowls or tuning forks
- Coding: Learn to create websites or apps
- Video gaming: Explore vast digital worlds or test your skills in competitive games
- Podcasting: Share your knowledge or passions with an audience
- Video editing: Create videos for fun or storytelling
- Drone flying: Capture aerial footage or race drones
- 3D Printing: Design and produce custom objects
- Virtual reality: Explore immersive games or experiences
- Candle making: Create custom scents and designs for relaxation or gifts
- Soap making: Craft personalized soaps with unique fragrances and shapes
- Interior Design: Experiment with rearranging or decorating spaces in your home
- Aquascaping: Design beautiful underwater landscapes in aquariums
- Community gardening: Work with others to grow food or flowers
- Board or card games: Host game nights with friends
- Volunteering: Join invasive species removal projects, city-led initiatives, support animal shelters, food banks, and art organizations
- Mentoring: Share skills or experiences with younger generations
- Antique hunting: Search for unique vintage items
- Stamp or coin collecting: Discover the stories behind these tiny artifacts
- Vinyl records: Build a collection of classic or modern albums
- Comic books: Dive into the world of superheroes or graphic novels
- Plants or succulents: Curate a vibrant indoor garden
Hobbies are more than a way to spend that scheduled free time; they are key to unlocking a more balanced, resilient, and joyful life. Investing in activities just-for-fun can nurture mental, emotional, even physical wellbeing. Whether it’s crafting, cooking, gardening, or playing a sport, hobbies can help regenerate energy, improve optimism and offer a pathway to personal growth—making them an essential part of adulthood.
SOURCES:
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/six_surprising_benefits_of_curiosity
https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/having-a-hobby-tied-to-happiness-and-well-being
https://online.kettering.edu/news/why-hobbies-are-important
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rediscovering-joy-importance-hobbies-adult-martine-ellis-gekze/
https://www.webmd.com/balance/health-benefits-of-hobbies
https://www.jessicamassey.com/blog/how-to-find-a-hobby-as-an-adult
