How to Find Your New Favorite Hobby

You don’t have to be the same person you were five years ago, or even five months ago! Taking some time out of your busy schedule to explore a good hobby can do wonders for your mental health, not to mention your social life and personal interests.

The key to finding your new favorite hobby is to make sure it fits into the other aspects of your life, doesn’t require too much time or money, and has the potential to grow over time as you gain experience and knowledge. With that in mind, here are some tips for how to find your new favorite hobby.

Start Small

Don’t force yourself into a new hobby right away. First, try something simple — maybe buy a coloring book and some colored pencils or grab a Frisbee and go toss it around in your backyard. Remember, you don’t have to feel obligated to stick with an activity if you find that it’s not for you. If you love doing something though, continue with it! It might become one of your passions!

Go Out With Friends

One of the most effective ways to find a new hobby is by going out with friends, especially if they have interests that are different from yours. If you meet them at a coffee shop or social gathering, and you ask questions to learn more about what they do, you’ll be sure to find something you enjoy. From there, it’s just a matter of taking an interest and running with it. It may not be your new favorite hobby right away since that might take some experimentation, but with any luck, it will spark something interesting for you to try!

Try Something Different

When you’re feeling stuck in a rut, it can help to challenge yourself by doing something new. If you don’t have any great ideas about what you want to do next, check out a new class or event happening in your community. It doesn’t matter what it is: There are groups and clubs for just about every interest under the sun.

You can even find classes on things like yoga, cooking, writing, and dance — whatever activity interests you. Grab a friend or loved one and make it a date night out at an event nearby; after an evening of fun, there’s no way boredom will follow. You could also try traveling to a new place that offers cool activities you wouldn’t normally do around home. Take your family somewhere exciting for a week or weekend—you may discover that getting away from your everyday routine helps you figure out what it is you want to do next in life.

Prepare Tools That You Might Need

It is a good idea to make sure you have all of your essential tools and equipment on hand before starting a new hobby. If you plan on crafting with clay, for example, then you will need pottery or ceramic supplies, whereas if you plan on knitting or crocheting, then yarn and needles are necessities. And if you wish to try the arts, you better prepare crafting tools and materials, such as glue, acrylic paints, and oil pastels. Don’t worry if you don’t know how to use them; once you get some experience under your belt in an art class or two, they’ll come naturally!

Pick Something You Love

If you love doing something, you’re more likely to be passionate about it—and that passion will inevitably motivate you. If there’s something that tickles your fancy, by all means, pursue it. Whether it’s painting, playing an instrument, or even learning a new language, if it makes you happy, go for it! Choosing a hobby that aligns with your interests can take any mundane moment and turn it into an exciting one. You might not know how (or when) it will become useful, but these skills are useful in almost every industry, so pick something you love.

Reclaim Your Childhood Interests

Whatever your favorite childhood activity was — building train models, writing stories, or playing video games — it’s still out there for you to find again. Many adults lose touch with what they loved as a kid because of life’s obligations and responsibilities, but don’t worry! It isn’t too late. You can start looking around your neighborhood for classes and groups that can help you get started!

If all else fails, make it yourself: Sometimes hobbies shouldn’t be learned from scratch. If an adult version of something always caught your eye —like painting or knitting — go ahead and give it a try. Maybe you won’t become an expert overnight, but making something yourself can be rewarding regardless of skill level.

Wrapup

Knowing how to find a new hobby is an essential life skill. Whether you’re bored with your current routine or want something different, keep in mind the helpful tips on how to discover new hobbies.