6 Types of Hobbies You Can Pick Up and Maintain as an Adult

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Table of Contents

Fun Hobbies You Can Try

Why Hobbies Can Be Hard to Maintain as an Adult

Why Do Hobbies Matter?

But what if we told you that hobbies in adulthood aren’t only possible to maintain, they’reessential?

Thomas LaGrave, Jr., LCSW, founder of the Honor Bound Academy, says “Hobbies are wonderful for passing time, bringing joy, and [balancing] our life in meaningful ways.” Such activities can help us blow off steam, learn something new, maintain our well-being, and/or tap into our creative side.

Active Hobbies

These types of hobbies get our blood pumping and can be a great way to socialize at the same time. They also allow us to get some fresh air and sunshine. Consider sports clubs (football, soccer, basketball) or fitness-based activities like yoga, rock climbing, running, or dance.

Creative Hobbies

Creativity can do wonders for the mind. In fact, it has been shown to improve stress levels andsubjective well-beingin adults.Creative hobbies can teach us new skills and allow us to express ourselves. Experiment with watercolors, grab a sketchbook, write a poem or short story, start a scrapbook, or try crocheting. You can even learn to play an instrument or join a theater class. The options are endless!

Community-Based Hobbies

There’s power in community and bonding over a common cause. Whether you’ve just moved to a new area or have been looking to get more involved in your hometown, these types of hobbies can be great for building connections and relieving stress.Volunteer for a causeyou care about, join (or start!) a book club, or look into interest-based Meetup groups.

Unexpected Hobbies

Certain hobbies fall into more niche categories, but they can still be excellent ways to build our knowledge and step out of our comfort zones. Consider the following:

Hobbies You Didn’t Know Were Hobbies

Do you have a stamp collection from childhood collecting dust in an old cupboard? A deep appreciation for grinding your own coffee beans in the morning? We can turn collections or our favorite food-related routines into their own hobbies. We might even look to skills that we’ve always been interested in learning, but haven’t gotten around to yet. These might include coding, graphic design, and cooking certain recipes.

City vs. Rural Hobbies

Psychologists Swear This One Thing Can Help Cure Your Chronic Stress

—DR. ALEXANDRA STRATYNER

Check in with yourself regularly to make sure what you’re engaging in is truly enjoyable for you. If not, it’s okay to abandon it and try something else. There are plenty of options out there, it’s a matter of finding a good fit!

Understandably, hobbies can fall to the bottom of our priorities once we reach adulthood. Here are a few common reasons why they may be difficult to start or maintain:

It’s important to remember that these fears are normal and valid — we’ve all had them! That being said, we can (and should) still try new things, or jump back into old pastimes. Everyone has been a beginner at some point, and just because we aren’t a chess champion or world-renowned artist doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pursue these activities if they bring us joy.

It seems like so many things count as hobbies. So, whatdoesn’tcount as one? As much as we all love to do it, scrolling social media or bingeing the latest Netflix rom-com (though they can certainly provide an escape!) don’t fall into the scope of hobbies.

While it’s typically fine to use these platforms in moderate amounts, too much can actually be detrimental to our emotional well-being.

LaGrave says “Now, more than ever, hobbies play a vital role in maintaining our mental health.” This is both due to unprecedented levels of mental health issues, burnout, and loneliness. “As a stopgap in addressing these types of issues,” LaGrave says, ”we find within hobbies an ability to build community, and create what are known as ‘third places.’”

According to LaGrave, third places are spaces in which people can get together outside of their homes or workplaces. Such environments (think coffee shops, parks, community centers, health/fitness centers) can surround us with people from all walks of life “in order to exchange ideas, build relationships, and share mutual interests.” Bonding with like-minded people over mutual passions can do wonders for our overall health and sense of purpose, mitigating the detrimental effects of depression, anxiety, and loneliness.

A 2022 review inLancet Psychiatryfound that leisure-based activities had several notable effects on adults’ well-being. Such benefits include the development of resilience, adoption of healthier behaviors, and formation of social support networks.

Bottom Line

Hobbies can be a helpful outlet throughout all stages of our lives. They can be especially beneficial in adulthood, when thepressures of parenting, work, and health issues can become overwhelming. With myriad potential activities to choose from, hobbies can be intellectually stimulating while safeguarding our overall well-being. Pick one today and get started! You never know where this new endeavor may lead.

3 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Tan CY, Chuah CQ, Lee ST, Tan CS. Being Creative Makes You Happier: The Positive Effect of Creativity on Subjective Well-Being.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(14):7244. Published 2021 Jul 6. doi:10.3390/ijerph18147244Schaan VK, Schulz A, Bernstein M, Schächinger H, Vögele C. Effects of rejection intensity and rejection sensitivity on social approach behavior in women.PLoS One. 2020;15(1):e0227799. Published 2020 Jan 17. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0227799Fancourt D, Aughterson H, Finn S, Walker E, Steptoe A. How leisure activities affect health: a narrative review and multi-level theoretical framework of mechanisms of action [published correction appears in Lancet Psychiatry. 2021 Apr;8(4):e12. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(21)00069-9].Lancet Psychiatry. 2021;8(4):329-339. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30384-9

3 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Tan CY, Chuah CQ, Lee ST, Tan CS. Being Creative Makes You Happier: The Positive Effect of Creativity on Subjective Well-Being.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(14):7244. Published 2021 Jul 6. doi:10.3390/ijerph18147244Schaan VK, Schulz A, Bernstein M, Schächinger H, Vögele C. Effects of rejection intensity and rejection sensitivity on social approach behavior in women.PLoS One. 2020;15(1):e0227799. Published 2020 Jan 17. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0227799Fancourt D, Aughterson H, Finn S, Walker E, Steptoe A. How leisure activities affect health: a narrative review and multi-level theoretical framework of mechanisms of action [published correction appears in Lancet Psychiatry. 2021 Apr;8(4):e12. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(21)00069-9].Lancet Psychiatry. 2021;8(4):329-339. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30384-9

Tan CY, Chuah CQ, Lee ST, Tan CS. Being Creative Makes You Happier: The Positive Effect of Creativity on Subjective Well-Being.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(14):7244. Published 2021 Jul 6. doi:10.3390/ijerph18147244Schaan VK, Schulz A, Bernstein M, Schächinger H, Vögele C. Effects of rejection intensity and rejection sensitivity on social approach behavior in women.PLoS One. 2020;15(1):e0227799. Published 2020 Jan 17. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0227799Fancourt D, Aughterson H, Finn S, Walker E, Steptoe A. How leisure activities affect health: a narrative review and multi-level theoretical framework of mechanisms of action [published correction appears in Lancet Psychiatry. 2021 Apr;8(4):e12. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(21)00069-9].Lancet Psychiatry. 2021;8(4):329-339. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30384-9

Schaan VK, Schulz A, Bernstein M, Schächinger H, Vögele C. Effects of rejection intensity and rejection sensitivity on social approach behavior in women.PLoS One. 2020;15(1):e0227799. Published 2020 Jan 17. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0227799

Fancourt D, Aughterson H, Finn S, Walker E, Steptoe A. How leisure activities affect health: a narrative review and multi-level theoretical framework of mechanisms of action [published correction appears in Lancet Psychiatry. 2021 Apr;8(4):e12. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(21)00069-9].Lancet Psychiatry. 2021;8(4):329-339. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30384-9

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Active Hobbies#

Creative Hobbies#

Community-Based Hobbies#

Unexpected Hobbies#

Hobbies You Didn’t Know Were Hobbies#

City vs. Rural Hobbies#

Bottom Line#