Written by: Regina Thomas
Maybe it’s an hour here or a day there, regardless, free time often sneaks upon us and we suddenly find ourselves with nothing to do. Even if you are swimming in days with nothing to do, it’s important to have hobbies that help you relax and unwind at the end of a busy day. The trick is finding one that’s right for you.
Explore Your Options
The best part about finding a hobby is that there are countless options, which means you shouldn’t be discouraged if the first one doesn’t stick. Keep trying and you’ll be sure to find one that’s just right for you. Remember that there is no right or wrong hobby, only what’s right or wrong for you. You can look at what others around you do for fun, but don’t feel pressured to mimic or one-up them. Embrace your own style.
The first step is to figure out that style and what will best suit your circumstances. Are you looking for a way to fill time or a way to relax? What is your current job or what do you naturally spend the most time doing? Do you live in an apartment, a house, or a complex? Your answers will shape how to pick the best hobby for your time and situation. If you have empty space in your house or apartment, collecting could be an exciting and workable hobby. In fact, you can even find great ways to store items from bottlecaps to postcards through sites like Hobbymaster. Collecting is also a great way to store memories if you travel frequently. Choose one item, like a keychain, and collect one from every city or country you travel to. When you’re home, you can display them all and enjoy the fond memories of your trips every time you see them.
Maybe you’re not a traveler and are looking for something more active than a display. The next step is to dive deep into your random passions: have you always wanted to learn how to juggle? Cut a deck of cards with one hand? Bake the perfect soufflé? Now is the time to embrace every random skill you never had time for before. Pick something you want to learn and try making that become a weekly or even daily routine.
Branch Out of Your Comfort Zone
Hobbies don’t have to happen at home. If you prefer to be out and about, or just need a bit of time away from the house, look around your area to see if there is anything that catches your eye. Going bowling, golfing, playing tennis, or reading through a shelf at the library are all unique and fun hobbies that can fill your time and help you unwind. Get creative with this; visit every park in a twenty-mile radius, or try out every coffee shop in town.
What if nothing seems to work? Keep trying. Becoming a hobby master involves exploring your options and find ways to make them work for you. If random activities just don’t click, focus on what you like doing. Maybe it’s watching baseball; try collecting baseball cards. Maybe it’s baking; try finding new or old-fashioned recipes, or coming up with some of your own. If you love music, invest in an instrument or concert tickets, whichever one suits your interests and needs best.
Have Fun With It
The important thing with hobbies is that you have fun. Whatever you choose to do should spark joy and be something you look forward to at the end of a long day. It’s also important to remember that hobbies can change. What you enjoyed doing ten years ago, five years ago, even just last week may shift and that’s okay. Embrace the wide range of possibilities by not limiting yourself to the same hobby year after year. Try out new adventures and activities, whether it be watching TED talks, or finding rare matchbox covers.
Translate your interests and passions into hobbies. Have fun with finding a hobby, and then have fun doing it. Your hobbies do not define you, so don’t be stressed about finding the “perfect” one. Find one that you enjoy and that feels right, and don’t be afraid to branch out!
