Having a hobby is a great way to express yourself, relieve stress, be creative, and spend your spare time doing something useful. Hobbies can be very rewarding and you may even be able to turn your talents into spare cash at some point, such as with crafting. Hobbies could be anything from home improvement, gardening, reading, writing, photography, various sports, various forms of exercise, to many other options. If you are trying to discover a new hobby but don’t know where to start looking, try some of these ways to find new hobbies.
1) Think About What Things Interest You
A great way to discover your new hobby is to just sit and think about what you enjoy. Do you have any interests in art, crafting, physical activity or sports? By choosing broad categories and breaking them into smaller ones, you can find the perfect hobby to fit your interest as well as your schedule.
Also, take cost into consideration when selecting a new hobby. For example, if you love the look and feel of hand knit afghans, have you ever considered making one yourself? Would this be something you might enjoy? Asking yourself what you like will many times lead you to your answer.
2) Do You Prefer An Indoor Or Outdoor Hobby?
Other ways to find new hobbies is to take into consideration if you would prefer an indoor or outdoor hobby. This might make a big difference in the type of hobby you choose. Are you looking for something you can do throughout the year, or something strictly seasonal?
For example, if you chose softball and wished to join a softball team in your area, you will be limited to participating in your hobby only during the spring and summer months during softball season. Or, you might choose a hobby that is versatile and can be done all year round, such as any type of strictly indoor hobby, or something such as rollerblading. Not only can you rollerblade outdoors during nice weather months, you can also rollerblade year round at an indoor skating facility.
3) Consider Turning Something You Really Need To Do Into a Hobby
Let’s say you just purchased a real “fixer-upper” home that needs a lot of tender loving care. By learning how to do the work yourself, not only can you save a ton of money, you can also discover a new hobby. Think of what a great accomplishment it could be to do the needed work yourself, while developing skills you never knew you had. Think of the satisfaction you will gain when your project is finished and you can say that you did it yourself.
4) Look For Inspiration In Everyday Places
The inspiration you need to help find a new hobby may literally be right in front of your face. If you happen to be sitting in the waiting room of a doctor’s office and happen to pick up the latest magazine to thumb through while you wait, your inspiration might be inside. Don’t overlook the obvious, because even a simple photograph in an ad might inspire you. For example, if you see a delicious new cake recipe, you might decide to take up baking. If you see a picture of the mountains in a car ad, you might decide to try mountain climbing as a new hobby.
5) Visit Your Local Library , Community Center, Or Park District
If you would like to keep your hobby local and possibly have the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends, consider stopping into your local community center, park district office, or library to find out about activities and programs happening in your area. Chances are you will find something that interests you and that may point you in the right direction of discovering your new hobby. You might find a ceramics class offered that interests you. This is not only great for finding your new hobby and possibly discovering a new talent, it also opens the doors for meeting new and interesting people, right in your own community.
6) Think Of A Hobby You Can Share With Others In Your Life
If including a family member, such as a spouse or child, is important to you when selecting your hobby, think of something you can do together. For example, if your son really wants to be involved in baseball, perhaps volunteer to be the coach for his team. This provides a hobby for both the parent and child, and allows for spending quality time together. Instead of taking away time with the family for a new hobby, this will allow them to share the hobby.
7) Think Of A Hobby That Might Earn You Some Extra Cash
We could all use a little extra money, whether it’s for paying bills or just to have a little extra to spend. There are many new hobbies to choose from that have the potential to bring in a little extra income. Many online sites provide work from home opportunities writing articles. If writing is your chosen hobby, looks for ways to turn it into income. Also, many websites exist that allow crafters to sell their handmade goods through their own shop. If online activity doesn’t appeal to you, think about making some type of craft or offering some type of service through your hobby that may be of interest to others in your community. For example, if you make handmade jewelry, rent a booth at a local craft fair and see what happens. Or, if you fix computers or electronics on the side, put the word out and you might be surprised at how many people will want you to take a look at one of their items. These are both terrific ways to make some extra cash, while still enjoying and participating in your new hobby.
8) Find A Hobby That Keeps Your Mind Sharp And/Or Hands Busy
A new hobby should be something a little more engaging than sitting for hours playing video games. It should engage you and teach you something, and allow you to keep learning or being challenged along the way. Some good choices might be fitness training, writing and publishing your own e-books, or competing in a sport of your choice. These are just a few examples of activities that you can always build upon, and ones that are good for the body or the mind, or both.
Ref: lifezap
