116 Types of Hobbies: Discover Fulfilling Ways To Spend Your Time (2024)

If you’ve ever felt a pang of anxiety when a new coworker or friend asks you, “So, what are your hobbies?” you’re not alone. In this day and age, cultivating different types of hobbies can feel impossible to start and stick with when you’re locked up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life — especially if you’re juggling a busy job, kids, or other obligations. But they don’t have to be.

“Almost anything can become a hobby,” explains Kristin Papa, LCSW, licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and owner at Living Openhearted Therapy and Wellness. When seeking out hobbies, lean into your curiosity and interests, as “interests can often become the catalyst for hobbies,” Papa says, adding that “starting from a place of curiosity can potentially lead us to hobbies we want to more regularly incorporate into our daily lives.”

“Hobbies have multiple benefits since they allow us to intentionally incorporate leisure and variety into our lives, which can help us create more vitality."—Kristin Papa, LCSW, psychotherapist at Living Openhearted Therapy and Wellness

The benefits of having different types of hobbies can make a profound difference in your life quality and just regular enjoyment of day-to-day life. “Hobbies have multiple benefits since they allow us to intentionally incorporate leisure and variety into our lives, which can help us create more vitality,” Papa says. Just like how different personalities will be drawn to different types of hobbies (and like how each sign's best hobby will differ), discovering what hobbies work best for you is a fun process in and of itself.

And if you’re more of an introvert, consider yourself an indoor person, or don’t live in a big city where things like fancy run clubs exist, don’t worry. “The definition of a hobby is an activity done regularly in one’s leisure time for pleasure,” Papa explains, therefore, “independent of where you live or if you’re an introvert, you can start to pick up hobbies by first being curious about what you enjoy and start to incorporate activities related to your interests.” There are a ton of indoor hobbies for you too: like crocheting, collecting things, painting, and more.

For more on why hobbies are so important, the meaning behind the 5-hobby rule, as well as a list of 116 common hobbies to use as a starting-off point, and more, read on.

What is the 5 hobby rule?

“The 5 hobby rule is related to the five different categories that hobbies can fall into,” says Papa. These include “hobbies that 1.) can make you money, 2.) keep you active, 3.) help you be creative, 4.) build knowledge, and 5.) keep you social,” Papa explains. Having various types of hobbies across these categories can help you feel more balanced, as well as keep things exciting for you.

Benefits of hobbies

Beyond the above, Papa also adds that hobbies “can also help us combat loneliness, be physically active, as well as stave off boredom,” she adds.

And, when it comes to long-term benefits, different types of hobbies “can encourage us to create routines that can be beneficial for our health and well being,” as well as “help us be more active, socially engaged, and mindful, all of which can positively impact our mental health,” Papa explains.

Creative arts hobbies

1. Writing poetry

2. Painting

3. Watercolors

4. Acting in community theater

5. Writing a screenplay

6. Writing a play

7. Watching films

8. Writing stories or books

9. Filmmaking

10. Learning an instrument

11. Singing

Food and drink hobbies

12. Trying new restaurants (either through a food tour or just on your own)

13. Mixology

14. Getting into wine

15. Getting into whiskey

16. Getting into beer

17. Baking

18. Cooking

19. Canning or making preserves

20. Making your own wine or beer

21. Making your own cheese or dairy products

Gaming hobbies

22. Starting a board game night with friends and colleagues

23. Going to and joining an existing board game night in your community

24. Playing video games alone

25. Playing video games with friends or other multiplayers online

26. Playing card games

27. Playing simulation games like "The Sims"

28. Playing games on your phone like "Tetris" or "Candy Crush"

29. Playing tabletop games like "Dungeons & Dragons"

30. Miniature wargaming with models

31. Playing cozy games like "Stardew Valley" or "Animal Crossing"

32. Playing VR games

Indoor hobbies

33. Sudoku

34. Crossword puzzles

35. Jigsaw puzzles

36. Reading

37. Lego-building

38. Rock climbing in an indoor gym

39. Crafting (more on that below)

40. Drawing

41. Pottery

42. Sewing

Outdoor hobbies

43. Sailing

44. Hiking

45. Rock climbing outdoors

46. Gardening

47. Fishing

48. Kayaking

49. Surfing

50. Birding

51. Cycling outside

52. Landscaping

Technical hobbies

53. Podcasting

54. Remixing songs

55. DJing

56. Editing photos

57. Editing videos

58. Coding

59. Building computers

60. Animating

61. 3D printing

62. Flying drones

Physical hobbies

63. Yoga

64. Pilates

65. Running

66. Doing different boutique workout classes

67. Weightlifting

68. Dancing

69. Cycling

70. Playing tennis

71. Playing pickleball

72. Skateboarding

73. Rollerblading

74. Roller skating

75. Mountain biking

Animal-centered hobbies

76. Volunteering at an animal shelter

77. Dog walking

78. Cat sitting

79. Getting involved in your local dog show circuit

80. Keeping fish

81. Keeping hamsters, guinea pigs, or other rodents

82. Beekeeping

83. Keeping chickens

84. Keeping snakes

Crafting hobbies

85. Crocheting

86. Knitting

87. Embroidery

88. Quilting

89. Woodworking

90. Cross-stitching

91. Scrapbooking

92. Beadworking

93. Needle felting

94. Weaving

Travel hobbies

95. Backpacking

96. Road tripping

97. Going on cruises

98. Camping

99. Glamping

100. Urban exploring

101. Geocaching

102. Orienteering

103. Caving

Collection-related hobbies

104. Collecting stamps

105. Collecting rocks

106. Collecting shells

107. Collecting leaves and foliage

108. Collecting coins

109. Collecting fantasy trading cards

110. Collecting sports trading cards

111. Collecting autographs

112. Collecting action figures

113. Collecting toys

Other hobbies

If you’re looking for other types of hobbies in addition to the above, you might also be interested in spiritual hobbies, as life coach Jeanne Nangle suggests. These may include the following:

114. Journaling

115. Meditation

116. Spiritual grounding walks outside

How to decide what types of hobbies are right for you

To figure out where to start, sit quietly, listen to your mind and body, and then experiment—across several categories, ideally. Having hobbies across multiple or all of the categories can not only be fun, but can also contribute to keeping the mind, body, and spirit healthy and fulfilled, says life coach Kimberly Lucht. Think about your hobbies as you would a balanced nutrition plan. This isn't to say that you must have a hobby that satisfies each of the categories, of course, but it is a component to consider during your self check-in, because ultimately, a balanced slate of hobbies may help you feel generally fulfilled.

Think about what kind of fulfillment you may feel is missing and which type of associated hobby might be right for you. When you find something that makes you forget about time and get into a flow state, that's how you'll know that you are doing the kind of hobby that will fulfill you the most. "This feeling of timelessness helps your mind wash away any anxiety or mental debris that keeps your thoughts running in circles, so the more in flow something makes you feel, the better it is for your mental and physical state," Lucht says.

How to have hobbies, even if you have no time

Even if you don't have huge swaths of time to dedicate to a hobby—new or old—finding an enjoyable way to spend short windows is hugely important for your well-being. "You can't pour from an empty cup," says licensed clinical psychologist, Aimee Daramus, PsyD. "If you need to, look for a hobby that can be done in five minutes or less throughout the day."

That might mean doing a short workout video, one row of knitting, watching a five minute YouTube video instead of an hour-long documentary, or doing one quick lesson on a language app while waiting in line at the grocery store. It's important to find time to do something that "reminds you that you matter," she says.

Also keep in mind: what works for you now might not be what worked for you last year—and that's okay. So if you're not feeling drawn to your half-completed knitting project right now, give yourself a break. Hobby burnout is very real, and you shouldn’t feel bad about it. "It's okay to let it go for a while and let your intuition guide you back when you're ready," Lucht says. "Distance makes the heart grow fonder, even with your hobbies."