Everybody needs a hobby. Everybody needs a way to wind down and recharge from a hectic work day. It’s like recovering from a long workout or run: you need to properly rest and recharge to be better the next time.

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The process in how to find new hobbies is simple, but it isn’t easy. You have to find something that strikes the perfect balance between leisure and productivity.

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If you’re looking for how to find new hobbies, start here.

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The Key to How to Find New Hobbies

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Now it’s time to brainstorm on how to find new hobbies. For most of us, we’re only allowed a short window of free time to spend however we want. Time is of the essence, even for fun.

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Ask yourself, “What is one thing I’ve always wanted to do?”

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More often than not, our careers do not align with our passions or dream job. Finding a meaningful hobby is a perfect gateway to fulfilling that desire.  

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There’s no universal answer to that question. The only way to correctly answer it is to be honest with yourself and your interests. It doesn’t matter what it is: running, painting, drawing, reading, crocheting, knitting, gardening, or even using power tools.

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It could be something from your childhood that you wished you pursued more or that one weird community college class you always wanted to take but never did. The possibilities are endless.

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As long as you’re genuinely interested in it, you’re doing something right. That’s how to find new hobbies: go towards what interests you, no matter how niche or off-the-wall it sounds to other people (not too off-the-wall though).

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Don’t Overthink How to Find New Hobbies

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The biggest pitfall in how to find new hobbies is we can easily overthink it to death. Your time is indeed precious but you don’t want to spend the whole evening thinking about what you want to do.

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Your hobby doesn’t need to be elaborate unless you want it to be. Sometimes the perfect hobby is right in front of you.

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Cooking is a productive and fulfilling hobby. It’s a patience-testing, frustrating activity — especially for beginners, but the final product usually makes it worth it.

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Even if your dish is a soggy, inedible mess, you can take it as a learning experience as you become the best cook in your home (unless you live alone).

The simplest way to do something is usually the best and finding a hobby is no exception. Remember, hobbies are meant to be a meaningful break from the rhythm of everyday work life. It’s not supposed to stress you out, so don’t let the decision phase wear you out either.

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Don’t try to reinvent the wheel when choosing a new hobby, unless you are a wheel-building enthusiast.

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Go For The Unexpected

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A good rule of thumb on how to find new hobbies is to lean toward that passion you never got to pursue. Whatever it might be, it’s a good idea to stick with what you know and fulfill that childhood dream.

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That’s all well and good, but why not try something new? Something daring?

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Finding a hobby can be more than fulfilling something familiar. It can also be a way to learn something new and unexpected about yourself. Your hobbies say a lot about you, and venturing into the unknown builds character.

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Think outside the box when finding a hobby. Join that yoga group, go on that meditation retreat, join that improv class (interesting fact about improv: practicing improv can help you manage anxiety and creative thinking in uncertain situations).

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The easiest way to try “unexpected” hobbies is to simply try things out. If you’re not much of a sports person, go attend your local soccer team’s next game.

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Sporting events provide a unique communal experience that can bring strangers together for a brief time. The same can be said about going to the movies or concerts. You’re all sharing an experience together, even if you didn’t go together.

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Try new things, join a group, look for that unexpected niche that can fulfill you in wholly unexpected ways. Who knows — you might be a crocheting expert by the end of it.

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The Benefits of Having a Hobby

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There’s a reason why having a hobby is important. Not only is it a superb way to wisely spend your time, but it can also improve your physical and mental well-being.

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People with hobbies are less likely to suffer from stress, low, mood, and depression, according to the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.

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Group activities — like improv! — can improve your communication and relationships with others. This can help you in your personal relationships and even your career.

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Hobbies can also open up your mind to a literal world of new ideas. We’re talking about more than just the tangible world.

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A new hobby exposes you to new ways of thinking and lets you see things from a refreshing perspective. It can turn the mundane into the sacred.

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Though not everything in life has to be dazzling or spectacular, a new hobby can help you appreciate the simple things in life. It can help you be more grateful for the way things are, while still making you excited for what’s to come (that next crochet project).

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Conclusion

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Your time is precious. You can’t make time but you can definitely waste it. Spend the time you have doing what you love with a meaningful hobby.

It doesn’t matter what it is: joining an improv class, cooking, crocheting, learning an instrument, or even gardening.

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Even if you want to join a monster truck group, make sure you’re doing what’s meaningful to you. Go for that childhood dream, dive deep into the unknown, and you’ll come out of the other side more fulfilled and happier.

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