List of Hobbies {The Ultimate List of 1000+ Hobbies to Try}

Looking for a new hobby? This is the ultimate list with over 1000+ hobbies to consider (updated May 2023)!

Whether you’re looking for a hobby for fun, to beat boredom, or to become a more well-rounded person, this list is for you!

(GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment with a hobby you love or want to try! One winner a month will be chosen to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card to help you fund your hobbies!!)

If you are here, you are probably looking for a new hobby to try and that is fantastic!

I, personally, have many hobbies, ranging from creative hobbies (watercolors and crafting), to active hobbies (barre and pilates) and mental/spiritual hobbies (yoga and reading).

Hobbies have enriched my life, made me happier, and helped me become an interesting, well-rounded person.

So, first, I applaud you for taking this first step towards adding an exciting new hobby to your life!

I’ll very quickly go over a few definitions and ideas about hobbies and why they’re so good for you, then I’ll get into our inclusive, exhaustive list of hobbies!

Let’s get started…

Table of Contents

Here’s my best definition of a hobby: A hobby is a regular activity done for enjoyment, typically during one’s free time. Hobbies are usually not done professionally (or for payment).

Hobbies vary greatly, and can include active hobbies, mental hobbies, and creative pursuits.

When you have a hobby, this naturally leads you to acquiring skills and knowledge in your chosen area, as well as understanding the importance of time and spending it well. A hobby is active, instead of passive.

For this reason, I don’t tend to consider watching TV, for example, a true hobby.

There are so many great examples of hobbies! It just really depends on your interests and how much time you have to dedicate to your new hobby.

We’ll share lots of hobbies examples here, but also don’t be afraid to ask others about their favorite hobbies. You may even find a friend to take up a hobby with (a great way to get some accountability)!

If we’re looking at the most popular examples of hobbies, and ones you may be most familiar with, I’d say some good examples of hobbies are: running, yoga, doing puzzles, reading, and cooking!

Obviously, there are many, many more examples of hobbies, and we will list a bunch of them throughout this post!

There are just so, so many advantages of having one or more hobbies!

Here are just a few…

There are various types of hobbies out there, and everyone will probably have a category or two that they enjoy best.

For the purposes of this list, I am focusing on 8 different categories, or hobbies types: physical hobbies/active hobbies, creative and diy craft hobbies, mental hobbies, musical hobbies, collecting hobbies, food/drink hobbies, games/puzzles hobbies, and model/woodworking hobbies.

You can challenge yourself to try one of each type of hobby as a fun personal or family new years resolution.

So let’s begin.

I’m going to start by listing hobbies by category, and then I’ll share lists of hobbies depending on your personality or desires (for example, hobbies to do alone).

Links will take you either to posts that share more about that hobby, or Amazon finds that will help you kick off your new hobby!

Physical hobbies include sports and other interests that encourage you to move your body.

They’re good for your physical, mental, and social well being. You can do some of these yourself, or join local club teams or Facebook groups to meet up with others.

Best of all, you don’t have to be a good athlete to try one of these! The point is to have fun, stay active, and improve on your skill set. That’s it!

Here are some favorite physical hobbies to try…

Creative hobbies include any sort of art hobbies and diy crafts. It’s the focus of this blog, and many others like it.

I’ll link both to examples on this blog or easy ways to get started if you’d like to take up the hobby for yourself!

These creative hobbies are perfect for self-care and to do alone, but you can also find plenty of community and support around many of these hobbies.

If there’s one you’re interested in, you can also check online or your local recreation center for classes or tips.

If you really get into your hobby, it would also probably make a GREAT potential career! Consider a blog or You Tube channel to help turn your hobby into a money-making career.

Here are some of my favorite creative hobby ideas for you to try…

Hobbies that fall into this category are great brain boosters!

They may make you smarter, and may even help stave off declining mental function.

Most of these can be done alone, but some lend themselves well to community (such as learning a new language by taking a class, or traveling with a group of friends).

Mental hobbies also look great on a resume. They help make you a smarter, more well-rounded person-and what interviewer doesn’t want that?

Here are some favorite mental hobbies….

And while blogging is considered a hobby by many (see how to get into amateur blogging), it can also be a career! Read my Mediavine Review and Requirements to see how I made it happen.

Musical hobbies are so popular and for good reason! They’re perfect for stress relief, building community, and learning a new skill.

Musical hobbies are not my personal forte, but I’d love to pick one to get better at and gain proficiency in!

If you’re interested in a musical hobby, here are some great places to start…

Collecting an item or category of items is a fun, low-pressure hobby that you can do slowly without a lot of pressure.

If you add an element of learning about and cataloging the items you’re collecting, you’re turning your hobby into a wonderful brain-enhancing activity, too!

I have several collections, and not only are they a source of joy, it can help make it easier for friends and family to give you gifts!

Here are some collecting hobbies that you may want to try….

This is one of my favorite categories of hobbies!

Food and drink hobbies can be done alone, but also work well as a hobby where you can meet other people.

A list of hobbies isn’t complete without a section on games and puzzles!

Games and puzzles are a form of hobbies that are perfect for the colder fall/winter months.

Do these online, at home with your family, or with friends for a hobby that can be modified depending on whether you want to practice self-care or make friends and meet new people!

Here are some games/puzzles hobbies to try out…

So many people love making things with their hands.

It’s often hard work, but it can be so satisfying to see the end result.

Once you are proficient, these are also great items to sell on places like Etsy, eBay, or at craft fairs.

Here are some model/woodworking hobbies to try out….

Wondering about the top 10 most common hobbies? These are the most popular hobbies for people of all ages.

These hobbies are popular for a reason! They’re easy to take up, inexpensive, and versatile!

If you’re just beginning your hobby journey, try one of these…

This is a bit tricky because if it’s a hobby, it generally means that you’re not making money from it.

However, very often, when you put a lot of time into a hobby and become proficient at it, your thoughts may naturally turn to how you can make a profit from your hobby.

If this is you, and you’re looking for a list of hobbies that you can hopefully one day turn into a money making side hustle, start here…

Places you can sell your products include Etsy, Amazon, eBay, Society6, and craft shows/fairs.

I’ve sold on Etsy for a decade now, and it’s been such an enriching and challenging experience. I even created a list of crafts to make and sell on Etsy if you’re looking for even more online selling inspiration.

Obviously, there are no gender specific hobbies.

Anybody can learn and participate in any hobby they choose.

However, some people may be interested in a hobby that would allow them to make some friends and build community with other women.

If you’re looking for a hobby that is predominately enjoyed by women, try this list:

Once again, anyone can learn and participate in any hobby they like!

If, however, you want a list of hobbies that is predominately male-oriented, try these:

Especially as the weather cools down, we are looking for hobbies we can do indoors.

While outdoor hobbies have their benefits, indoor hobbies can be done all year round, day or night, no matter the weather.

These are my favorite hobbies to do indoors…

Likewise, sometimes you want to participate in a hobby with others, and sometimes you just want to do something alone.

Hobbies that you can do alone make for great self-care time!

Here are some of my picks for hobbies to do alone…

Interesting people often have interesting hobbies!

What makes a hobby interesting? Usually, interesting hobbies go beyond the ordinary and usually entail lots of follow-up questions!

If you’ve ever heard someone share a hobby and thought “Oh neat, tell me more!”, chances are, you just had your interest piqued!

Here are some interesting hobbies to make you more memorable and intriguing!

Sometimes, we’re in the mood for a hobby that is an investment or takes a lot of time and/or skill.

A lot of the time, though, we just want an easy hobby that we can pick up quickly, doesn’t require a huge time or monetary investment, and needs minimal supplies.

That’s where this list of easy hobbies comes in!

Choose one to get started on your new hobby today!

see our best books on painting for a fun hobby!

Obviously, something that is fun for one person very well may not be fun for another.

BUT, there are definitely some hobbies that lend themselves to enjoyment more than others.

Here are some of the most fun and enjoyable hobbies:

Do you detect a pattern?

From what I can tell, hobbies that are social in nature and include other people are often the most enjoyable.

Whether it’s a bunko group, a book club, a cooking class or a team sport, doing a hobby with one or more people can be fun and inspiring!

Quite understandably, people often want to know what hobbies would look best on a resume or cover letter.

The best answer I can give you to this is to be true to yourself!

If you are passionate and curious about a hobby, this will show through in an interview if you are asked about your hobby.

In short, having an interest in varied hobbies (2-4) can help make you look interesting, curious and ambitious.

If you are interested in activities for introverts, you may want to consider a new hobby!

Hobbies for extroverts and introverts have many overlaps, but if you are looking for a introvert-specific hobby, consider one of these…

A popular school of thought says you need five hobbies to maximize your potential and self-development.

Use this list as a starting point for the five hobbies you need, but feel free to switch up based on your own needs and interests.

-A hobby to help make you money. Hobbies that help you make money can be a great addition to (or be in place of) a day job. These hobbies can include: making and selling crafts on Etsy or at craft fairs, blogging, selling on eBay, or offering a service such as dog walking.

-A hobby to help you socialize. Being social is so important to human beings to help stave off loneliness. Why not have a hobby to help maintain those social bonds? Hobbies that help you socialize can include club sports, taking an art class, or joining a book club!

-A hobby to help you stay creative. There are so many ideas out there for hobbies to help you stay creative! Consider one of the following: painting, drawing, sculpting, drawing, writing or crafting!

-A hobby that helps you build your knowledge. Knowledge-building hobbies help make us well rounded. These hobbies can include going to museums, watching documentaries, or doing crossword puzzles.

-A hobby that helps keep you in shape. Fitness hobbies can do double duty in that they can also be social! Consider hobbies such as yoga, tennis, walking or weight training!

Looking for a fun quote to help inspire your hobby journey?

Here are 10 of my favorite quotes on hobbies:

-“I don’t have time for hobbies. At the end of the day, I treat my job as a hobby. It’s something I love doing.” David Beckham

-“A hobby a day keeps the doldrums away.” Phyllis McGinley

–“If something happened where I couldn’t write music anymore, it would kill me. It’s not just a job. It’s not just a hobby. It’s why I get up in the morning.” Hans Zimmer

-“The art of bread making can become a consuming hobby, and no matter how often and how many kinds of bread one has made, there always seems to be something new to learn.” Julia Child

-“Today is life-the only life you are sure of. Make the most of today. Get interested in something. Shake yourself awake. Develop a hobby. Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you. Live today with gusto.” Dale Carnegie

-“We were told not to turn our hobby into our job, but to turn our job into our hobby. As kids, we were told not to pursue our dreams!” Khalid

-“I think fashion is a lot of fun. I love clothes. More than fashion or brand labels, I love design. I love the thought that people put into clothes. I love when clothes make cultural statements and I think personal style is really cool. I also freely recognize that fashion should be a hobby.” Anne Hathaway

-“You don’t get stressed if you think your job as a hobby, not as a duty.” Henry Lau

-“When my YouTube videos started to get really big, I was like, ‘Man, this is pretty sweet.’ It started as my hobby, and then I started traveling and learning how to play different instruments, and then it just kind of became my life.” Austin Mahone

-“I think the best way to find out about something is to try to do it to the max. A lot of people take up a hobby or sport and then find an excuse not to carry on with it. Once I start something, I won’t stop until I’m as good at it as I’ll ever be.” Bruce Dickinson

I really hope this list of hobbies gave you some inspiration for the next time you feel bored and want to learn something new!

GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment with a hobby you love or want to try! One winner a month will be chosen to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card to help you fund your hobbies!!

I’d love to know: what new hobby would you like to take up?

Thanks so much for reading all about our List of Hobbies {The Ultimate List of 1000+ Hobbies to Try}.

Have a lovely, hobby-filled day!