Let’s do something together. One quick breath in… and then out… Now, answer honestly—Are you a human being, or a human-doing? In a society hyper-obsessed with productivity and efficiency, and overly in-tuned with the lives of celebrities, influencers, and our Facebook frenemies, rather than our own, it’s rare that we really take time to truly be. Let alone, be ourselves, by ourselves.
Picking up a hobby can change that, and there are plenty of hobbies for women catering to every interest. To narrow down a concise yet diverse list, I reached out to some of my best female friends to ask what hobbies they’ve immersed themselves in over the last few years. But first, let’s touch on why you should look for hobbies to pick up.
Benefits To Hobby-ing
Cultivating new passions is remarkably beneficial for our physical and mental wellbeing. Indeed, stepping away from the daily grind and into a past time is shown to decrease blood pressure, cortisol (the stress hormone), waist circumference, body mass index, and even foster healthier personal views. [1]
Incredibly, passionate hobbies can even reduce negative dispositions and increase positivity and general interest levels, and are proven to reduce heart rates. [2] Those are the facts. Now, let’s dive into the fun part—nine awesome hobbies to pick up in your spare time.
Hobbies To Pick Up (or try, at least once)
1. Become a swap-ista
On average, we’re exposed to 5,000 different advertisements every day! Most encourage us to buy brand new stuff, but breathing new life into previously loved items can be just as rewarding as retail therapy. Try seeking out swap groups or buy-nothing groups in your local area. It’s a great way to get free items you almost paid way too much for, or swap for things you can use for other hobbies to do at home.
Pro tip: Search “[Your Town] Buy Nothing Group” on Facebook for vetted and established swap groups in your community.
2. Plant parenting
Easily the one of most rewarding hobbies to pick up, especially when self-isolating during Coronavirus. From nurseries, to plant-swap apps, there’s no shortage of places to find indoor and outdoor plants to really grow a new interest. (Pun intended.) For indoor plants, start with something easy, like pothos, philodendrons, or money trees. Interested in starting a vegetable garden? Kale, chard, and leafy greens are go-to’s anyone can grow.
Pro tip: I found cucumber seedlings for free on the Blossm app, and a free trellis to grow them on in my local Buy Nothing Facebook group.
3. Get the picture
Photography is a skill everyone can excel at. What’s more, photography helps you develop an eye for composition. Investing in an entry-level DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera can seem intimidating at first, but there are plenty of forums and free guides to get you started. If not, you can always use your trusty smartphone camera to get started! Oh—and lockdown is NO excuse for not finding a place to point your lens. Case in point: Denver, CO’s own Kristen Lewis, turns everyday moments around the home into captivating frozen stories.
4. Get strung out
Guitar and ukulele are two great hobbies to pick up at any point in your life. Progression comes steadily, and there’s nothing like finally strumming all the way through your favorite Bruce Springsteen song or the always uplifting “Over The Rainbow” by Hawaii’s most famous ukulele musician, Iz Kamakawiwoʻole.
5. Hammer away
You don’t have to be a carpenter (or own vintage flannel) to get into woodworking. With just a few easy-to-find tools, you can craft impressive, beautiful, and functional decor and furniture. Pinterest is exceptional for finding inspiration, and your local hardware store is a great place to turn for tools, lumber, and guidance.
Pro tip: Start with something simple like an end table. Or, a window planter for your new gardening hobby. 😉
6. Just beer yourself
Are you a malt maiden or hop head? Try brewing your own beer, which you can do in your kitchen. Think brewing is a “guy thing”? Think again! Women were the original brewsters, producing beer in their communities as early as 4,500 years in ancient Egypt, and well through the founding of America! [3] Why not break down another gender stereotype and brew up something that puts your hubby’s stock of Bud Lite to shame!?
Not a beer fan? Try homemade wine! You can make a delicious “kitchen sink cab” in just a few weeks.. 🍷
7. Start journaling
While there are countless hobbies for women to pick up, few of the hobbies to do at home are as beneficial to your mental and emotional wellbeing as journaling. Aim for a page per day of your thoughts and intentions; explore anxieties, personal dilemmas, moments of excitement, ambitions, and more. Journaling is a great way to work yourself out of mental hebetude (a good journaling word for “stuckness)” and keep your goals on track.
8. Get lit!
Candles, ladies. I mean making candles. In fact, candle making is an increasingly popular hobby-turned-side-gig for many women, evident by an abundance of Etsy shops. Most craft stores carry the basic materials. From there, you can quickly learn to make personalized candles with totally unique fragrances, colors, and styles. My friend Sarah has a successful side-hustle selling aromatic candles online, and gives some as gifts during the holidays!
9. Something to meditate on
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be a guru, yogi, or ascitic to get into, and get a lot out of, meditation. While some forms of meditation can occupy long swaths of time (though often passing in the blink of an eye), other forms, such as Kelee meditation, can be done in minutes, with lasting anti-stress benefits. If you’re new to meditation, check out Meditation For Beginners.
Pro Tip: If getting into meditation seems difficult, try sipping on ZzzTox tea, a natural stress-reliever that helps balance your mind and body and helps you slip into a restorative meditation practice.
Final Thoughts
Endless activities await those who seek them. Ultimately, getting into something rewarding is all that matters. We really only touched on unique hobbies to do at home, but there are dozens (and dozens and dozens) of hobbies for women that go beyond the briefly trending (but still worthwhile) past times of knitting and bread baking which have become popular during the stay-at-home order. Of all the hobbies to pick up, those bringing you the most joy are worth considering turning into passions for life.
Happy Hobbying!