Have you set a resolution to try something new this year but don’t know where to start? Check out our list of twenty new hobbies to try this year!
Whether you’re looking to be more creative, work on your fitness or find a new life-long hobby, this list of new hobbies has something for you…
1.) Learn an Instrument
Learning to play an instrument is an excellent way to exercise your mind and creative skills at the same time!
Learning to play an instrument like the guitar or the harmonica is a great hobby and you can see improvements while practicing as little as 15 minutes a day.
Check out our list of “weird instruments” to try out something a little quirky 🙂
2.) Journaling
There are so many benefits to journaling that we cannot encourage it enough.
Whether you keep a diary, a gratitude journal or practice free writing; journaling is an incredibly beneficial hobby for everyone.
Check out our full article on journaling here for tips, resources and various journaling styles.
3.) Cooking
Cooking is an essential life skill, so you might as well get good at it!
Try out some new recipes, diets or regional dishes this year and expanded your cooking abilities. This is a great hobby to practice by yourself or with a loved one!
Looking to try some new recipes or cooking styles? Check out some of the awesome and life-changing cooking classes available from SkillShare here…
4.) Hiking
Looking to lose some holiday pounds this year and spend time in the great outdoors? Hiking is a great way to get your fitness on and enjoy some beautiful nature while you’re at it!
Lace up your hiking boots and hit the trail with a buddy when the weather is right.
Make sure to pack your hiking essentials and practice leave no trace principles while in the outdoors!
5.) Fly Drones
It seems that drones are all over the place these days, especially at popular tourist destinations. As drones gain more popularity worldwide, they are becoming increasingly affordable!
There are many different styles of drones, as well as laws and regulations that need to be followed. Be sure to do your research and due diligence before purchasing.
Check out some of the well-produced “flight school” drone video lessons available from Skydio here…
6.) Gardening
Gardening is a great hobby and may go hand in hand with your resolution to eat healthier.
What better way to eat healthy and feel accomplished than by eating fresh veggies that you grew in your own garden?
7.) Start a Blog or Youtube Channel
Do you have something to say? Are you passionate and educated about a subject and feel like sharing with the world?
In our increasingly digital world, starting a blog or youtube page is the best way to communicate with a large amount of people fairly simply.
Starting a Youtube page is pretty straight forward, but takes a bit of knowledge regarding video editing and uploading.
To start a blog, we recommend using Bluehost and WordPress, which is the platform we use for this website!
Check out our full article here for tips, resources and best practices when starting a blog…
8.) Read Books
In a world of cellphones, podcasts and screens, sitting down to read a good book can be a great reprieve.
Reading offers many benefits including reduced stress, gained knowledge and gives you conversations starters with friends and coworkers.
Head over to Goodreads.com and set a reading goal for this year, or keep it casual and kick back with a few of your favorite classics.
Dive into some essential reading and check out Amazon’s Top 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime here…
9.) Join a Board Game Group
Looking for a unique way to socialize in the new year? Join a board game group and make some new friends while having fun learning a new game.
We recommend checking our facebook groups or Meetup.com to find various board game groups in your area.
10.) Metal Detecting
What better way to spend your free time this year than by searching for treasures?
Comb the beach, a local park or even your own backyard; you never know what you might find.
Check out a few metal detectors available at various prices offered by Amazon here…
11.) Yoga
Limber up in the new year and join a yoga class in your community…
On a budget? There are a variety of introduction yoga videos available on Youtube to get started with for free!
We recommend starting slow and simple before working your way up to more difficult poses.
12.) Start Investing
Up your financial game in the New Year by investing in the stock market or with cryptocurrencies!
While the world of investing can seem intimidating from the outside, it does not have to be. Do your research and start off slowly, just like with anything else.
We recommend setting up an account with Robinhood to get started with commission-free investing right from your smartphone. They have a simple interface and you will receive a free stock when you sign up with our referral link here…
Note: This is not financial advice and we are not financial advisors. However, we do use Robinhood and have enjoyed their services and wouldn’t recommend it to you if we didn’t. 🙂
13.) Photography
Photography is a great hobby for people of all ages. We love photography because it can be incorporated into other hobbies like walking or birdwatching.
Headed out on a hike or into the city? Grab your camera and capture some beautiful images while you’re at it.
Make prints, share your images on Facebook or Instagram or simply save them on your computer for yourself to look back on.
14.) Learn a Language
Are you looking to challenge yourself this year?
Looking to gain a new skill that can improve your communication with the world?
Try learning a new language! You can take a community education class, join a language conversation group, or learn a variety of languages with online language platforms.
Learning a language is a great way to spend your free time and you can see improvement with just a small amount of practice daily.
15.) Meditate
Meditating has so many benefits for your mind, body and soul…
Meditating daily has been shown to reduce stress, increase focus and even lower blood pressure!
Take 10 minutes out of your day to sit and focus on your breath; you’ll be glad you did.
16.) Brew Beer or Kombucha
Craft beer has been surging in popularity lately, and many people are trying their hand at brewing their own beers at home!
The process isn’t as difficult as you might think and a basic brew kit can be purchased on Amazon for less than a hundred dollars.
Not into beer? Try brewing kombucha!
17.) Perform at an Open Mic
Performing at an open mic is a great way to get out there and share your skills with the world.
Whether you are into stand-up comedy, singing, playing guitar or performing poetry, there is certainly a community out there for you.
Check out OpenMikes.org to find open mics in your area.
Having trouble finding an open mic to perform at? Start your own!
Contact a local coffee shop or community space and see if they would be interested in allowing you to organize an open mic yourself.
18.) Virtual Reality
Did you know that you can get a virtual reality headset to use at home?
These headsets allow you to play interactive games and virtual experiences ranging from fighting games to deep sea whale watching.
Want to learn more about virtual reality? Check out our full post here…
19.) Flipping
With the rise of websites like Ebay, Poshmark and OfferUp, selling items online has never been easier.
Go to your local thrift store, a garage or estate sale or even browse craigslist to find items to sell!
This can be a nice little side hustle to earn extra cash and is a fun way to spend your free time.
20.) Volunteering
Why not spend your free time giving back this year?
You have something to offer the world and there are many avenues out there to do so.
Some volunteer activities are more involved than others, but there is likely a need in your community that you can fill!
Check out our full post about volunteering here for tips, resources and best practices.
