25 Hobbies You Can Start at Home Today
When I was younger I had so many hobbies but as I grew up, slowly but surely, I stopped doing them. I didn’t necessarily lose interest in them, I just simply got busy with school, work, hanging out with friends…basically adulthood. Now that I have this blog and work from home, I spend more time in my apartment and have so much more time for myself — gotta love cutting out that transportation time! Instead of scrolling through my phone with that free time, I’ve decided to start revisiting the hobbies that used to bring me so much joy and discover new ones. If you’re like me, and looking for ways to break the cycle of work, scroll, sleep, repeat then check out these 25 hobbies you can start as soon as you power down your computer at home today.
*This post may contain affiliate links that I receive a small commission from, at no cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely love. Please see my full Disclosure policy for any questions. I always appreciate any support to keep this site running!
Thank you!*
Benefits of Having a Hobby
The world we live in has never moved faster than it does today and, usually, I’d say that’s a great thing. However, it also means that we’re forgetting to take time to slow down and care for ourselves. Hobbies are great for the soul along with your physical and mental health. Hobbies can boost creativity and help you connect with who we really are along with minimize stress, improve your mood, inspire you to develop new skills and just have fun!
Studies have shown that hobbies can combat feelings of boredom and loneliness, provide a sense of accomplishment, stimulate and enhance cognitive function, contribute to overall better health and sleep and boost self-esteem and overall happiness. Stop mindlessly scrolling social media and find the new hobby that will bring you joy and might even help you find new friends that share the same love for your new hobby as you!
25 Hobbies You Can Start At Home Today
1. Create Homemade Soaps & Body Scrubs
Soaps and body scrubs are a necessity in every girl’s body care collection and you can never have too many. Try making your own with a Goat’s Milk Soap kit or coffee body scrub. You probably have most of the ingredients in your house already (coffee, brown sugar, coconut oil or almond oil). Look up a few how-to-videos and start making some body loving mixtures.
2. Make Your Own Candles
I almost always have a candle going. Whether I’m working at my desk, relaxing on my couch, winding down for bed, you name it, I am setting the mood with a candle. This also means I’m literally setting a whole bunch of my money on fire. Since I refuse to give up one of my favorite soothing yet expensive indulgences, I’m learning to make my own and save a ton of money — plus know exactly what’s going into them. Many candles nowadays are filled with toxins that affect our allergies, animals, even cause cancer. If you start making your own you can eliminate those dangers, save $30+ every time you feel the need to add a new candle to your home and even find a new skill that can let you start a side business and send friends and family a handmade gift for holidays, birthdays, special occasions or just because you feel like sharing!
ColorScience has my absolute favorite candle oils! They’re non-toxic and fill a room so much better than most candles I’ve ever purchased.
Whenever I need more wax or candle oils I always visit CandleScience’s site. They’ve got the best waxes—all non-toxic, longer lasting and easier cleanup once you finish your candle—and a wide variety of scents to choose from for a great price. Here’s some of the scents that I’m always repurchasing. A little goes a long way so if you spend $10 on a 4 ounce fragrance oil that’s enough for you to make 8-10 candles. I can’t wait for my Cashmere Pumpkin and Christmas Hearth oils to arrive so I can make a bunch of Fall & Christmas candles!
3. Paint
Channel your inner Picasso and start painting a masterpiece…or let the paint by numbers guide you to success like I do. I wish I could create a beautiful painting on my own but my stick figure paintings even look disfigured so I’m pretty sure I’ll be a Paint by Numbers girl for life but that doesn’t make it any less fun or rewarding when I see my creations framed on my walls. Set up your own painting station with an easel and stool on the patio to enjoy the outdoors while you paint, use a small one on your coffee table or lay it flat on your dining room table and enjoy the process after a long day of work.
4. Start Growing a Plant Collection
Growing a garden or turning your home into a gorgeous mini jungle can be such a rewarding hobby. Be careful though, it’s addictive! I used to be the girl every plant wished it never met and now I’m in full plant mama mode and constantly looking for new additions that just want a good home. Seriously, I treat nurseries like the pound and just want to save every green baby I can. You can cleanse the air in your home, add living decor to every room and enjoy caring for your eden right now. If you’re new to the plant world, start with plants that are easy to care for: Snake Plant (seriously I’m convinced they’re incapable of death), Pothos, ZZ Plant, Spider Plant, Prayer Plant, Ponytail Palm. I use the PictureThis Plant App for everything I grow indoors and outdoors. Without that app I swear my plants probably would’ve lasted a week — maybe two. You can figure out what plants will be happiest in your home with this app, set reminders so they never go without a drink and diagnose any issues they may be having along with how to treat them.
5. Get Lost in a Puzzle
There’s something so therapeutic about getting lost in a puzzle! A friend of mine and I are big puzzle fans and we love getting into competitions about who can complete their monthly puzzle first. Some of them have been so beautiful that I seriously think about framing them. They can feel a little overwhelming but if you treat them as a fun way to unwind after work you can spend a few days or weeks even for the really big ones to sit down with a glass of wine and put your gorgeous puzzle together.
6. Coloring
Remember when you were a kid and you’d lose hours in a Lisa Frank coloring book? Those were the good days and we took them for granted. It’s so freeing to sit down with a coloring book and feel the stress of the day melt away with every colorful stroke. Thankfully, the world knew adults wanted some of their childhood back so you can find a coloring book for just about every request.
I just got this book and so ready to start reading it for pumpkin season but a coloring book, too?! Yes, please!
7. Practice Calligraphy
Sending thank you notes, happy birthday and holiday cards is something I always like to do for my friends and family. It’s such a great way to make someone feel appreciated and it seems like a gesture that’s going out of style, but not for me. When I send them out, I want them to have the most beautiful handwriting so I started practicing calligraphy. It transformed my daily handwriting style as well which makes my planner look even more amazing.
8. Learn to Code
I know I said we were looking for hobbies that kept us off our phones and computers, but I’m willing to make some exceptions. The world we live in is obviously very technology driven and it’s increasing every year. Taking up a hobby that also provides you with a desirable skill is one of the best things you can do for your career and future. As a true millennial, I come from the Myspace era and my page was my baby! I had no idea at the time but I was learning to code and I got good at it…like, really good. I always had to have the best backgrounds —and no, I don’t mean the most trending one offered—that one no one else could get without knowing how to deeply edit on the backend. My song was always hidden. I had a top 16 before they started letting you add more friends there. You name it, I could edit it.
Now that I run a blog and see how digital the world around us is becoming, I’ve realized just how valuable that knowledge was. Thankfully, it’s one of those things you can easily remember once you start again, just like riding a bike. If you didn’t spend your teen years curating the coolest website you can still learn to be a coding pro. There are tons of online courses that can teach you to code for FREE! CodeAcademy and SheCodes are two of the best I recommend.
9. Start Making Your Own Pottery
Did you also watch the famous Ghost scene and wish you had a throwing wheel like Demi Moore? Same here!…please let that wheel come with a man like Patrick Swayze. A neighbor of mine makes all her own planter pots and there’s pottery items all over her house that I imagine would cost hundreds, but she makes them all in her spare room. Starting a pottery hobby can let you create anything you like. If you feel like you need a creative outlet this could be the best one to get your hands dirty.
10. Take Up Photography
Do you have an old camera that’s been tucked away in your spare closet for years? It may be time to bring it back to life. Before iPhones became everyone’s go-to camera I had my lovely Nikon and Sony digital cameras but I’ve also upped my game and added a new DSLR camera to my collection. I bought it for work purposes but I don’t see why I shouldn’t enjoy using it for a new hobby. The quality of the photos compared to your phone is truly amazing but there’s a lot happening on these cameras that we don’t understand at all. Auto Mode is easy, but how about learning more about your camera to see what you’re capable of capturing.
If you don’t have a camera but really want to dive in with a fantastic piece you’ll have forever, this Sony a7 III is a perfect choice. It’s a big ticket item but you won’t regret it.
11. Learn to Play an Instrument
Ever wished you could play the guitar or piano? Drums? Basically anything other than that horrible recorder your elementary school sent you home with to make your parents miserable? Now is the perfect time to get yourself an instrument and start learning to play. You can hire a professional to teach you but do not sleep on YouTube free videos. The one good thing about living in the age of technology: you can find a free video for just about everything you could ever want to learn.
12. Start Learning a New Language
We’re living a more connected world than ever before and with that comes the opportunity to meet people from all over the world. Growing up in Florida, I learned Spanish in school and then learned all the bad words on the street. It’s come in handy pretty often, especially when I was traveling in Spain, but since moving to Nashville I haven’t had as much opportunity to hear and use it. There’s a lot of Arabic spoken around me though so I decided to start using Duolingo to begin learning it. That quickly spiraled into adding French, Italian, Portuguese, Polish and about 15 other languages. I’m a polyglot nut now thanks to Duolingo.
It’s taught to you like in a game format to earn points, making it feel like you’re not taking a difficult course. You can learn online or through their app, allowing you to take it with you everywhere. Make it a daily habit and see how quickly you feel confident speaking in another language and craving a trip abroad to utilize your new skills.
13. Transform Your Old Furniture
A DIY Project is always a fun idea! You can turn your old dresser into a custom piece by painting it a new color, applying wallpaper, switching out the handles for fresh new ones to change its vibe. How about your coffee table? Does it need a facelift? Maybe you have a vision for your home but haven’t found the right piece yet. Check out your local Goodwill or thrift store and don’t write off the furniture that looks old and worthless. If it’s sturdy and doesn’t have any structural issues, you can take it home for a great price and then turn it into a gorgeous addition to your home once you show it love.
Pexels | Photo by Zehra Yılmaz
14. Learn to Cook Like a Chef
It’s understandable that after a long day of work you just want to unwind and heat up something quick and easy or order DoorDash, but what if you decided to hone your cooking skills instead? Cooking can be intimidating but it can also be so much fun. YouTube is a wonderful place to follow along with cooking channels step-by-step. It’s where I first started before moving on to cookbooks. Now, I feel confident and excited to step into my kitchen and whip up new delicious recipes.
15. Begin Writing
Have you been thinking about writing a book or even just wanting to start writing for fun? It could be the new hobby you never knew you needed. Journaling is something I love to do each morning and night and then I write this blog each day, but I haven’t done creative writing since high school. I may never release a book or write the next great novel but letting your mind really go wild and create a whole new world rather than simply writing about your day and how you’re feeling is a great new hobby to take up.
16. Learn to Crochet and Sew
My grandmother and great Aunt used to crochet and sew countless outfits for me growing up. I still have my favorite chunky blanket my great Aunt Peggy made for me over 20 years ago and all her homemade Christmas ornaments; adorable outfits I wore as a child that I plan to hand down to my own children one day, Irish lace table cloths and more from my grandma. I didn’t realize at the time just how valuable those pieces would be but as I’ve grown, they’ve become some of my most sentimental keep-sakes. I wish I’d paid more attention to their craft before they passed! If you also want to make your own blankets, scarves, ornaments, gloves, pillows—the possibilities are endless—then crochet, knitting or sewing may be the right hobby for you!
17. Create Dreamy Floral Arrangements
Floral arranging is so much fun and meant for more than just wedding planners and Upper East Siders. Having fresh flowers in my home always brings me joy and I’ve become a frequent flower girlie at my local Trader Joe’s. You’d be amazed at the prices you can find there for your plants and fresh cut flowers! Starting this hobby can make your home look amazing and make you the go-to person for all your friends’ birthdays, dinner parties and events to create beautiful bouquets.
18. Discover a New Workout
Fitting in a workout can be a tough part of the day with your hectic schedule but you can save time by testing out different ones from your own home. I’m a huge fan of pilates and I absolutely loved going to my Club Pilates classes but it was a little tough getting into a class when I had so many moving pieces to each day. I got myself a foldable pilates reformer and subscribed to Pilates Project for $30 a month (way less than I was spending on a studio membership) and now I can follow professional workouts right in my bedroom whenever I want. If you’ve been considering Barre, now is the time to grab an exercise ballet barre or even a chair in your home to see if it’s for you. Barre Definition with Action Jacquelyn is my favorite barre app and only costs about $100 a year (again, saving a ton of money compared to going into a studio). Yoga is also a wonderful workout that not only helps you achieve your fitness goals but provides a space for release and calming your mind after a long day. There’s so many free workouts on YouTube and if you have an Apple Watch you most likely have a Fitness+ subscription you didn’t know about. Search through the app and see what jumps out at you: HIIT, dance, kickboxing, strength, yoga, pilates, barre, the sky’s the limit. You may think you don’t like working out, but maybe you just haven’t found the workout that brings you joy.
19. Learn to Do Your Own Salon-Worthy Nails
Going to the salon for a mani/pedi is a wonderful way to treat yourself but it’s also an easy way to spend $150+ a month. Then there’s the chance that you’ll show up for a self care day and find that your favorite salon has closed. Start practicing doing your own nails while you kick back on the couch and before you know it, you’ll be impressing yourself with your designs or proud of that gorgeous ombré French mani you did all on your own. I’ve noticed my nail health has improved significantly with non-toxic polishes and builder gels. Don’t be like me and regrow a nail because they were weakened by acrylics and harsh polishes (it’s a long and unhappy 9 months…save yourself and your nails)!
This is the polish my favorite non-toxic salon — Paint Nail Bar — uses and I can’t say enough good things about it! I’ve been using it for 5 years and I always have my nails done; never once have my nails suffered from the use.
20. Become a Mixologist
Become your own bartender and create new, delicious drinks at home! Even if you don’t drink alcohol you can start making mocktails to discover fun & fruity drinks without sacrificing your sobriety. Call your girlfriends over, whip out your aesthetic glassware, slice up some fruit and herbs, turn on your Spotify playlist and get to mixing!
21. Create Beautiful Baked Goods
Do you get lost watching the Great British Baking Show or Is It Cake? and wish you could craft edible flowers, cakes and tarts as breathtaking as the contestants? They all used to be just like you: a beginner who never picked up a spatula. Every pro was a newbie once. If they can do it, so can you. Baking is a fun hobby that comes with edible goodies at the end. How can you say no to that?! Start building your baking and cake decorating supply kit and try a new recipe each week. If you make too much to eat on your own, don’t worry, you’ll have extremely happy neighbors looking forward to your next creation.
Photo by Pexels: winding knob
22. Dive Into Your Reading List
A relaxing and calming hobby you can do from home, or anywhere really, is diving into a good book. I used to be the kid who wouldn’t go anywhere without a book and somewhere along the way it became a task I struggled to fit into my day — or month sometimes. I’ve gotten better about making time for reading before bed and checking out self development books but I used to love forgetting the world around me and letting the pages in front of me come to life. Find or create a comfortable nook in your home and start romanticizing reading. When fall hits I’m especially looking forward to hanging out on my patio sofa with the perfect seasonal book and that crisp feeling in the air.
I am literally willing fall to get here faster by indulging in everything pumpkin spice and I’m so excited to read this book!
23. Create an Enchanted Garden
Have you been having trouble deciding on the perfect flowers to grow in your garden or have a small patio that isn’t big enough for a luscious green space? Maybe you need to start a fairy garden instead. If you’re wondering what the difference is, it’s basically a miniature garden filled with whimsical accessories, smaller plants and fairy inspired decor. I sadly don’t have outdoor outlets so I rely on solar lighting but that turned out to be perfect for a fairy garden. Every night when the sun goes down my little garden comes to life and makes me feel like I’m in the cutest fairytale land.
24. Learn to Do Your Hair & Makeup Differently
Are you always scrolling through Pinterest saving pins of gorgeous hair and makeup styles you wish you could try? Yet no matter how many you put on your hair & beauty board you never actually try them, am I right? You’re not alone, I’m guilty of it, too. Often times, I wanted to try it before work when going into the office but I was afraid I’d mess it up and be late to work trying to fix it then wind up throwing my hair in a bun or just my usual mascara and blush anyway. Trying out some of the hair styles or makeup trends you’ve been eyeing once you’re done for the day allows you to practice without worry of rushing or anyone having to see you look like a crazy person if the look you choose to try is not for you.
I truly couldn’t curl my hair to save my life before getting this and now I feel like such a pro styling my hair!
25. Start a Blog
Thinking about starting a blog? Clearly, I’m all for the idea. I decided to start mine as a career I’d love but it can be a great hobby, as well. You can start a blog about anything your heart desires, including one of the ideas on this list. Getting good at baking or cooking and want to share your recipes? Start a blog. Obsessed with fashion and where you find the best deals to create your outfits? Start a blog. Can’t get enough of the newest book releases but having trouble getting your friends to join in for book club? Start a blog for book lovers alike to come together and make your own virtual book club. The niche choices are truly endless and there’s always someone out there to connect with who shares your passion. Don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as you may think. Get a domain name and start a website with Squarespace or Wordpress and get to sharing!