Growing up, I had all kinds of hobbies. I took ice skating lessons, tried gymnastics, played soccer, and participated in musicals.
When I was younger, the opportunity to try a new hobby was always right around the corner. If I wanted to try a new sport or class, I could just sign up in school. Then during college, that continued. I began crafting and trying other hobbies in my free time.
Then at some point, my life became incredibly busy, obligations got in the way, and I stopped doing those “extras”. It got to a point that I wasn’t even sure what kinds of things that I enjoyed doing anymore.
Does this story sound familiar?
For a lot of us, this is the natural progression until that moment we realize that somewhere along the way we stopped doing things for ourselves and we are left wondering, how do I even figure out what hobbies I enjoy as an adult?
Here’s 3 suggestions of how to figure out what hobbies you enjoy as an adult.
Suggestion 1:Refer to your childhood
Was there an activity that you really enjoyed as a child or teen? Is it something that you stopped doing because you no longer enjoyed it or did it slowly slip away as you had less and less time for yourself?
The hobbies that you spent time doing before the world got in the way is a great starting point in your journey to figuring out which hobbies you enjoy now. If you don’t remember, ask a parent or caregiver which activities you were interested in.
From here, make a list or vision board of these activities (and any others that sound interesting). Have fun with it!
Suggestion 2:Check out the Rochester Brainery
If you are local to the Rochester area, the Rochester Brainery is a great resource for trying new hobbies! Each month, they offer over 60 classes on a wide variety of topics including paper flower crafting, cookie decorating, and even how to make your own bird bath. Take a look on their website and see if any of the topics interest you. If so, take a class and try something new!
If you are not local to the Rochester area, look into the resources that are located in your own community.
Suggestion 3: Try a hobby that is the opposite of what you would typically choose
Do you usually choose more active hobbies? Try something more quiet and relaxing. Do you enjoy crocheting? Try kickboxing. Do you dislike cooking? Take a cooking class!
Try the opposite of what you would typically choose! It’s a great way to get outside of your comfort zone and try something that you never have before. Who knows...you might even end up liking it!
As a side note, try the new hobby at least twice. It can take more than one time of trying something to enjoy it!
I hope you found these suggestions helpful and that they aid you on your self-care journey. Having our own hobbies and interests is so important for our mental health and ultimately for our own happiness.