With so many hours in the day, there’s bound to be some time that you feel could be better spent than binge-watching Netflix or scrolling through TikTok. Hobbies are the perfect way to fill those empty spaces in your day and keep you from feeling completely unproductive. Finding a new activity to keep you occupied can be intimidating so I’ve put together a list of the best hobbies to get you started on your quest for entertainment!
Let’s start off with an easy one! Other than being an essential skill to keep you from starving, cooking is also a great hobby! Instead of just making food because you have to, allow yourself to branch out and explore different recipes you never would have thought to try! You won’t be able to keep your mouth from watering!
Change how you view this culinary activity by turning it into one of your hobbies! Fill up your kitchen with fruits, vegetables, and spices to test out and see what works best for you! You can start simple with some savory spaghetti, or try your hand at tasty risotto! Not only will you feel a lot better after eating a homecooked meal, but your wallet will thank you for not throwing out hundreds of dollars each week on icky fast food!
Polymer clay is a malleable art medium that can be molded into an infinite amount of shapes and designs that will harden after being baked in the oven. You can keep it simple with just the clay, or invest in molds, shape cutters, and sculpting tools.
Earrings, drink coasters, and fridge magnets are some of the most popular items you can make! The clay comes in a variety of colors but it is also extremely customizable and can be dyed to get the perfect shade! For an extra touch, you can give it some texture using household items like a fork or crumpled paper.
Once you’ve gotten comfortable working with the clay, let your creative instincts guide you in making whatever your heart desires! Your creations can be kept as cherished knick-knacks or given as thoughtful gifts to friends and family. I promise that once you get started, this versatile crafting hobby will keep you engaged for hours.
Screw the stigma that crochet is only something grandmothers do! This yarn-based hobby will keep your hands busy and your closet full of homemade creations! There’s nothing more stylish than a crocheted crop-top that you made yourself!
It’s so easy to get started by watching Youtube tutorials or purchasing pattern books at your local craft store! You’ll be amazed at how a ball of yarn can be turned into sweaters, stuffed animals, and even handbags! With thousands of yarn colors, textures, and sizes to choose from, you’ll immediately get invested in this satisfying hobby!
Jigsaw puzzles are a universally loved activity and it makes sense why! It keeps your brain active by searching for the perfect piece and offers immense satisfaction when the entire image comes together! With a range of difficulties and designs to choose from, this hobby is entirely customizable and can take as little or as much time as you want!
I highly recommend adopting reading as one of your hobbies since it is known to reduce stress and exercises your brain. Dust off that pile of books in the corner of your room to start improving your concentration and literacy skills. You’ll quickly find yourself aching to share your interests with others and rant about your favorite character getting killed off. There are tons of book clubs that span across all different literary genres where you can find people to connect with!
At some point in grade school, we were all expected to play an instrument, whether it was a violin, a trumpet, or even singing in the choir. If you’re like me, you probably graduated and tucked your instrument away forever to collect dust, but it’s never too late to get back into it! It’s also never too late to start! With the help of a private tutor, or a deep dive into the musical side of Youtube, you’ll quickly unlock a talent you never thought you could possess!
From strings to brass, there are over a hundred instruments to choose from, so go out and find the perfect match for you! Out of all the hobbies to choose from, playing an instrument leans more on the difficult side. At first, it may feel like a lost cause when all the notes sound out of tune and the only song you can play is Hot Cross Buns, but perseverance is key! You’ll improve your ability to concentrate, enhance your coordination, and boost your memory! You’ll also have a cool hidden talent to boast about!
It seems that learning a language is one of the lesser-known hobbies, but it is one of the most rewarding! The world is full of different cultures, customs, and traditions. By exploring the more than 7,000 languages spoken, you’ll increase your awareness and appreciation for the diversity of humanity! Some of the more common languages to learn are Spanish, Chinese, French, and Arabic.
Duolingo is a free language-learning app that will help you get started! The lessons are short but get progressively more advanced. You can do a few a day, or spend hours working on becoming fluent in the language of your choice! To have some more fun with it, listen to music and watch movies spoken in your chosen language to immerse yourself in the experience! Before long, you’ll be planning a trip abroad to show off your new abilities!
There are a bunch of board games to choose from for game night, but there’s nothing better than making one yourself! You might have had some experience with this in grade school for a school project, or from making a custom drinking game with your friends. It takes quite a bit of creativity but the entire process makes for tons of fun and the end result will satisfy all your game night needs!
To start off, come up with a concept! Is the point of the game to test your trivia skills? Or will it be as simple as overcoming obstacles to make it around the board as fast as possible! Scrounge up some household objects to use as game pieces, or get crafty and make unique figurines out of art supplies! The board can be made out of some scrap cardboard or repurpose an old game you don’t play anymore! The amount of ideas you can come up with is endless to make your game completely customizable to what you enjoy!
Keep your brain rockin’ and rollin’ by filling out the daily crossword! They are super easy to find online and are also available in book form! You’ll expand your inventory of random factoids to show off with your friends, or ask them for help with the trickier clues to make it an interactive experience! Every day is a learning opportunity so don’t miss out!
Take advantage of the random junk around your house and turn it into something beautiful! Upcycling keeps trash out of the landfill and allows you to dive into your creative side by coming up with funky DIYs! Not only will you make a small step towards protecting our environment, but you’ll save money by making your own source of decorations and furniture out of stuff you already had!
All the college students I know are huge fans of live music and concerts, particularly when the band is made…
Lets face it, as a college student your go to outfit is probably a pair of old jeans, your school…
Whether it be midterms, final exams or just a week when your planner is busting at the seams, college gives…
Going on dates can be both fun and stressful. You want to be original, not predictable. I personally like to…
UC Riverside is a great place with a unique atmosphere. There are plenty of things only UC Riverside students understand…
Let's face it, everyone spends their first year at college a little confused. Mistakes are bound to happen and these…
