How to Find a Hobby
You can watch and read about hobbies all day.
But to truly pick make a hobby yours, you have to try it.
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There are no shortcuts when trying hobbies.
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Being uncomfortable is the start of every journey.
Ask any skateboarder about how to start skateboarding and they will tell you to skate and commit. You will fall, it’s just part of the process (luckily, your helmet and knee pads will be there to help you).
The same is true for every hobby. Not the falling, but the messing up. Nobody will shame you for it because they’ve been there. If they chuckle, they’re not laughing at you — they’re laughing with you because once upon a time, that was them too.
Take a deep breath and remember it’s normal to make mistakes, especially when you’re just getting started.
How to Try a New Hobby
Every hobby is different. Here’s some general direction for you as you dip your toes in.
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Even a team-oriented hobby like ultimate frisbee or a seemingly complicated hobby like custom cars has an entry point.
Start with the basics so you don’t get overwhelmed with activity that is beyond your current skill. Take it step by step and enjoy each progression you make.
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If your hobby requires tools or equipment, start with the bare minimum.
There’s no need to get the best of the best when you don’t yet know if this is a hobby you’ll commit to for the long term.
Try the hobby five to six times. At that point, you’ll probably know if you’ll stick with it. If you do then pick up new gear, give your old things to a new hobbyist or donate it.
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If you’re looking for more guidance or want to share the experience with others, you can take a beginner class in almost any hobby. Storefronts that sell materials for your hobby are a good place to learn and ask questions.
For more niche hobbies, you can find instructors or creators online.
Be lighthearted, it’s always for fun.
Trying a hobby is a silly experience. You don’t really know what you’re doing, you’re messing up, you’re laughing it off.
Don’t take yourself too seriously! Remember that every mishap is a step forward.
Safety First
Some hobbies are more dangerous than others.
It’s extremely important for you to prioritize safety as a beginner — even if you only try the hobby once.
If your hobby could put you in harm’s way: Wear a helmet. Put on the right attire. Follow each safety step exactly as you were taught. Take it slow.
By yourself.
With others.
Engage with the Community
You can do plenty of hobbies by yourself, or you can get involved with a hobby community.
This is a great way to better understand what the hobby is about and learn from others who have been doing it for a while.
Visit online communities on any social media platform such as Reddit or Instagram. You can also find dedicated forums with a quick Google search.
Check Out the Culture
Through the community, you’ll get a sense of the culture around each hobby. And while anybody can do any hobby, certain hobbies can attract certain types of people.
For example, hiking usually attracts outdoorsy people who may be more eco-friendly. Car mod-ding probably gets more handyman types and phonk music enjoyers.
You don’t have to match the culture of a hobby community — in fact, you don’t even have to interact with it. It is simply another way for you to better understand a hobby, how others have made it their own, and what you’re getting yourself into.
Consider if it’s Accessible
Some hobbies are hard to do in certain places. For example, you can’t start riding horses if there are no barns nearby, or it might be hard to pick up snowboarding if you live in a warm climate.
To make sure your new hobby is accessible, you might yourself:
Does is make sense for where I Live? Can I easily get to and from my hobby location?
Does this hobby work for my budget?
Do I have the time to do my hobby as often as I’d like?
Evaluate Your Experiences
After you try a hobby —
we mean actually doing it at least once, but ideally five to six times
— it’s time to reflect.
How was it?
Did you have fun?
Are you excited to do it again?
It’s important to check in with yourself as you’re exploring hobbies to ensure you’re on a path you enjoy. And if you are, great! Keep going. If you’re not, it’s time to re-evaluate. You might want to do it a different way or you may want to try something else.