Honestly, everyone can be well-served by spending some of their free time on a hobby. Hobbies you’re passionate about and genuinely enjoy can also be incredibly productive and benefit your life in several ways!
No, I’m not talking about a “second job” as a hobby either – although you can turn some into careers if you wish. A lot of people discard hobbies as wastes of their precious free time, but hobbies can teach you useful skills, clear your mind, give you a creative outlet, lower your stress, keep your body and mind fit, and even save you money.
Just imagine, instead of sitting on the couch watching a few episodes of your favorite TV show (which rapidly turns into hours), you can spend that time learning or doing something much more rewarding. Of course, the whole point of a hobby is to enjoy it too – so don’t feel obligated to do something you hate just because it has some potential benefits.
Without further ado, let’s get to the 10 highly productive hobbies than can increase the quality of your life!
1. Cooking
Possibly the most popular hobby on this list, and arguably something everyone should try their hand at, cooking can be a great pastime. Everyone must eat at some point, so this is something you could benefit from daily.
On top of being fun, cooking can help you live a healthier life – while tasting better than a lot of fast food and takeout. Additionally, even if you buy expensive ingredients you’ll probably save more money than if you had gone to a restaurant instead. Plus, if you’re not very organized and have a hard time planning, consistently cooking will help you get better at that. You have to choose a recipe, keep the ingredients stocked, keep pots and pans clean, and so on.
2. Hiking/Running
Hiking is generally the hobby people think of when they want to spend part (or most) of their weekend in nature. It can help you clear your mind, enjoy the moment, get some exercise, or work out problems you’ve been having. In many ways, it can be quite therapeutic.
Likewise, running can be a bit relaxing and help clear the mind – but the greatest benefit most people enjoy from it is how it impacts your fitness. It’s a great form of cardio and does wonders when it comes to keeping extra weight off! At the same time, it helps build discipline as it really forces you to push through even when you feel like you can’t continue.
Honestly, both are great because they help you stay fit – but they also help lower stress, which is something a lot of people struggle with.
Get outside and enjoy nature!
3. Writing
In my opinion, writing is one of the most productive uses of your free time. It’s a great way to channel your creative energy and it makes you a better communicator over time. You can write about literally anything – pick a passion and run with it! There are also a ton of different forms to choose from – articles, scripts, novels, short stories, essays, journal entries, and more. The only limiting factor is yourself.
You can write to help yourself organize your thoughts and opinions, plan for the future, or just write creatively and relieve some stress. On top of that, the more you write the better you understand yourself. You’ll start noticing things you’re better or worse at, things that make you sad or happy, what fires you up and what kills your drive – knowledge of which help you lead a better life.
If you want to write, but don’t know where to start, I recommend starting a journal or picking a topic to write 500 words about a night.
4. Dancing
Another great way to exercise, dancing mixes fitness, creativity, and memorization into a single hobby. Many dances can be physically demanding, making your own takes some thought, and learning all the steps to a routine requires some dedication.
It’s also tons of fun, particularly if you have a partner to practice with. Like hiking and running, staying active in a light-hearted way can help you reduce your stress.
Keeping your mental and physical skills sharps? Loads of fun? Sign me up!
5. Reading
A personal favorite, reading is incredibly popular and rewarding. Quick and straight-forward, you can read anywhere, at any time, and it can be dropped or resumed with ease if you’re interrupted.
It’s more than just a fun hobby, it keeps your mind sharp, helps you focus, makes your vocabulary strong, and can teach you just about anything you want to know. Reading is also another great way to reduce stress, and a lot of people like to do it as they wind down before bed.
I’m sure you’ve heard a million times that everyone who is successful loves to read, and there may be some truth to that. Even if you don’t love it, it’s hard to argue that it is helpful – whether you read fiction or non-fiction. Unfortunately, most people feel like they don’t have the time to invest in reading when that couldn’t be further from the truth. Of all the hobbies here, reading probably requires the least amount of time or work to start, and it has no restrictions on where or how you do it.
If you want to start reading more, I’m glad you started with this blog, and I also have recommendations here.
6. Play An Instrument
Learning to play an instrument is good for cognitive development and learning to play some can help with other things like hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. So, if you really like music, find a way to learn how to make some of your own – it’s worthwhile!
Often the repetition and practice involved with learning a piece can become relaxing and help you think things through, or if it’s a really hard piece, it might keep everything else off your mind.
7. Self-Defense
Take the time to join a gym and learn a martial art or form of self defense (e.g. boxing, BJJ, judo, krav maga). It has a lot more value than most people give it credit – obviously you’ll be learning skills needed for self-defense, but you’ll also be gaining discipline and the ability to persevere through hardships. Often, this can also help with your ability to focus and plan a few steps ahead.
In addition to all of that, learning a martial art or other self-defense method can have huge fitness bonuses. On top of a solid full-body workout, you’ll also be increasing your stamina, coordination, balance, speed, strength, and the control you have over your own movements. Give it a try!
8. Paint
Painting may not seem particularly productive at first, but it can actually be really beneficial when it comes to keeping you creative and making you step back and take-in your surroundings.
Like writing, it helps you figure out your own thoughts and feelings – and then give them form. So, for stress-relief and self-reflection, painting is one of the best uses of your free time and is something other people will be able to appreciate when they see too.
9. Learn A Language
Learning how to communicate with an entirely new group of people can open a lot of doors, and it doesn’t look too shabby on a resume. Another bonus is that it keeps you sharp and helps with your overall communication skills – learning another language will teach you a lot about your own.
This also goes hand-in-hand with traveling, I’d recommend learning at least a few common words and phrases of the language before you go.
10. Gardening
Obviously growing your own fruits and vegetables can be a boon and growing your own flowers can liven up your property. However, it also keeps you outside, usually involves light exercise, and will teach you a lot of skills along the way. I also like that after a busy day, gardening can be a way to slowly unwind.
What are you waiting for? Get some supplies from your local store and start growing!
Conclusion
Obviously there are many more productive hobbies to choose from, but this list of ten is a good place to start. Did I miss one of your hobbies? Add it in the comments below! For more content like this, and a free budgeting template and financial goals worksheet, be sure to sign up for the Bitter to Richer newsletter.
