Hobbies, Free Time, And Personal Enrichment While Keeping Your Finances In Check: The Personal Finance Fundamentals

I’m sure all of us have had at least a couple hobbies at one point or another. Hobbies can be tons of fun, and give us a nice reprieve, but they can also be a very important and a productive use of our time. Either way you look at it, hobbies are a great thing to have even if it is hard to find a good one that suits your interests. Without further ado, let’s get into the nitty-gritty details of the purpose of hobbies. Plus we’ll cover ideas to help you find a good one to spend your free time on that can also help with personal enrichment!

Hobbies, Free Time, And Personal Enrichment While Keeping Your Finances In Check: The Personal Finance Fundamentals

The Purpose Of Hobbies

As I’ve already said, one perk of hobbies is that they’re just good fun and a decent way to unwind. There is some level of enrichment that comes from having activities outside basic chores, errands, and work. Nowadays, with so many amazing hobbies and options, it’s easy to find a great hobby that is worthy of your time (and even money, potentially).

So, they’re a great boon for your mental health, but they can also make you some additional money on the side or teach you amazing skills along the way! Even if your hobby won’t make you rich, it’s never a bad idea to have another outlet for your interests or creativity.

Who Do Hobbies Do For Us?

Everyone enjoys different things, but our hobbies help give extra fulfillment and joy in our daily lives. Naturally, that means they come with a multitude of useful benefits too. There are many reasons why all of us should have at least one hobby, but here are the main advantages.

Entertainment

I’ve already mentioned this a couple of times, but hobbies are a great source of fun. If you go throughout your daily routine, with no variation, just focusing on what you have to do, it can be dreadful. All work and no play makes for a dull life, one that I certainly wouldn’t want to lead.

A good hobby could add an extra dimension, an extra activity for you to focus on that can help keep you engaged, even if other parts of your life have become monotonous. As an added bonus, a lot of people enjoy talking about hobbies and learning about you through them, so it can even be a conversation piece.

Relaxation And Stress Relief

Coupled with making your life more interesting and fun, hobbies also help to relieve stress. They help you unwind after a long day and take your mind off the day-to-day worries of life. A little bit of rest and relaxation can go a long way, especially when it comes to helping you not break under pressure.

If you find yourself in a rut, hobbies can definitely help. Hobbies can also help if you’re approaching burnout. One of the best ways to avoid these issues in life is to give yourself the time to do activities you enjoy outside of your normal routine. In other words, hobbies are important for your mental health.

Continued Learning

Another great thing about hobbies is that you’re almost always learning something. Now, whatever you’re learning might not always be applicable to other aspects of life, but it never hurts to learn about new things. Keeping your brain active, in fun and engaging ways, is a great way to keep yourself sharp in the years to come. After all, who genuinely wants to work, come home, and then just stare blankly at a screen for hours each day?

Keeping yourself on top of a hobby is definitely a good way to train your mental muscles. In fact, doing a hobby you enjoy probably won’t even feel like you’re learning something (in the sense of rote memorization and traditional schooling), it will be a much better experience overall. On top of that, when you like doing something, everything you learn by doing it will “stick” better and you’ll remember it for a lot longer.

They’re A Confidence Boost

Who doesn’t like a bit of an ego boost every now and then? I’m sure a lot of people could do with some improved self-esteem, and hobbies can certainly do that. If you’re consistently practicing something you genuinely enjoy, you’re bound to become fairly skilled or knowledgeable about it. Naturally, skills and knowledge help assure us and boost our confidence in ourselves.

Now, that isn’t to say you should be cocky or arrogant about it, but it’s nice to have things you’re abnormally good at (or at least better than average). A hobby is just another chance for you to excel at something and have fun while doing it.

You Have Options

Having a hobby that we like brings us joy and enriches our lives. It gives us something fun to do during our leisure time and affords us the opportunity to learn new skills. We are very fortunate to have so many different options out there today. In fact, there are entire websites devoted to hobbies and interests.

One of the best ways to cultivate a new hobby is to try something new. The world is full of wonderful, exciting activities that we can explore and adopt as our own. Of course, all of us are unique and, therefore, our interests and hobbies vary. But once we find a hobby that we truly enjoy and are passionate about, we become hooked. It becomes part of our lives and captivates us in a very personal way.

Identifying The Right Hobby

It may seem hard to find a hobby if you don’t have one, but it shouldn’t be. For this, all it comes down to is finding something you enjoy or spending more time on things you know you do enjoy. If you have a hard time identifying those things, here are some tips.

What Did You Like To Do As A Kid?

An easy way to find a hobby is to think back to your childhood. What were your favorite activities back then? It’s likely there are a few that you’d still enjoy as an adult. It could be anything from playing a sport to building model kits! Remember what you enjoyed, and make a point to try those things again and see if you still enjoy them and want to do them more often again.

It’s always possible that you look back at certain things with rose-colored glasses, which is fine. If you try it and don’t like it, you can just do something else. However, looking back at what you have enjoyed, or the hobbies you’ve done in the past, is a great way to find a hobby for you to do going forward.

What Are Your Vices?

I want to be clear, do not go crazy and do anything unhealthy. However, if you have a particular vice (or guilty pleasure) you could always explore it further as a hobby. If you like corny poetry, try your hand a writing it. If you enjoy a cigar, get into it and try doing something like rolling your own. For those who enjoy whiskey, there is a lot to explore in that hobby as well. Remember, the point is to have fun and enrich your life (not detract from it).

What Do You Want To Get Better At?

Like I mentioned earlier, hobbies are a great way to learn new skills. If there is something you’re very interested in, and want to learn more about it, that can be your hobby. For example, if you’re interesting in coding, you could take the time to learn the basics of programming. There are a lot of nifty applications you can create and learn throughout that process, and you can come out of it knowing a lot more about the skill that originally grabbed your interest.

When In Doubt, Experiment

If you have absolutely no idea what you want to do now (or what’s in your budget), take a step back. Look up lists of common hobbies, or ones that are easy to start, and make a list of the pastimes that genuinely pique your interest. Once you do that, you should start trying them out one by one and see what sticks. If you enjoy one of them a lot, you’ve found a new hobby!

If you are on a tight budget, or don’t want to spend a lot of money, that is fine. Just make sure you try out hobbies that are cheap or free to do once or twice. Some hobbies can get expensive, and I wouldn’t recommend spending any serious amount of money on a hobby that you’re not already very interested in and want to continue exploring.

Identifying The Right Hobby Infographic

Ideas For Great Hobbies

There are a lot of great hobbies that you can start. Here are 30 ideas to help you with the brainstorming process!

1. Hiking

Hiking and walking are amazing hobbies that are perfect for a frugal lifestyle. Even if you’re busy and on the go, this could be a great fit. Got a few extra minutes during your lunch break? Take a walk. Want to talk to your significant other one on one and have some quality time? Go for a stroll. You can break it off into bite-sized chunks that are easy to do, cost nothing, and keep you healthy.

As you incorporate walking into your schedule, try going for longer and longer walks. During your weekends, or time off work, go to a good local hiking trail and have some fun! It’s usually much longer than your normal walks, but there is often wonderful scenery to go with it. The only cost that comes with this hobby is the gas it takes you to get to the entrance of the trails. If you have trails near your house, then you’re set!

2. Cooking And Baking

These could potentially be the most common hobbies on this list. Arguably, this is something everyone should try their hand at anyway. We all need to eat, so this hobby offers daily opportunities to enjoy it and reap the rewards (like tasty meals). Beyond that, cooking and baking your own stuff is usually much healthier than eating at a restaurant or buying premade food from a store.

One thing that makes this hobby frugal is how much money it saves you when you know how to cook. Eating out is a huge expense for most people, and one they have a hard time cutting from their budget. Even though ingredients can be expensive sometimes, overall you’re likely to save money just by cooking or baking as a hobby.

3. Dancing

A great way to exercise, dancing mixes fitness, creativity, and memory 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 sharp? Loads of fun? Sign me up!

4. Whiskey

I like whiskey. I mean, I really like whiskey. What’s not to love about it? It tastes great, there are tons of great bottles out there, and you can still find great value in the modern marketplace. Moderation, as with everything, is still key. The easiest way to save money on whiskey is to just not overdo it. Enjoy it, but don’t take it to unhealthy levels. Now, if you’ve got that little moderation part down, there are still tons of ways to make this hobby more affordable.

5. Making Music

Learning to play an instrument is good for cognitive development and learning to play some can help with other skills like hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Beyond that, if you really like music, find a way to learn how to make some of your own – it’s worthwhile! There is a huge sense of satisfaction you’ll get from learning to write your own music.

6. Painting And Drawing

Next up we have another pair. I’m sure we’re all aware of how cheap and accessible drawing can be. It can be as simple as sketching with a pencil. Of course, there can be more expensive parts of that hobby when you really dive in, but it’s inexpensive overall.

Painting is similar to drawing, at least conceptually. There is a significant amount of overlap, so it is possible that someone who likes one will enjoy the other as well. In that case, drawing can be a cheaper outlet. If you really prefer painting, it can still be manageable. Make sure you find good deals on paint and canvases – it will save you a lot of money.

7. Sculpting

Sculpting may not seem particularly exciting at first, but it’s actually an amazing hobby to get into. Besides, it can even help you figure out your thoughts and feelings – and then give them form. So, for stress-relief and self-reflection, sculpting is one of the best uses of your free time and is something other people will be able to appreciate when they see too.

8. Scotch

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of scotch. I mean, it’s hard not to be when it’s absolutely delicious. What’s not to love about it? It tastes great, there are tons of great bottles out there, and you can still find great value in the modern marketplace. Moderation, as with everything, is still key. The easiest way to save money on scotch is to just not overdo it. Enjoy it, but don’t take it to unhealthy levels. Now, if you’ve got that little moderation part down, there are still tons of ways to make this hobby more affordable.

For example, it pays to be value-minded. Find what you like, stick to it, but make sure you pay attention to the whisky in your selection that is a great value for what it is. For example, if a certain whiskey is the best you can find for $50 or less, then that whiskey has a great value – whether you consider it “cheap” or not.

9. Building Model Kits

For those who don’t know, building models is a great hobby where you create a physical representation (also known as a model) of some object or place through kits or built from scratch using materials found by the model builder. Model kits come with all the pieces needed to make one complete model. There are a variety of common scales used for different types of kits – like 1/144 or 1/60. Models are usually created in such a way that it is substantially smaller than the real thing, but proportionally accurate.

Many model kits fall into different “levels” that help a potential builder know the difficulty of the build. Level 1 would be pieces that snap together and don’t require glue or paint. Level 2 may require glue and paint. As you go higher, like level 3, then parts can become far smaller and more detailed. Levels 4 and 5 are usually incredibly detailed and require experience to build properly.

10. Lifting Weights

Lifting weights is a great hobby to stay in shape. It’s one of the more expensive ones, but there are ways to cut costs. If you already have a gym membership, then you’re set. For many, including myself, a gym membership may seem like an outrageous cost depending on what you’re getting. In this case, building yourself a home gym may be the best thing for you. It will be expensive at first, but it will pay for itself in no time.

For those with little or no experience lifting, I recommend you have someone help you learn (or take a class). If you don’t have proper form and patience with lifting, it can lead to serious injury.

11. Volunteering

This is another topic for which I’ve been clear about my opinion. Volunteering doesn’t cost any money – just some time. It’s a great way to contribute to the community, build relationships, and get that rewarding feeling that only comes by helping others. If that’s not enough to convince you, some non-profits are actually willing to train you in valuable skills. In those cases they don’t lack the knowledge or skills, but they need more manpower to help them out. That can be a win-win for both of you!

12. Pipes

Smoking pipe tobacco is an interesting hobby, although it’s somewhat niche these days. After all, smoking in general tends to get a lot of hate. Between the risks that come with it and all the propaganda pushing people to quit smoking cigars and cigarettes, it may seem like nobody is doing it anymore. Well, they definitely are, although in the case of pipe tobacco the numbers have become quite diminished. If you smoke cigars or cigarettes, you may end up finding that you prefer pipe tobacco – and no, that doesn’t make you a geezer or a hipster. It’s particularly great if you’re a smoker on a tight budget.

13. Board Games

Board games can be a great frugal hobby. It may initially seem expensive at first, but it’s not once you think about it. For $20-50 you can easily find a great board game for 2-6 people (or more). Now, think about how many times you can play that board game over and over. A good board game is one that should be replayable with friends and family, which provides a great bonding experience. If you’re looking for a good family pastime, this could be it.

When thinking about board games, if you can’t imagine replaying it, then it may not be a great board game for you. Many people just aren’t into it like that, which is fine – it may just not be a good cost-effective hobby for them.

14. Couponing

I get it, it sounds silly to a lot of you. However, growing up I met many people who were religious about couponing. As far as frugal hobbies go, it has to be mentioned. The whole hobby is an effort in frugal living in and of itself. For those who get good at it, you can save a lot of money and free up some extra wiggle room in your budget.

It’s a niche hobby that few are interested in, but if you are even considering it right now then I’d suggest giving it a whirl. It doesn’t cost money and can save you a lot in the long run – if you don’t enjoy it then you can always decide to do something else with your time.

15. Sewing

Like knitting, this is a hobby that people generally associate with older people. I don’t understand why, as it’s a great skill to have and can be a hoot as well. If you have tears in your clothes, a simple project could be to sew them and make them look like new again. Once you get more skilled, you can make your own clothes if you want to! Fabric may seem expensive at first glance, but when you look at how much clothes cost these days, then you’ll realize how much this hobby can save too.

Besides, everyone likes having someone around who can sew – especially during wedding season.

16. Learning 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 can teach you a lot about your own.

This also goes hand-in-hand with traveling – it’s easier to learn when you’re immersed. Of course, I’d recommend learning at least a few common words and phrases of the language before you go.

17. Photography

This one is a bit rough on the frugal side of things. To get started, it is fairly cheap. You can use your phone, or purchase a beginner’s camera, to get started. That will serve most amateur functions and give you a lot of pictures you can work with while using free software on the computer. Of course, if you get really into it then cameras can get prohibitively expensive. In fact, some of the more advanced software gets pricey too! Fortunately, the larger expenses probably aren’t necessary unless you plan on turning it into a side hustle.

18. Woodworking Or Metalworking

If you find yourself fairly handy, then you could try out woodworking and learn the fundamentals of carpentry. You can fix existing furniture, or you could opt to build your own! Woodworking is limitless, and it can offer endless hours of a productive use of your time. You could even create gifts or items to sell.

Likewise, if you find yourself fairly handy, then you could try out metalworking and learn the fundamentals to help you build your own tools and trinkets. You can fix components of your house or equipment, or make things completely from scratch! It is almost limitless, and can offer endless hours of a productive use of your time. Again, like woodworking, you could even create gifts or items to sell.

19. Homesteading

Homesteading is basically a lifestyle – one that is all about independence and self-sufficiency. Usually it entails things like owning a large property, growing your own crops, having livestock, and producing some of your own clothes or furnishings. It’s usually done in a rural area. While the definition is a bit broad, there are definitely common trends and patterns in the homesteading lifestyle.

With the independence and self-sufficient aspect in mind, it’s usually easy to understand what homesteading is when you see it in practice. For example, someone may grow some basic crops and have livestock, and they use renewable sources of energy to power their home. It’s less about the details, and more about the broad lifestyle choices that lead to independence.

20. Meditation

Like yoga, this can be a great way to relax and unwind. If you find yourself stressing about everything in your life, this may be exactly what you need. The potential mental health benefits are astounding. Of course, unlike yoga, this isn’t a very physical activity. That can be a good or bad thing. If you’re hesitant, just give it a try – you might be surprised!

21. DIY Projects

This is somewhat similar to a lot of your typical craft hobbies. If you want to work with your hands, but don’t necessarily enjoy activities like carpentry, try doing some DIY projects. It doesn’t have to be crazy or over the top, but DIY projects can be a fulfilling pastime. On top of that, it can also help you save money. Of course, for major projects that could be dangerous, I would suggest hiring a professional.

22. Thrifting

Ah, this is a great frugal hobby. Some people love it, others look down on it, but it’s undeniably a great way to save money. If you like getting thrifty and shopping for great deals, then tackle this hobby with glee! It’s cheap, helps you save money, and can even teach your kids to not place too much value on physical items.

23. Knitting

Knitting surprises people, but it’s a quality hobby. It keeps your hands busy, gives you something to work towards, and is pretty easy to keep to a budget. On top of that, at the end of the project you’ll have something tangible to keep as a reward for your labor. It can be a hobby that is off-putting to many on the surface level, but if you give it a shot you’re likely to be surprised.

24. Basketball

Basketball is another great frugal hobby. This is actually true for a lot of sports, but I’d like to focus on basketball specifically here. It’s easy to do regularly, and it’s not as expensive as many other sports can be sometimes. For example, if you go to a gym, then you likely already have access to everything you need to play basketball. Even if you don’t go to the gym, basketball courts are frequently found in public parks and the like. It shouldn’t be hard to gain access to a court – at which point all you need is a ball to play or practice.

Another useful tidbit is that basketball is a sport that makes it easy to practice alone. You don’t necessarily need a full roster to do proper drills, and you can always play small 1-on-1 or 2-on-2 games.

25. Scrapbooking

I know this hobby screams of a middle-aged parent, but it’s not a bad one to start. It can be enjoyable to look through scrapbooks and get lost in a piece of the past. Additionally, it’s not an insanely expensive hobby to start up. It probably ends up being more expensive than drawing, but not necessarily as much as painting – it really depends. That makes it affordable, something you can bond over, and a worthwhile pastime.

26. Gardening

Gardening is another good frugal hobby. How expensive it gets is up to you, but you can make your landscape prettier or go for raw utility. If you go the utility route, you can always grow valuable crops. Once you’ve done that, you can use those crops and partake in a little bit of homesteading, or you can sell them for a profit. Whichever way you go about it, gardening is definitely an interesting hobby to get into.

27. Video Games

Videos games are one of the last on this list, but they’re definitely a great option. Prices vary wildly, but you can certainly find amazing games for cheap prices. Even on the more expensive side of things, the replayability you can get from video games may make it well worth the price. A lot of people like to scoff at video games as a hobby, but it’s definitely a decent one to consider.

28. Martial Arts

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!

29. World Building

In my opinion, writing is one of the absolute best 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 – and this is where worldbuilding comes in for a lot of people. If you like writing about fantastical worlds, then this can be a wonderful pastime that exercises your creative muscles.

30. Building Jigsaw Puzzles

Puzzles, like board games, are a fun activity to do on a tabletop that can just eat up hours of your time. Considering that you can get a decent puzzle for $5-10, this is definitely worthwhile considering how much fun you can get out of the experience. So, per dollar I think it’s a pretty decent deal, and it can keep your mind sharp and engaged!

Building Jigsaw Puzzles

3 Activities For Self-Improvement

There are lots of good activities for self-improvement, but let’s focus on 3 of the main ones.

Public Speaking

Communication skills are absolutely essential for everyday life. At least, it’s essential for any enjoyable life. Naturally, this means practicing public speaking, and increasing your verbal communication skills, will certainly improve your life no matter what stage you’re at.

Writing

Writing is honestly one of my favorite things to do. However, I get that it isn’t for everyone. Regardless of how much you like writing, or how much you hate it, there are a myriad of benefits you can get from it and I highly recommend you incorporate writing into your life. At least, incorporate it to some extent on a routine basis. You don’t need to become an amazing writer to start seeing the rewards of writing!

Reading

Be honest, how long has it been since you actually finished a book? For most people, reading for leisure is a nonexistent part of their day. If that sounds like you, you’re missing out on a ton of perks. Reading is great for us, and is one of the best forms of entertainment and growth, at least in my opinion.

I always loved reading growing up, as soon as I started I found that I couldn’t stop. It is easily one of the most important aspects of my development as a person, and reading has taught me an incredible amount over the years. I understand struggling to find the time to read, and it’s something I’ve even struggled with lately (my leisure time seems to be constantly shrinking). Fortunately, if you just read 10 or so pages a day, you’ll see all sorts of benefits. Let’s be honest, getting through 10 pages isn’t a lengthy endeavor, so we can probably all fit that into our busy schedules.

Why These 3?

Now you are probable wondering why I’m specifically focusing on these 3 activities at once. Well, the truth is they share a lot of virtues that make them useful for everyone to do!

Reflection

Life tends to pass us by without us taking the time needed to reflect, learn, and move on. Writing can essentially be a cathartic experience, depending on the subject you’re writing about, which can help you get past trials and tribulations you’ve encountered in the past. Even if there is nothing you’re struggling with at the moment, writing about something you’re confused about, or contemplating in general, can help you get the clarity you need to fully grasp it.

As a pretty good general rule of thumb: when in doubt, write it out.

Communication

Writing certainly helps round out your other communication skills. A lot of people have never taken the time to learn how to communicate (verbally or through writing) effectively. When you take the time to write, you take the time to seriously express yourself in some specific way.

Clearly there are differences between writing a story and something like giving a speech, but there is some significant overlap. As you practice writing, you’ll be more aware of your language and your audience, and you’ll start learning how to structure even your verbal communication more effectively. The bottom line is this, learning to write better will also help you speak better too.

If you practice public speaking and writing, and read regularly, you’ll see a huge improvement in how effectively you’re able to communicate with others. Whether you’re in the business world, with friends, or with a significant other, better communication can always help you out.

The Potential To Make Money

Writing can make you some spare change on the side, but it can also make you rich (if you can reach a wide enough audience). Whether you like writing non-fiction (like articles or books), stories, or poetry for self-expression and relief, if you publish it you can potentially make money off of it. I personally don’t think that should be your only reason to write (after all, it does have other benefits that are just as important), but if you like writing enough to make it a daily habit, take a chance and try to get some of your work published.

Likewise, public speaking can also help you make money. Think of all the celebrities and YouTubers who have basically made their wealth purely because of their public speaking skills!

List Of Hobbies For Self-Improvement

Consistency Is Important

Now, let’s get into the actual benefits of having a consistent routine and sticking to it. Some are obvious, but others may end up surprising you!

Less Stress

Having a routine in place, overall, makes your life a bit easier and less stressful. No, a routine isn’t going to make all of your problems go away. However, a routine helps in ways that can alleviate some issues, and just the fact that you know what your plan is for the morning or evening (or any other period, really) can make your life much less stressful.

For example, if you write a lot of essays for school (or articles for a blog), then having a writing routine can help you do everything on time and maximize your productivity. Having a routine for larger tasks that must be repeated can also help with your time management.

More Stable Sleeping Patterns

If you have an evening routine, you’re far more likely to actually go to sleep at a reasonable hour. So, if part of your routine is turning lights off at 10 PM and getting ready for bed, then your sleep will probably improve because of it. Some people, especially night owls, like to keep busy well into the later hours of the night. I get the allure of that, but be careful and make sure you have a cutoff point. If you don’t, you’ll end up shorting yourself on sleep. The better your sleep, the more productive you can be the next day!

Better Health

Sleep is just one of the potential health impacts related to building a good routine. Let’s go over a couple of the others.

Diet

First up is diet. This may seem weird at first – I mean, how does a routine affect your diet after all? Well, making it part of your routine to cook and do meal planning can ensure you have a much healthier diet. That alone can help you avoid going out to eat and getting junk food. Personally, during my college days, I didn’t stick to my routine when it came to packing meals (well, packing enough food that is), and I would always regret it because I’d have to spend an arm and a leg on crappy snacks or meals while on campus. It’s best to avoid that, whether you’re at college or in an office.

Exercise

How can you stay healthy without a little bit of fresh air? Make it part of your routine to do something active every day. Perhaps you’ll do a workout several times each week, and then on your “off” days you can go for a walk or a run. It doesn’t really matter. Just schedule in some time to exercise – that’s the only way you’ll be able to be consistent with it over the long run.

Fewer Decisions To Be Made Daily

If you already have a routine in place, then that’s at least one less decision you have to make that day. It may not sound like much, but all the little things throughout your day tend to add up. Do yourself a favor and turn as much of the simple tasks into a part of your routine as possible. Save your decision-making energy for more important matters.

It Helps You Break Bad Habits And Build Good Ones

Routines help you form habits. That’s just the way it is. Of course, that means routines can help you form bad or good habits. When you start a new routine, do your best to avoid including bad habits in it. Better yet, focus on building good habits, or starting a routine that will help you eliminate some of the bad ones you have. It can be hard a first, but if you have the discipline to push through and stay with it, then it’ll just become a natural process and part of your life.

Achieving Goals Becomes Easier

Being methodical works. Sticking to your routines, and the good habits it helps build, works. When you have some solid routines in place, then achieving your long-term goals becomes much easier. People tend to overestimate what they can do in the short term, but drastically underestimate what they can do over a long period of time. Those little actions and routines add up – and it’s hard to quantify or understand at first, but you’ll see it as you look back.

Take meal planning as an example again. That routine alone can help you get your diet on the right track and get yourself closer to being in shape. After many months of doing that, or even years, you may look back and realize you’re healthier now than ever before. Things have a funny way of snowballing, without us even realizing it.

Conclusion

Hopefully, after reading this article, you understand more about the benefit of hobbies, how you can find one for you, and you’ll have a few ideas to get you started. If you have any hobbies you’d like to share, be sure to comment and give us the details or tips on how others can get started too!

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Top Recommendations:

  1. If you want everything in one place, check out my Financial Fundamentals spreadsheet. It includes a budgeting template, net worth tracker, financial goals tracker, and even calculators for short-term savings goals, retirement, and home affordability!
  2. For those who are new to saving and investing, Acorns is a huge boon. Think of it like training wheels, as it can help you start off on the right tracking by automating your savings and investments - and teaching you what you need to know along the way.
  3. Personal Capital is one of my favorite tools. It has a plethora of features for you, and contains a multitude of free financial tools that make it easier than ever to manage your money.
  4. My favorite brokerage is currently M1 Finance. They have tons of great index funds, ETFs, and stocks to choose from. With them investing is easy and highly customizable. Whether you're an advanced investor or someone who prefers simple solutions, they will suit your needs.