Here we are again, going over yet another 20 productive hobbies. I went over 10 in my original article, but I also covered 20 others in another article as well. Some of these hobbies are expensive, some are cheap or even save money, and others can make you money. The only criteria I focused on was hobbies that are productive – either through financial, physical health, or mental health benefits. Without further ado, let’s dive into the 20 hobbies!
1. Bodybuilding
Closely linked to another productive hobby, lifting weights, this is a great hobby to help you get and 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 at bodybuilding, I recommend you have someone help you learn (or take a class). If you don’t have proper form and patience with your exercises, it can lead to serious injury.
2. Sculpting
Sculpting may not seem particularly productive at first, but it can actually be really beneficial when it comes to keeping you creative and giving you something concrete after you spend hours of labor on it.
It may 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.
3. Worldbuilding
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 – 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.
Of course, you don’t necessarily have to be a writer to enjoy worldbuilding. Many people enjoy creating worlds, lore, and history purely for the sake of it.
4. Playing Video Games
Okay, hear me out here. Videos games may not be the most productive thing you can think of, but they certainly have their place. There are educational games, and even ones that aren’t still have educational value. You can learn more about language, history, and science through video games. Also, video games can be a decent way for people to help hone their social skills.
5. Acting & Improv
If you have the itch, take an acting or improv class. You can learn a lot, it helps you think on the fly, and it can help improve some of your soft skills. All-in-all, it isn’t a bad hobby to start.
6. Amateur Radio
This may be a little geeky, but lots of people love tinkering with radios. If the thought gets you excited, then give it a whirl! There is a lot to learn here, and it can be a rewarding process.
7. Swimming
Swimming is another great physical activity. It can help you stay in shape, and it offers an alternative to sources of cardio that many people don’t like – including running. If you are wanting to incorporate more cardio and exercise in your life, but don’t like some of the other options, try this out. You may find that you love it!
8. Bouldering
Think of this like a lighter version of rock-climbing. Instead of something so extreme, you’re scaling boulders. Of course, this is still physically demanding, it just offers a good workout in nature that a lot of people will actually have access to. If you like challenges and overcoming obstacles, then mix this in with your hikes!
9. Exploring Trails And Nature
Speaking of hiking, you can use that time to explore trails and nature. Wandering a bit, learning about your local fauna, and just taking the time to relax outside is a wonderful thing. You may be surprised at how much you can learn by just going outside and paying attention to your surroundings. There are a lot of things that are easy to miss or ignore in the modern world.
10. Make Money On Social Media
Well, the modern world may have some bad qualities, but it also comes with some nice things too. For example, it’s easier than ever to start a side hustle and bring in extra cash for your household. Social media, like Instagram or Twitter could be great places to start. If you already like social media, you may as well make use of it and add in another source of income.
11. Brewing
Brewing is a fun hobby for many Americans. There is something especially rewarding about having something your create on your own. Plus, over time you can learn more about it and come to tweak it until you can craft the perfect product for yourself – or even turn it into a business if you want to.
12. Traveling
This one is practically a given. Most of us like traveling, at least somewhat. There is a whole world out there to explore and learn from, and traveling can really open your eyes to a lot of it. So, if you have the time and resources, go ahead and take the dive into traveling.
13. Blogging
Blogging is a huge creative outlet for people, and possibly a good way to make extra cash. Pick something you like writing about and just get started with it! It pays to not overcomplicate things. Just start, narrow your niche, and have some fun with it.
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. If you want more tips, check out my guide to starting a new blog.
14. Learning Skills
If all you’re interested in is learning new skills, then just make a hobby out of that! Every few weeks, tackle a new topic or skill to learn, and see how you can use it to improve your life. Better yet, if you come across something you’re really interested in learning, you could always take a class on it.
15. Camping
Another outdoor activity, camping can help you get real close and comfortable with the outdoors. It can reconnect you with a more relaxed atmosphere, and it can be a great bonding experience for a family. Even if you’re not the biggest fan of camping, it’s worth a shot every few years.
16. Metal Detecting
Metal detecting is something that a lot of people thoroughly enjoy. It keeps you outside and moving, plus there is the thrill that comes with the potential of finding something valuable or interesting. It may not be for everyone, but its participants seems to be thoroughly pleased with it.
17. Beekeeping
Beekeeping is a somewhat niche hobby, as it can be intimidating to people at first. Take your time with it! Find someone you can learn from and take baby steps with it. Biting off more than you can chew, with any hobby, is a good way to make you instantly hate it.
18. Birdwatching
If you haven’t noticed, I really enjoy the outdoors and nature! Birdwatching not only keeps you outside, but it helps you learn about the local wildlife. Plus, there is a beauty in many birds that make them fun to watch.
19. Metalworking
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. You could even create gifts or items to sell.
20. Coding
Coding seems nerdy to the uninitiated, but it’s a wonderful hobby for everyone. It’s best to think of it simply – coding is just how you give the computer instructions to do exactly what you want. That’s it. There is a lot that comes with it, but it can also be loads of fun. Want to create your own apps and tools? Do it! Do you love video games? Then make your own! Perhaps you have a knack for robotics, that’s a huge thing you can dive into as well. There are tons of different projects you can take on that can offer hours of fun with a rewarding end result.
Conclusion
There you have it, another 20 productive hobbies. If you have more of your own to share, let us know in the comments. 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.
