When looking for hobbies it is important to keep some considerations in mind. Answering these considerations will help guide what sort of activities to try to ensure the right hobbies for you.
A rewarding hobby should not feel like an obligation. It should be a source of joy and fulfillment. Does the activity genuinely excite you? Can time slip away when you are engaged in it? Does it provide a sense of personal growth and accomplishment?
Think about subjects you enjoy reading about. Perhaps there is a topic you watch YouTube videos on endlessly; suddenly realizing it’s 2 am and you’ve gone down a rabbit hole. Or something you like to talk about at social gatherings. Things that make you lose track of time are good candidates for a hobby.
When I was younger, I got a gym membership. I paid for a personal trainer and was determined to get healthy and fit. What was interesting about it was I loved cardio work. The trainer said he had difficulty getting most of his clients to do cardio. However, I was very content to jog on a treadmill or cycle on a bike for an hour. But I hated weights.
First, I wasn’t very strong so I was embarrassed. Other guys were loading the bar with weight and I was barely able to press 80 lbs! Secondly, it hurt. My muscles were not used to working out like that. But I had great legs and cardio, so that work was easy. Because of the weight work, going to the gym felt like an obligation. I spent all that money so I had better go. As the weeks passed, I went less and less and eventually cancelled the membership.
However, I realized I loved cycling. I bought a road bike, joined a local cycling club and began riding multiple times a week. Getting stronger I even rode in UCI sanctioned races. I also set some records on Strava that are still in place 13 years later!
Riding took up way more time than the gym ever did. But because I was passionate about it, it seemed effortless. I could feel myself get stronger and I wanted to cycle.
Pottery is the same thing. I love watching pottery videos online. Learning new techniques and seeing what others are doing. I like talking about pottery, looking at pottery. It is something that brings me endless joy. In Nikko, I was invited to participate in firing a Shigaraki style kiln. We loaded wood into a big kiln for four days straight! I worked the midnight to 3am shift. But because it was so much fun I didn’t care. It was something I was passionate about. By finding the activities I love, participating in them seems effortless.
To start, list 3 topics you’ve lost hours reading about online. This is usually a decent indicator that something would be a good hobby for you. Next figure out if it fits one of the three types of hobbies. Is it mental, creative or a physical hobby? Try to find one of each!