I believe that women in their 20’s should have plenty of hobbies that they do simply for enjoyment. They also provide a level of self-care that is sustainable over periods of change. Because to be honest, life changes but are interests don’t have to!
Forming hobbies in your 20’s forces you to do something that is centered around one of the most important things in your life, you. Having hobbies also means that you get to enjoy doing things for your own pleasure rather out of obligation (i.e., needing to work to pay your bills because girl it ain’t the same).
I also believe women need hobbies because it removes a lot of distractions early on in the game of life. It leads to great self-care practices that are sustainable even after you leave your 20’s.
Hobbies can be independent but they can be with other people as well. They open doors to new experiences and relationships and force you to think differently about the things around you.
Adulting can be a pretty tough for anyone navigating their 20’s but it can and should still be fun. Instead of getting caught up in the rat race, focus on doing things that make you happy. Once you remove the routine, the people, the relationships, all you have is you and it is important to explore what it is you actually like to do!
Below are 8 ideas for hobbies that you can try and become inspired by today!
Painting
I mention this one first because it is my newest hobby that I’ve picked up and I love it! During quarantine, I started watching a lot of videos on TikTok which highlighted so many creative activities to do. What really got me hooked were all the wonderful painters I came across!
People were uploading videos using oil or acrylic painting while some used blow dryers to help create their masterpieces. I didn’t think I could get to their level but I did think it would be something cool to try.
So I finally ordered a paint set from Amazon that had a canvas notebook or pad, a few larger canvasses, several brushes and a great variety of paint colors. Once i got started, i really enjoyed it and how peaceful it made my time at home.
You don’t have to have the goal to become a great painter or be the next Vincent van Gogh. You simply have to just do it and see if it can provide the joy you’re looking for!
Gardening
This is great for those who love spending time outdoors! If you have a backyard or any form of outdoor space, try spending time putting down some roots and watch your seeds blossom.
I know several people who garden as a hobby gardening and it winded up giving them more than they bargained for. For example, my boyfriend is growing squash in front of our apartment door and the kicker is, we don’t have designated outdoor space. Just some plants in a bucket and BAM he’s a gardener.
Not only can the task of gardening become your hobby but you may find that growing certain fruits or vegetables is worthwhile for your home.
If you don’t have outdoor space, try simply becoming a plant mom. Find small and maybe low to medium maintenance plants that you can take care of indoors and spend time with. It may not take up a whole lot of your time, but it’s a step in the right direction.
Reading for Leisure
A lot of women in their early 20’s have spent most of their recent years in high school or college which usually requires a lot of required reading. We don’t even realize how little we pick up books just because we want!
After I graduated from college, I thought I would have more time and mental freedom to read what I wanted. But I realized I always picked up books that were focused on productivity or self-improvement.
While that is perfectly fine and something I still do today, I realized I still wasn’t fulfilled. I wasn’t reading simply out of enjoyment, but for some deeper reason that i needed to leave alone for the sake of getting a hobby.
So I thought of the books I used to read when I was a teenager and I soon picked up several mystery/ thriller type novels. These were my favorite because they always kept me so engaged in the content. It was like Law & Order but in book form, and i loved it.
Before I knew it, I was reading a book per week. Something I hadn’t did in more than a decade if we are being honest.
While that genre may not work for everyone, the point is to find books that give you joy and allow your mind to wander a bit. Just start reading for fun!
Photography
Photography is a another great hobby to have because it puts you as a woman, in a very creative space or realm. It forces you to think differently and probably a bit more critically to capture great moments with a picture or video.
Most of us, if not all of us in 2020, have a smart phone with great camera features. This makes photography an easy hobby to start if you wanted to limit your upfront costs. So turn on your cell phone and spend some time taking pictures of whatever looks good to you.
Sometimes I go on long walks around the neighborhood and I’ll use the Portrait mode on my iPhone XS Max to capture some great pictures of nature. I usually include pictures of trees or flowers that catch my eye and i do it solely for me.
Also the great thing about photography is you can edit the pictures and make them into whatever you want. My favorite is turning my photos into black and white and making a collage out of them for artwork in my home!
Find A Sports Club
I know a lot of people dread traditional exercise and sweaty gyms so finding a sport that you like can be the middle ground to get you active AND get you the hobby you’ve been looking for.
When I first moved to San Diego, I told myself that I would find a basketball league with limited commitment so I didn’t feel overwhelmed with yet another obligation. Hobbies should be fun and even at times work, but work that you can enjoy.
If you’re unsure of what sports to try, start with sports or activities you liked growing up. Maybe you don’t want to pick up basketball like I did because you played it in high school or you simply don’t like it. So go back further. Think of sports that you may have played simply because it made you smile.
For example, my boyfriend picked up Kickball as a hobby with his friends and he really loved it. Most of us, if not all, have played kickball at least once in our lifetime. Or maybe for you it is dodgeball, soccer, tennis, volleyball…the list goes on. Just try to find something that you think you would like to do and go from there.
There are so many sports and activities you can try, so you are bound to found one that is a fit for you.
Learn To Play an Instrument
This is one on my current to-do list because I really love music. It was the driving force behind my blog when I launched in 2015. Even though I have transitioned from writing solely about music, I have realized how much I love it at its core, including all the instruments that are used to make the magic happen.
I love finding new music and listening to the vocals of singers and the production that accompanies their voices. I am constantly playing NPR Music Tiny Desk Concerts at home and I especially enjoy watching the live bands.
If you even like music, which I assume you do, this may be for you!
This hobby may have some upfront costs like buying the instrument/ tools you will need to play. So try to find stores or local shops that offer lightly used instruments for a discount.
I will also note how great YouTube is to use as a resource to learn how to do something. I’ve used it for painting to understand the basics and it’s been a great help. You can definitely learn how to play instruments online without investing hundreds of dollars into formal learning so don’t let that deter you!
Volunteering
Volunteering may not seem like a hobby at first, but it definitely is a great one to start in your 20’s! Not only does it create a great habit for yourself by helping others, it puts life into perspective about the realities a lot of us are faced with.
For me, I enjoy going to local soup kitchens and meeting people from the area who can tell me about the community I’m in and the people it services. I may not volunteer every weekend, but I try to set a goal for myself each month to hold myself accountable.
If you’re looking for something other than a soup kitchen, you can try volunteering at your local pet shelter or participate in a 5k race that helps a cause you are passionate about. Either way, you can make giving a hobby for you!
Volunteering is a great hobby because you get to choose what you want to do and who you want to serve. Plus, I’ve learned in helping others, I somehow wind up giving myself something that is powerful and long-lasting; peace of mind knowing I’m helping others.
Writing
If you haven’t noticed yet, this blog is one of my beloved hobbies! I started writing when I was about 12 years old, it has been with me off and on ever since.
Writing can be so therapeutic for women in their 20’s specifically because it provides an outlet from all the stress and crap that life sometimes bring. And the fun part is that you can write about anything you want.
You simply just have to write.
Some people get into poetry or short stories but if that doesn’t work for you, just try journaling. Daily journaling can help you release a lot of thoughts and emotions on paper and remove it from weighing you down mentally and emotionally.
I started writing poetry first but I then became more interested in journalism once I got to high school. After being out of high school for ten years (I feel old typing that), I blog for myself and for other people to learn more about living their lives with purpose.
Women in their 20’s deserve and need hobbies because it gives them identity. Away from relationships, school, career…hobbies give you purpose and allow you to do things that truly make you happy. Isn’t that the point of life…to be happy?
