8 New Hobbies to Try in 2020
With work, school, errands, social, and everything else life may be throwing at you this year, it’s easy to get stuck in a cycle. Not that it’s terrible to have a routine in your life, but you need to take some time for yourself as well. Hobbies can help develop creativity, confidence, reduce stress and negativity, and even help with blood pressure and psychosocial and physical measures.
Sometimes taking an hour or even just 20-30 minutes out of your day to focus on yourself is a great way to boost your morale, confidence, and overall happiness. Starting new hobbies this year can be the perfect way to accomplish this.
There are hobbies for everyone, too. Creative hobbies, fitness hobbies, relaxing hobbies, etc. Here are a few new hobbies to try in 2020:
Learn an Instrument
Although somewhat tricky, learning to play an instrument can also be pretty therapeutic. It’s never too late to pick up an instrument and learn to play. Whether you take actual lessons with someone, take online lessons, or find free YouTube videos, there’s always a way!
This is a great way to learn something new, get your mind off of other stresses in life, and can even turn into a way to make extra money. Plus, it’s always fun to show off your talent to family and friends. They’ll enjoy it too, because who doesn’t love free live music?
Start Writing
Whether you feel your super creative or not, writing is a great hobby. There are so many books out there that include writing prompts to help get your creative juices flowing. You can choose from journaling, creative writing, poetry, lists, thoughts, anything really!
Writing is an inexpensive hobby that can take your mind elsewhere and help to release your stress and worries. You can start small and transform your hobby into a career (write that book you’ve always dreamt about!) or keep it to 30 minutes a day. The possibilities are here endless.
Exercising
Exercising is one of those words that people either love or hate, but it doesn’t need to have a negative connotation to it. And it doesn’t have to involve heavy lifting or sweating profusely, but it can if you want it to be.
You can do dance classes, pure barre, swimming, biking/cycling, hiking, yoga, and so much more. You could choose one or try them all out.
There are gym memberships and classes, of course, but if you’re looking for a cheap hobby, there’s always the great outdoors and/or YouTube. Spend your time getting healthy, getting some fresh air, taking your mind off life, and being active all at once.
Learn a New Language
Learning a new language may seem daunting. It will take a lot of time and dedication, but in the end, it will be so worth it. It also has the potential to open up new doors, too. Traveling to a country where you know the language spoken will be so much easier and enjoyable for you.
What’s the best way to get started? There are quite a few apps that help you learn languages, you can purchase packages and videos to teach you, or you could check out audio and print lessons from local libraries. While we’ve not tried it personally, we’ve heard that Rosetta Stone is a great place to start!
Painting and/or Drawing
You don’t have to be a skilled artist to make art. Even if it doesn’t look great, it can be extremely relaxing.
There are many books with drawing prompts and step-by-step instructions, and there are also paint classes that you can do with friends and family – some even include wine. Painting and drawing also help to prevent dementia, so it’s a great way to improve your mind in addition to helping you relax.
DIY
Maybe your home needs a little sprucing up? Or perhaps you want to save money and keep your old furniture, but hate the way it looks? Well, DIY (do it yourself) is not only a great way to save money and be creative, but it can revamp your home on a budget.
DIY can really be anything from painting old furniture from garage sales to spray painting a lamp from a thrift store. The possibilities with this hobby and you’ll be making your home exactly how you want it. Need a place to start? Try Pinterest.
Read
A lot of people haven’t picked up a book since they were in school. Reading doesn’t have to be boring, though. Reading can take you into a whole new universe and life in a matter of seconds. There are books to educate you, books to make you laugh, self-help books, true crime books, romance, sci-fi, there’s something for everyone.
You can even sign up for monthly subscriptions where you are sent books each month or pay a set price at a bookstore to get books at a lower cost. Of course, you can always get a library card and read to your heart’s desire or even go to thrift stores to find cheap copies. If you like to read and then want to talk about what you read, find or create a book club – whether it’s in person or online.
Take up a Self-Defense Class
Not only is this a hobby that’ll get your heart rate up, it’s also incredibly important to know how to protect yourself – especially as a woman. These classes are typically really enjoyable, too, especially if you get your friends to do it with you!
Each class will help you to get stronger, become more confident, and ultimately make you feel more empowered.
So the year has just begun, and it is the perfect time to pick up a new hobby. There are so many to choose from and so many different options. Are you considering any of the ones we’ve highlighted here? Perhaps you’ve picked up a different hobby? We’d love to hear from you in the comment section below!
Alyson Pittman is a contributing writer for WBD and a JR marketing associate for Excite Creative Studios, an Atlanta-based creative agency.
Alyson graduated from Kennesaw State University with a Bachelors of Business Administration and a concentration in Marketing. She was in multiple organizations at KSU where she held leadership positions. As a part of the Delta Phi Epsilon Sorority, Alyson held the Social Coordinator position and planned/promoted large events.
Responses