What’s the best way to stay fresh and creative when you’re putting in long hours and facing tight deadlines? Especially when you can’t take much time off? For Taylor Swift, the answer is to do something completely different–but also highly creative–that you’re passionate about.
Many creative people take their hobbies very seriously. Steve Jobs famously followed his passion to a calligraphy course that later helped when it came time to create Apple’s fonts. Albert Einstein was an accomplished violinist. Swift bakes bread. Specifically, sourdough bread. Loaves and loaves of it.
Whether you consider her a genius or not, there’s no denying that Swift’s creative output is prodigious and impressive. She recently released her 12th album, The Life of a Showgirl. It was mostly written while she performed three-hour shows in the long-running Eras tour, at the same time as she was releasing her 11th album, The Tortured Poets Department. Oh, and making it to every Kansas City Chiefs football game she could so she could cheer for her now-fiancé Travis Kelce.
“I actually sleep a lot,” she said. “It’s just that I don’t do anything other than this when I’m not sleeping.” She loves what she does so much that it doesn’t feel like work, she explained. And she does it for all her waking hours. Except when she’s baking bread.
Baking allows her to stop her mind from continuing to work on songs. “It’s, like, stress relief,” she said. “Like, you’re following instructions. You’re doing a thing they’ve done for thousands of years. There’s something kind of calming about it.”
It’s also a different form of creativity for Swift, and one that can be all-consuming. “It’s like I have when I have a hobby, it becomes an obsession, and then it becomes my entire personality,” she said. To prove her point, she gave two loaves of bread to Meyers before the show, in their own bakery-type bread bags, and covered with stickers that said things like “Are you bready for it?” and “The fate of Doughphelia” (a play on Swift’s new song, “The Fate of Ophelia.”) And, of course, there were pictures of Swift’s cats, another of her obsessions.
She even described how delighted she was that a loaf of her bread made a cameo appearance on a table next to an apple in the “Fate of Ophelia” video. “It was a huge moment for me,” she said. She was accustomed to baking bread for texture and flavor, but this time she was aiming for visual appeal. “And I’m just really excited that it seems to have gone really well. Like, I did the feather scoring–” she paused in a moment of apparent realization “–that nobody cares about, except for me.”
Baking bread is a healthy release.
So, yup, beyond all doubt, Swift’s breadmaking had turned into an over-the-top obsession. But it’s also a healthy release from the pressures of her very public, very work-focused life. It’s a chance to do something completely different from writing songs, or making videos, or singing. It’s tactile, and extremely satisfying. And, just as important, it gives her creative, obsessive mind something different to focus on. It’s a way to let herself play.
If you’re an entrepreneur or business leader, chances are you’re obsessed with your work, too. You may not have much time off. And you may still need to keep that creativity flowing and a fresh outlook. If so, try finding a hobby that fascinates you as much as bread fascinates Swift. It just may be the outlet, and the creative boost you need.
There’s a growing audience of Inc.com readers who receive a daily text from me with a self-care or motivational micro-challenge or tip. Often, they text me back and we wind up in a conversation. (Want to know more? Here’s some information about the texts and a special invitation to a two-month free trial.) Many of my subscribers are entrepreneurs or business leaders. A lot of them are completely consumed by their work. But they also know how important it is to have creative passions that have nothing to do with their job. Should you give it a try?
The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.
Modern-day meteorologists rely on a vast network of advanced technologies to predict the weather, but that wasn’t always the case. Before satellites, computer modeling, and radar systems, people made forecasts largely by observing their surroundings.
The techniques and tools they used are still effective and accessible today. In fact, they’re perfect for anyone interested in becoming a backyard meteorologist. With a few handy instruments and a solid understanding of some basic weather concepts, you’ll be making your own forecasts in no time.
Gizmodo turned to two experts in meteorology and amateur forecasting for advice on how to get started. John Huth, a Donner Professor of Science at Harvard University’s physics department, teaches a class on backyard meteorology and the science of weather. Steve Seman, an associate teaching professor at Penn State’s College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, also instructs students in meteorology.
They broke down the basics, highlighted helpful tools, and offered words of wisdom for anyone looking to learn more about the weather in their neighborhood.
Step 1: Learn the fundamental science
Weather is driven by six key variables: temperature, atmospheric pressure, cloud formation, wind, humidity, and precipitation. Changes in these variables—and interactions between them—create different scenarios and patterns. Once you understand that, you can begin thinking about how air moves around in the atmosphere.
“We usually start thinking horizontally, at the surface of the Earth, and then go into vertical [movement],” Seman said. Horizontal air movement—or wind—drives vertical air movement through convergence and divergence. Convergence is the inflow of air to a given area, causing it to pile up and rise. Divergence is the outflow of air from a given area, causing it to spread out and sink.
“Those horizontal air movements are also related to vertical air movements,” Seman explained. The first thing to understand is that both atmospheric temperature and pressure decrease with elevation. “These two [gradients] are givens associated with the way the Earth’s atmosphere operates,” Huth said.
As warm air rises, it encounters lower pressure and expands, then cools in a process called adiabatic cooling. If it cools past the dew point, moisture condenses around tiny airborne particles, forming clouds and sometimes storms. When air sinks, skies clear.
These are some of the most basic concepts in atmospheric science. While there’s much more to learn, mastering the fundamentals provides a solid foundation for understanding Earth’s complex weather system.
One of the first things Seman and Huth teach their students is how to observe and measure weather conditions. When starting out, this may be as simple as stepping outside and asking questions: “Does it feel humid out? What kind of clouds do you see in the sky?” Huth suggested.
The senses serve as a backyard meteorologist’s first toolkit. At the beginning of Huth’s course, he asks students to spend several days observing their physiological responses to different conditions. This establishes an internal baseline that helps guide their forecasting.
Once you’ve built this foundation, there’s no shortage of instruments that can help you measure the weather phenomena you see and feel. But both Huth and Seman stress that you don’t need to go out and buy a bunch of fancy equipment. In fact, you can even make some of these tools yourself.
Here is their list of essentials for your backyard meteorology toolkit:
Dry-bulb thermometer: For measuring air temperature
Wet-bulb thermometer: For measuring humidity
Barometer: For measuring air pressure
Weather vane: For measuring wind direction
Anemometer: For measuring wind speed
Rain gauge: For measuring precipitation
If you’re willing to spend more money for a more high-tech setup, you can purchase a home weather station instead. These compact devices gather all the measurements listed above and typically range from $100 to over $1,000. While more expensive models may come with more advanced features and increased accuracy, you by no means have to spend that much.
“For most people, it’s not even worth it because the siting of the instrument is so important in terms of the quality of the measurements,” Seman said. Most don’t live in places that are ideal for gathering weather data using a home station, he explained.
Full transparency—backyard meteorology isn’t the easiest hobby to pick up. Even for those with a science background, learning how to gather and interpret this type of data can be challenging and even frustrating at times.
Huth and Seman can attest to this, having dealt with plenty of discouraged students in their classes. The main piece of advice they offer is to trust the learning process and not give up.
“There is not one meteorologist in the world who knows all the answers every single time,” Seman said. “So have realistic expectations for yourself and just try to build step by step.”
Huth would agree. “Don’t be afraid to make mistakes,” he said. “Don’t beat yourself up if you aren’t precise because the weather is known to be fickle.”
Connecting with other backyard meteorologists or experts in this field can also be very helpful. “I encourage students to ask a lot of questions when [they] encounter things that just aren’t making sense,” Seman said. Getting involved in online forums—such as those hosted on the American Weather website—or local clubs are great ways to meet other weather enthusiasts.
Learning to forecast may require a greater investment of time and energy than other hobbies, but it also delivers a higher reward. Being weather savvy—observing the sky, making your own assessments, and having a clearer understanding of official forecasts from agencies like the National Weather Service—can help anyone make more informed decisions.
“The weather is applicable to pretty much everybody’s daily life in some way, from what you choose to wear to what your heating bill might be,” Seman said.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
When it comes to entrepreneurship, picking up a new hobby probably isn’t top of mind. You’re already juggling a packed schedule — and maybe you already have hobbies you love. Still, it should come as no surprise: hobbies are good for you.
In fact, a 2023 study published in Nature Medicine found that adults aged 65-plus who engaged in hobbies reported better health, higher life satisfaction and greater happiness. And in my own experience, embracing a musical hobby has been one of the most effective ways to improve my mental health, reduce stress and maintain a sense of balance as a business owner.
You don’t need to be a lifelong musician to benefit. Music offers a creative outlet and a mental reset — something all entrepreneurs need more of. Whether you’re learning an instrument, singing, or simply listening more intentionally, musical hobbies can change how you show up in business and life.
Let’s break down three key ways music can positively impact entrepreneurs.
1. Music relieves stress — fast
Entrepreneurship comes with constant pressure — deadlines, decisions, responsibilities. Stress builds up over time, and if left unchecked, it can lead to burnout, anxiety, trouble concentrating or even depression.
A musical hobby can serve as a powerful stress reliever. Studies show that playing an instrument or singing can lower cortisol levels and reduce anxiety. Even listening to music intentionally — without multitasking — can focus your mind and create a sense of calm.
Of course, not everyone has time to learn an instrument. That’s okay. For me, just putting on a record and truly listening helps me reset. Whether it’s practicing piano, jamming with friends or listening to a favorite playlist, music becomes something to look forward to — a reliable, restorative escape.
Musical hobbies don’t just relieve stress — they sharpen your mind. Actively engaging with music can improve memory, concentration, and cognitive flexibility. For entrepreneurs, that’s a powerful edge.
Learning to play an instrument, for instance, requires self-discipline, time management and resilience — all skills that mirror the entrepreneurial journey. It challenges you to get comfortable being a beginner again, to practice patience, and to build momentum over time.
Musical practice enhances:
Creativity
Problem-solving
Focus
Coordination
Confidence
Discipline
Learning agility
And perhaps most importantly, it reminds you that growth comes from consistency — a principle that applies just as much in business as it does in music.
Engaging with music activates multiple regions of the brain — the same areas responsible for memory, movement, emotional regulation and complex thinking.
A 2023 study found that musical training enhances auditory processing and working memory. According to AARP, playing an instrument lights up your brain, improving functions like listening, reading, and recall — and may even help grow new neural pathways. That means better cognitive health, greater adaptability, and increased creative thinking.
For entrepreneurs who rely on clear decision-making, creative problem-solving and rapid learning, that kind of cognitive workout is invaluable.
Treat music as self-care, not a side project
Musical hobbies give entrepreneurs more than just stress relief. They offer a creative space to disconnect from the daily grind, while strengthening the mental and emotional muscles that help you lead, build and grow.
Even if you can’t commit to lessons or learning an instrument, find ways to engage with music that work for your schedule. Deep listening, group classes, or even karaoke nights can reignite joy and spark inspiration.
Entrepreneurship demands everything from you — but that doesn’t mean you can’t take something back. A musical hobby could be exactly what you need to recharge, grow and show up better in every area of your life.
When it comes to entrepreneurship, picking up a new hobby probably isn’t top of mind. You’re already juggling a packed schedule — and maybe you already have hobbies you love. Still, it should come as no surprise: hobbies are good for you.
In fact, a 2023 study published in Nature Medicine found that adults aged 65-plus who engaged in hobbies reported better health, higher life satisfaction and greater happiness. And in my own experience, embracing a musical hobby has been one of the most effective ways to improve my mental health, reduce stress and maintain a sense of balance as a business owner.
You don’t need to be a lifelong musician to benefit. Music offers a creative outlet and a mental reset — something all entrepreneurs need more of. Whether you’re learning an instrument, singing, or simply listening more intentionally, musical hobbies can change how you show up in business and life.
Almost 50% of people feel they have an addiction to their phone….here are ways to help
People report feeling anxious about being away from their phone, find themselves spending more and more time looking at the screen and see they are neglecting other things at work, school, and home. All of these are signs of a phone addiction. And with the new smart watches, the impulse to be constantly checking for updates can be overwhelming. But it is bad for mental health and for relationships. Here are the best ways to reduce your phone addiction.
It is crazy how phone have become such an ingrained part of day to day life. Almost 47% of admit being addicted to their phones. The average person checks their smartphone 352 times per day. Some 71% of people spend more time on their phone than with their romantic partner. Almost two-thirds of children spend four hours or more per day on their smartphones.
This can have short and long term effects on relationships, work and mental health, so how did you break an ingrained habit? Here are the best ways to reduce your phone addiction.
Acknowledge there needs to be a change
Recognizing the need to reduce the time on the phone is important. But also also realize you can’t quit totally and immediately. Stopping phone use for even a day could result in tons of anxiety, so try to take it slow at first, reducing your smartphone intake little by little.
Consider setting a timer every 15 or 20 minutes, allowing you to check all of your apps and then putting your phone face down somewhere in your line of sight. The phone in sight can reduce anxiety and, over time, you’ll feel less of a pressing need to check your phone constantly. It also gives time for the mind to develop new patterns of time use.
Phone are made to be attractive and enticing, but you can overcome their tricks with a few simple hacks. First, turn off non essential notifications including news, social media, etc. Next, change ring and text tones for essential connections and let others wait until you are ready. If possible, you the do not disturb mode at key work or sleep hours.
Also, be respectful, when at a meal or with key people and put your phone away. This will allow you to have a different mental engagement.
Photo by rawpixel.com
One method to get you to encourage a change in checking your social media apps is creating folders for each app and putting them on the last page of your screen. This method will make your phone look clunky, but it’ll make these apps harder to access. Also, there is the option to delete social media apps and limit yourself to using the website version.
In addition, consider “old school” alarm clocks to avoid looking at your phone in bed. Keeping the phone from where you sleep is another way to reduce addiction and provide for a better sleep.
Develop other hobbies
Having another habits mean there is less time you’ll have to invest on social media or scrolling. Consider alternating phone use and watching a TV show, baking, physical activities, or a hobby which doesn’t require a phone. It won’t be easy at first, but you’ll feel great afterwards.
Calm your mind
Photo by Eli DeFaria via Unpslash
Every time you get a notification from Facebook, Twitter, etc., your brain gets a dose of dopamine, which is why it’s so hard to stop. This endless loop of stimulus keeps your brain moving all the time, so it helps to try calming exercises such as meditation, yoga and routine workouts, which are all natural and more consistent sources of dopamine.
“Think about what constitutes performance in [your] job,” he says. In some fields and industries, like marketing or financial consulting, performance is typically tied to a specific project rather than the number of hours an employee spends on the clock. Many freelancers do this by charging flat fees: The amount of time they spend on a project doesn’t matter, so long as they get it done.
In those cases, Friedman says, you might be able to arrange for a four-day workweek or flexible hours. “If the job is amenable, it has nothing to do with time, it’s not client-facing, you don’t have meetings—then absolutely, you should go and ask for it,” he says. “But you’ve got to have a plan.”
4. Start with a discussion—not a negotiation
After all your reflection and research, it may be tempting to rush into your boss’s office and lay out your terms. Kaila-Gambhir advises against that—at least initially. Instead, she says, talk to your boss about the possibility of working less. That way, “you’re not committing to anything. You’re not giving them what your optimal, ideal scenario is just yet,” she says. “You just want to have a discussion—to explore options and see what may be possible.”
This phase isn’t just about gathering more information for your proposal. It also lets your boss see that you understand their position as an employer, one who needs to consider their own business needs alongside your request. Then you can book a follow-up conversation to ensure you keep the conversation going, Kaila-Gambhir says.
If your boss isn’t open to the idea of a hard-and-fast change to your work schedule, this is also a good time to suggest a trial run of your proposal. A conversation, rather than an ultimatum-driven negotiation, can feel less intimidating for an employer.
5. Be prepared to walk away
While it’s tempting to imagine that absolutely everything about a job is negotiable, that isn’t always true. For instance, it would be very difficult for an intensive care unit nurse to convince an employer to allow remote work. Same goes for the manager of a community centre or a barista.
In fact, most Canadian jobs have never been worked remotely. In April 2020, at the height of the first wave of COVID-19, it felt like everyone was at home. But the Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey reported that 40% of Canadian workers were mostly clocking in from home. As of last November, it dropped to 20%.
To Friedman, asking for flexibility when your job cannot easily be done through alternate arrangements is a bad strategy. It won’t convince employers, he says, and might come off as entitled. If all else fails, finding a new job that will accommodate your desire to work less might be the best option. Some job postings include information on working from home, flexible hours, part-time status, etc.
“Do you want a flexible job? Then maybe you ought to apply for another position that has more flexibility,” he says. “I’m not telling you that’s right or wrong—I’m just saying that’s what an employer will say.”
Understand what you’re up against
You may have to accept the reality: a request to work remotely or outside of office hours may not be a possibility in your current job, or your boss may not see your working less as good for their bottom line.
But in his experience in coaching executives, Friedman says many are open to changing the ways their employees work. Negotiating a four-day week, a flexible work arrangement, or the ability to disconnect from email at the end of the day is totally possible, so long as you do your homework and know how to ask.
Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.
Running a business can be all-consuming. However, business people who only talk about work can sometimes struggle to network and socialize, ironically stunting their potential for growth as salespeople and entrepreneurs. That’s why taking up a hobby and developing a skill that might not relate directly to your work can help your company and career.
For a Memorial Day sale running through 11:59 p.m. PT on May 31, you can get a lifetime subscription to Skoove Premium Piano Lessons for only $119.99 (reg. $1,198). Rated 4.5/5 stars on the App Store, this platform is designed to help users develop their piano skills with interactive lessons powered by artificial intelligence.
Skoove uses cutting-edge AI technology that can recognize notes as you play them and then offer adjustments and notes in real time. With this approach, the platform can teach you a wide range of chart-topping songs with over 400 lessons and thousands of instructional videos. With the subscription, you can study tracks by artists ranging from the Beatles to Bach.
Skoove is also convenient to use and practice with. It’s compatible with all pianos and keyboards, including USB/MIDI and acoustic ones. It also works with both iOS and Android operating systems on tablets, smartphones, and computers. To broaden your horizons, consider adding it to your life today.
Remember that during a special Memorial Day sale that runs through 11:59 p.m. PT on May 31, you can get a lifetime subscription to Skoove Premium Piano Lessons for only $119.99 (reg. $1,198) with code ENJOY20 at checkout.
Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.
Moe than 700 million people worldwide play the guitar, and there are numerous enterprises associated with the skill. Of course, it’s also one of the most fun instruments to play and not very difficult to learn. If you’d like to have a business, or even a hobby, related to playing guitar then the 2024 Guitar Lessons Training Bundle can help you quickly learn to play guitar even if you are a complete novice.
You need no experience whatsoever to start with the Beginner Guitar Lessons Crash Course, a student favorite with an average rating of 4.6 stars out of 5. It assumes you know nothing at all about guitar, but you’ll get quickly up-to-speed without skipping anything important.
You can then follow up with Guitar Technique, another highly-rated course. It will teach you the most important techniques for playing guitar. This course is actually for students at any level because the lessons are easy to start off with, then become more difficult as you gradually advance. You’ll begin to develop your own style in this class.
Blues lovers will thoroughly enjoy the Easy Blues Guitar Crash Course. It’s another beginner course, but you’ll quickly learn to play real blues guitar and the basic terms used in this genre. One of the best, easiest and most fun ways of improving your soloing is to play children’s songs. So you should love the Children’s Songs for the Guitar course, in which you’ll learn 20 children’s songs.
Once you’re done with the previous courses, or if you’re already at an advanced skill level on guitar, then you’ll be ready to take the Guitar Jam Method course.
It’s for just the intermediate and advanced guitar students, focusing on teaching you how to jam without needing to play a specific song. Creative guitarists can really improve their jamming and soloing skills in this class.
The course also contains seven modules “…for the Curious Guitarist”. These are Fingerstyle, Ear Training, Songwriting, Guitar Lessons, Jazz, Blues and Christmas Songs.
All of the courses are presented by Dan Dresnok, who has taught guitar to tens of thousands of students online and in-person. He’s also been a performer and recording studio session guitarist, specializing in music theory, guitar, blues, jazz, rock and bluegrass.
Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.
Entrepreneurs and business leaders can benefit from having a creative outlet to use for reflection and taking space from work life. For many, exploring the arts or an instrument can offer a stimulating way to unwind after a long day at the office, and that time can even be great for ideating and problem-solving.
For those who are interested in exploring the world of music, it’s worth knowing that you can get a lifetime subscription to Skoove Premium Piano Lessons with an extra 20% savings, making it just $119.99 (reg. $1,198) through March 10 at 11:59 p.m. PT with code ENJOY20.
Skoove uses groundbreaking AI technology to listen to you play the piano during curated lessons and offer real-time feedback, just like a human tutor would. It comes with more than 400 pre-loaded lessons and thousands of instructional videos. The system can then take that wide database and curate its approach to your specific learning needs and playing preferences.
Skoove can teach you the basics of piano as well as fun and recognizable songs by famous artists like the Beatles, Adele, Bach, and Beethoven.
If you want to know if Skoove is worth it, it’s been featured in articles from Apple, Forbes, The Guardian, and Wired. You can also take a hint from its million-plus users.
Mark Zuckerberg’s job can be hard to describe to a child. But one of his favorite hobbies these days—producing beef—is easier to understand.
The Meta CEO recently revealed that his daughter misunderstood what his main job was.
“For a while, she just thought that I was a cattle rancher,” the Facebook cofounder told Morning Brew Daily on Friday.
While Zuckerberg’s fascination with martial arts has been well documented, he’s also intent on producing some of the best beef on the planet—not to sell commercially, but to enjoy with friends and family.
The tech billionaire is raising cattle on Ko’olau Ranch, a property he owns on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. In an Instagram post last month, he wrote:
“Started raising cattle at Ko’olau Ranch on Kauai, and my goal is to create some of the highest quality beef in the world. The cattle are wagyu and angus, and they’ll grow up eating macadamia meal and drinking beer that we grow and produce here on the ranch.”
Zuckerberg has no shortage of land on the island. According to a Wiredinvestigation published a few months ago, the property includes 1,400 acres. “Less than one percent of the overall land is developed with the vast majority dedicated to farming, ranching, conservation, open spaces, and wildlife preservation,” a spokesperson for Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan told the technology publication.
“We want the whole process to be local and vertically integrated,” Zuckerberg wrote on Instagram. “Each cow eats 5,000-10,000 pounds of food each year, so that’s a lot of acres of macadamia trees. My daughters help plant the mac trees and take care of our different animals. We’re still early in the journey and it’s fun improving on it every season.”
Zuckerberg jokes with his family that “if I’m ever done with Meta, I’m going to run Mark’s Meats,” he told Morning Brew.
Such an operation would be easier for a child to understand than Meta’s offerings, which include Facebook, Instagram, and the metaverse.
“If you’re a kid, it’s kinda hard to wrap your head around what Meta is,” Zuckerberg noted.
As for raising cattle, “I just think it’s super fun,” he said. “It’s like, ‘Alright, let’s brew our own beer. Let’s grow our own macadamia nuts.’” His children can be part of figuring out what it’s like run such a process, he noted, and it’s “easier for them to do that than be involved in the software business.”
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Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.
A lot of meetings take place on the golf course, which is why working on your game can be considered a business expense. It also helps if how you’re practicing your golf game can serve like the actual game in allowing you to meet people and potentially generate leads. Such a practice tool exists with this open-box PhiGolf World Tour Edition, and it’s on sale for just $149.99 (reg. $249) during a special Presidents’ Day sale.
Featuring a special sensor and simulations of more than 38,000 real-world golf courses, this practice tool can let you work on your game all year, so you’re never rusty when those important business rounds come up. The trainer comes with a weighted training stick with a weighted mechanism built into it that makes it feel like you’re swinging an actual golf club.
Its compact design makes swinging it in your living room and small spaces easy and safe. The intuitive sensor that reads your swing transmits the data to the PhiGolf simulator app, which you can stream to your TV for a real-time response.
PhiGolf lets you play with golfers based around the world in online matches, which is why it offers similar social and networking benefits as real-life play. So you can work on your swing and your small talk, and you can sharpen your competitive edge from the comfort of your own home.
This product is listed as a new, open-box item, which means it’s likely excess inventory from store shelves and is verified to be in new condition and clean packaging.
This open-box PhiGolf World Tour Edition is on sale for the exclusive price of just $149.99 (reg. $249) during a special Presidents’ Day Sale.
Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.
Running a business and being an entrepreneur are notoriously time-consuming lifestyles. That means if you are already putting in late hours in 2024, you might have a significant other or a teammate who could use a little boost this Valentine’s Day. This creative gift could be perfect!
Through February 4th at 11:59 p.m. PT, the 2024 Guitar Lessons Training Bundle is on sale for just $16.97 (reg. $480). Featuring 12 courses and nearly 80 hours of content, this training bundle is ideal for anyone in your life with a creative side. If you’re interested yourself, it can offer a therapeutic break from office life or even serve you for creating content for your business in the future.
The top course listed in the bundle, Beginner Guitar Lessons Crash Course, features 18 lectures on basics like reading TAB, naming notes on the fret, learning open chords, barre chords, playing solos, and more. This course has an average rating of 4.6/5 stars by verified purchasers.
This course and others throughout the bundle are taught by guitar teacher Dan Dresnok, who has been teaching online and in person for over three decades. Dresnok has an average instructor rating of 4.4/5 stars.
Some of the other topics covered in courses throughout this discounted bundle include guitar technique, songwriting, fingerstyle, ear training, and more.
Whether you need a creative outlet, a meaningful gift, or a unique Valentine’s Day present, this limited-time discount could absolutely help.
What are the six aspects of a balanced person? Physical, mental, emotional, social, work/financial, and meaning/spiritual. Learn more about each one and how to improve it!
In life, there isn’t one single area that we need to focus on that is going to magically fix all of our problems.
Instead there are multiple dimensions behind every “good life.” Each dimension requires our attention and each contributes to our overall happiness and well-being.
Here are six aspects of life that come together to create a “balanced person.” By being more aware of these different dimensions in life, we can determine which areas we need to focus on more and work to improve.
The different aspects of a balanced person include: 1) Physical, 2) Mental, 3) Emotional, 4) Social, 5) Work/Financial and 6) Meaning/Spiritual.
If we focus too much on any one area, then we risk neglecting another one. For example, if you become solely focused on just work and money, you may end up spending less time taking care of your physical and mental health, or less quality time with family and friends.
This is a common trap people fall into. They focus all of their energy and effort into one area in life while completely ignoring another. Often they need to reconfigure their core values and priorities before making a meaningful change.
This is why practicing balance in all things is so important.
Each of these areas is one piece of a much larger puzzle, and only when you have all of these areas working together harmoniously can you finally build a complete life that serves all of your needs.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of each aspect of a “balanced person,” along with tips, tools, and practical advice on how you can start improving each one.
While reading ask yourself, “Which aspect do I need to focus on the most right now? What’s one small change I can make to improve that area?”
Now let’s dive in…
1. PHYSICAL WELL-BEING
The “physical” aspect of life is all about taking care of our health, especially exercise, diet, and sleep.
This includes what types of foods and drinks we consume on a daily basis, how often we exercise and keep our bodies moving, personal hygiene and cleanliness, as well as minimizing alcohol, smoking, and other harmful habits to our physical health.
Our body is one of the most precious gifts we have – and without it we can’t exist. If we don’t stay healthy, we often can’t fully enjoy all the other aspects of life such as family, work, traveling, or leisure.
Our health can often have a spillover effect into all the other aspects of our lives – for that reason, taking care of our physical health is often an essential first step on any road to self-improvement.
No matter what the current state of our health is, it’s never too late to start changing our habits, even if it’s something small like stretching in the morning, taking daily walks outside, or starting an active hobby like Yoga, marathon running, or playing sports.
A healthy body is a healthy mind. When we take better care of our bodies, we also feel more confident, motivated, and energized overall. That’s the beginning of bringing out your best self.
Things to do:
Identify small ways to be more physically active. Often our days are filled with opportunities to be more active, we just need to take advantage of them. Try to cultivate an “everything counts” mindset when it comes to exercise, even if it just means taking a walk around the block, or stretching in the morning, or doing push-ups before lunch. Any physical activity is better than none at all – so seek out small and convenient ways to keep your body moving throughout the day. If you find yourself sitting for long periods of time, get up and do chores, take a walk around the office, or make a phone call while standing up. A sedentary lifestyle is one of the biggest risk factors when it comes to poor health, so finding any reason to stand up more is better than sitting.
Find exercise that “clicks” with you and your personality. Different things work for different people. Some people need to commit themselves to a gym membership to get themselves off the couch, while others prefer to work out in the comfort of their own homes. Your personality shapes what exercise you like, so it’s important you find activities that resonate and “click” with you, rather than trying to force yourself to do something you really don’t enjoy. All you need is that one hobby to take your fitness to the next level, whether it be finding an enjoyable sport (like Tennis, or Baseball, or Basketball), or even exercising through video games (such as Wii Fit or Dance Dance Revolution). Try to think of physical activities you enjoyed as a kid, that can often be a good place to rekindle motivation.
Keep a healthy and consistent sleep schedule. Sleep is one of the most important habits when it comes to your overall physical and mental health. Research shows that those who don’t get sufficient sleep (between 6-10 hours every night) often suffer worse health outcomes like a weaker immune system, higher risk of obesity, lower energy and stamina, and more stress and anxiety. If your sleep habits aren’t healthy or consistent, it will likely have a negative “ripple effect” on almost every other aspect of your day. When you’re tired and fatigued, you’re more likely to make mistakes at work or argue with your spouse. It’s important not only to get between 6-10 hours of sleep each night, but also to maintain a consistent schedule. If you don’t sleep much on the weekends, it’s difficult to “catch up” on those lost hours throughout the week. Try to go to bed and wake up around the same time each day if possible. Here are more important lessons behind a good night’s sleep, including recognizing that some people are natural “early birds” or “night owls,” and that’s something you need to recognize and work with.
Pay attention to your food and diet. There are many different diets out there to choose from – and people can have long debates about which one is better – but the most important thing is to not eat too much, especially junk food, fast food, soda, sweets, and lots of processed food. Use your commonsense. Experiment with different diet changes and see what works best for you. Different diets work better for different people – so there’s no “one size fits all” solution to what exactly you should eat or not eat. One simple diet change is to substitute all your soda/juice/sugary drinks with water instead. Drinking plenty of water is never a bad place to start – most people don’t recognize how dehydrated they can be throughout the day and how it effects them. If you’re trying to lose weight, one popular option you can consider is intermittent fasting where you allow yourself to eat for an 8 hour window each day and fast for the remaining 16 hours. You can also try the “One Meal A Day” approach, where you restrict yourself to just one big meal (with minimal snacking). In general, pay attention to how your body responds to the things you eat: What foods leave you tired and feeling like crap? What foods make you energized and feeling good?
Take care of personal hygiene and cleanliness. Proper hygiene is another important aspect of physical health. While it can seem like commonsense, basic habits like taking a shower, brushing your teeth, getting a haircut, trimming your nails, and washing your face are are all important things not to neglect. Not only does cleanliness prevent you from catching germs and getting sick, you also feel better about yourself when you present yourself in the best way possible (and smell good). Often we are surprised by how much better we feel after a fresh new haircut, or clean new clothes, or new cologne/perfume. When mental health is low, we sometimes neglect these basic habits out of laziness or apathy, which is why they are a crucial first step in self-improvement if we aren’t paying enough attention to them.
Minimize your bad habits. No one is 100% perfect and we all have a couple bad habits, whether it be eating too many sweets, or drinking alcohol, or staying up late, or smoking cigarettes. In general, it’s important to quit (or minimize) our unhealthy habits as much as possible. “Choose your crutches wisely.” Keep in mind the long-term consequences of your habits – while it may not feel like they are hurting you right now, their effects can often catch up to you in the future. When trying to quit any bad habit, identify your triggers and work from there to change to change your patterns. Often by creating more boundaries between you and your bad habits, you can overcome your urge to do them (until it’s no longer an automatic habit anymore). If you find that you have a serious problem with addiction or drug abuse, consider professional help (such as a therapist, psychologist, or counselor) – there are often local resources available in your area if you do a quick search.
Please don’t underestimate the importance of keeping your body in the best shape possible. As Socrates famously said, “No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.”
Physical health is about much more than just looking and feeling good about yourself – it’s about living a life of vitality and longevity. You can have everything else in your life figured out, but if you don’t maintain your health you won’t be around very long to use or enjoy it.
2. MENTAL WELL-BEING
If you don’t take care of your body then it will slowly deteriorate – and the same is true for your mind.
Just because you don’t have to go to school anymore doesn’t mean you can’t keep learning new things, keeping your brain sharp, and challenging your intellect.
Reading books. Learning about new topics. Having deep conversations. Attending lectures and workshops. Following the news. These are all commonsense ways to keep our minds active and continue to update our knowledge and belief system as we move through life.
Learning is a lifelong endeavor. Balanced people are always seeking new things to dig into and learn more about like a new hobby, new game, or new skill such as painting, chess, learning a new language, or playing a musical instrument.
In addition, research shows that continuing to challenge our brain is an important way to prevent cognitive decline as we get older, including lower the risk of dementia and memory loss.
Things to do:
Read more books. Reading is one of the best ways to keep your mind sharp and learn new things. Nonfiction books about science, history, philosophy, or self help can grow your knowledge and broaden your perspective on life; and reading fiction has been shown to have many cognitive benefits such as boosting empathy, creative thinking, and expanding your vocabulary. If you haven’t read a book in awhile, try to make it a goal to read at least one book this year. You can start with a book you already own but never got a chance to read, or ask a friend for a book recommendation, or get a card from your local library and explore countless books for free. Find a topic or subject that interests you and start there!
Learn a new skill. Learning multiple skills is a hallmark of being a balanced and well-rounded person. It’s never too late in life to dive into something completely new, such as playing a musical instrument, learning a new language, writing poetry, painting, or playing chess. A jack of all trades mindset can make you stand-out from others in unique ways. Many people have a talent or passion for at least one thing, but when you start combining talents and cultivating multiple interests it shows your range and flexibility as a person. Don’t limit yourself. There’s no pressure to become a “professional” or “expert” in everything you do, just stay on a learning path, have fun while doing it, and enjoy seeing the growth as you go.
Watch documentaries. Documentaries are a fun and easy way to explore new topics and learn about interesting things you otherwise wouldn’t experience. Depending on what you like, there are many different subjects to choose from: history, sports, biographies, science, inspirational stories, or nature documentaries (which have also been shown to boost positive emotions like joy, gratitude, and awe). I’ve made a lengthy list of recommended documentaries which I try to keep updated as I discover new ones. Check it out and choose one that catches your eye!
Monitor your information diet. Our current world is overloaded with information, including a lot that is wrong, misleading, or straight up lies and propaganda. Now more than ever we need to pay close attention to the information we consume on a daily basis. Try to find trustworthy news and educational sites where you can easily verify what they are saying from other sources. Beware of going down esoteric “rabbit holes” where people only confirm their own biases and beliefs. Actively seek out information from multiple sides so you’re at least aware of different perspectives and counter-arguments. The information pyramid is a great guide on how you should prioritize certain sources over others. In general, a peer-reviewed scientific study should be given more weight than some random influencer on social media. Keep in mind it’s also possible to consume too much and become an information junkie, where you’re addicted to learning new things, but you never act on it or put it into practice.
Spend time in active reflection. Give yourself time to think and digest, even if it’s just for 10 minutes while sitting with your first cup of coffee in the morning. You don’t always need to be filling your brain with facts to be a smarter person, you also need to know how to step back and contemplate what you know. Active and engaged minds are always taking advantage of opportunities for everyday reflection when sitting on the bus, taking a shower, or walking the dog. Often your best ideas and insights come in moments when you’re not trying to solve a problem directly but just mulling it over in your mind. Schedule time for solitude every now and then and don’t be afraid to sit alone with your thoughts.
Learn how your mind works. One essential component to being a more intelligent thinker is knowing how your mind works. We naturally believe we understand ourselves best, but psychology and neuroscience can sometimes reveal counter-intuitive facts and tendencies. To start, our minds are very susceptible to cognitive biases and logical fallacies that can muddy our thinking and understanding of reality. One of the most common errors is black and white thinking, where we believe a situation needs to be either “A” or “B,” but a third perspective, “C,” is the more accurate view. Our minds like to over-simplify things when reality can often be more nuanced and complex. Show intellectual humility. Be open to being wrong and be open to changing your mind in the face of new evidence and experience.
Take your education seriously. Maintain a healthy and active brain. Even if you were never a good student in school, that doesn’t mean you can’t improve your knowledge and intelligence, especially once you find subjects you are deeply passionate about. Benjamin Franklin once said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
3. EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING
In the “Mental” section we covered how to keep our brains active and be more intelligent thinkers, but there’s also a whole other side of our psychology that we need to pay attention to as well: our “Emotional” side.
Emotions can often seem like something that we have limited power over, but being a more emotionally intelligent person means becoming more self-aware and learning how to better respond to our emotions in the moment.
We can’t ignore our emotions or push them aside forever, they are a necessary facet of life and we must learn to navigate our emotional world effectively if we want to live the best life possible.
Remember that emotions are a resource, not a crutch. Every emotion serves a function or purpose, and if we channel our emotions in a constructive direction we can make great things happen.
One important lesson is that even negative emotions like sadness, anger, guilt, or fear are helpful to a better life if we approach them from the right perspective.
Things to do:
Learn the basics of emotional intelligence. There are 4 fundamental pillars of emotional intelligence that we need to cultivate: 1) Self-awareness (recognizing our emotions when they happen), 2) Self-regulation (knowing how to respond to our emotions and channel them in a positive direction, 3) Empathy (being aware of other people’s emotions and internal states), and 4) Social Skills (knowing how to respond to other people’s emotions in a healthy and constructive way). Certain people may be strong at some of these and not for others. For example, someone may be really empathetic and caring, but not know how to regulate their own mood and emotions, leading to burnout and emotional fatigue. An emotionally intelligent person must work on all four of these pillars.
Improve body awareness. All emotions have a physical component to them. When you learn how to identify the physical sensations behind each emotion, you’ll be much more attuned to your feelings in the moment as you’re experiencing them. This helps you to be more aware of your feelings before acting on them, and to recognize how emotions often want to push or pull you in a certain direction (“do this” vs. “don’t do that”). Every feeling serves a different function depending on its emotional valence (“positive” vs. “negative”) and arousal level (“high energy” vs. “low energy”). With practice, this improved body awareness can also boost your intuition, making you a better reader of your “gut feelings” and what they are telling you.
Learn to channel negative emotions. Negative emotions can serve a positive function if you know how to respond to them in a constructive way. If you struggle with any specific negative emotion (sadness, fear, guilt, or anger), then create a plan for how you will respond to it the next time it arises. For example, “If I’m angry, then I’ll go exercise,” or “If I’m sad, then I’ll write in my journal.” Emotions are energy that can be channeled in multiple directions. Write a list of the many ways you can respond to any negative emotion. Remind yourself you have a choice, and you don’t have to keep following the same pattern between negative emotion → negative behavior. One popular technique is opposite action, where you intentionally do the opposite of what a feeling is telling you to do (to reverse the cycle of negativity).
Practice meditation and daily mindfulness. Meditation is a great avenue for better understanding and regulating your emotions. It teaches you how to step back and just observe your thoughts and feelings without needing to immediately react to them. This space between “feelings” and “actions” is crucial for being a more emotionally intelligent person; it’s the main principle behind discipline, willpower, and self-control. Never forget that just because you feel a certain way doesn’t mean you need to act on it. If you’re completely new to meditation, start with the 100 breaths meditation – a simple exercise where you just focus on your breathing. It’s also helpful to learn grounding techniques for when you feel overwhelmed, such as mindful stretching or a 5 senses meditation.
Embrace creative expression. It’s difficult to describe many emotions with only words so it’s important to embrace other ways of expressing yourself, such as through music, photography, dance, painting, drawing, acting, or film. Often when I meet people who don’t feel fully connected to their emotional self, they usually lack ways of expressing themselves through art and creativity. A creative outlet is often a prerequisite to better understanding and navigating your emotional world, even if you don’t typically think of yourself as a “creative person.”
Savor all of your positive experiences. Life is filled with many joys and pleasures throughout the day and we should try to savor them as much as possible. We have many positive emotions to choose from – joy, gratitude, peace, awe, excitement, laughter, and wonder – and there are a variety of activities that can lead to more positive emodiversity in our lives. Don’t just chase after the same positive experiences over and over again, seek new experiences, new hobbies, and new ways of enjoying life. Learn how to savor happiness as much as possible by being more present in the moment, creating positive memories, and reminiscing on good times.
Relax and manage daily stress. Last but not least, it’s necessary we cover stress management as an essential component to mental health and emotional intelligence. Stress is a normal part of everyday life, but if you don’t know how to manage it in a healthy way it can often have a negative influence on your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors by making you more sensitive, irritable, angry, and bothered (even by little things that don’t really matter). Recognize when to push yourself vs. when to step back and recharge. In the complete guide on daily stress, you’ll find a great framework for reframing your “fight, flight, or freeze” response by viewing stress as a signal to pay attention to and guide you throughout the day. Don’t underestimate the importance of your comfort zone and use it as a place to recharge after a challenging or overwhelming day.
Emotions can “make us” or “break us” depending on how emotionally intelligent we are. They are a fundamental part of life, but we often have more power over them than we realize. Learn how to channel your emotions in a healthy and constructive way – become a master of them, not a slave to them.
4. SOCIAL WELL-BEING
Healthy and positive relationships are an essential ingredient to happiness and well-being.
No matter who you are, you crave some type of social connection; even the most introverted person on the planet will have a tough time finding happiness all by themselves.
There used to be a time when I believed “I don’t need people to be happy, all I need is myself.” But over the years I’ve learned more and more that having social support and a sense of belonging is a basic human need that can’t be avoided.
How strong is your current social circle? Here’s advice to get you started.
Things to do:
Stay connected with friends and family. You should try your best to stay in touch with people who you already have a strong relationship with, especially family and old friends. There’s a simple power in checking in on people and preserving social connections you’ve already established. It doesn’t take much time or effort to show you’re thinking about someone: a simple text, email, or phone call is all you need to let people know you still care and value your relationship with them. You’d be surprised by how much other people appreciate you reaching out to them, even if you haven’t spoken to them in a really long time.
Embrace small social interactions. Every time you leave your home, there is opportunity for social interaction. To build your social muscles, embrace the power of 10 second relationships, such as saying “Hi,” to a neighbor or coworker, small talk with a cashier or cab driver, or sparking up a quick conversation while waiting for the train or bus. Research shows even super tiny social interactions can boost positive emotions and feelings of social connectedness. This can also be a great exercise for people who are very introverted (or have a lot of social anxiety) and want to start being a more social person. Make a plan to have a pleasant interaction with at least one new person every day.
Learn how to have endless conversations. One big concern for people when it comes to meeting new people is, “What do I say? What if I run out of things to talk about?” One popular technique known as conversation threading provides an excellent framework so that you never run out of topics to talk about. The basic idea is that every sentence contains multiple “threads” we can go down, and often the art of good conversation is being able to 1) Listen to what people say, and 2) Choose a thread to talk more about. Rinse and repeat and a conversation can go on forever. Also consider improvisation exercises so that you can be a faster and more creative thinker in the moment.
Improve communication and conflict resolution. It’s a cliché, but communication is everything in relationships. If you don’t know how to express your thoughts and feelings in an honest and constructive way, you’ll have trouble building genuine and healthy connections with others at home, work, or wherever you need to cooperate and work together with people. In romantic relationships, it’s important to know how to communicate your feelings without manipulating or being dramatic. In family and work environments, it’s important to know how to defuse heated arguments before they spiral out of control. The truth is people can be difficult and you’re not going to like everyone’s company. That’s natural. Conflicts have the potential to arise in any social situation, because people have different beliefs, values, and personalities that may be incompatible with each other. What’s most important is to teach yourself the best methods for conflict resolution so you can better navigate the complexities of your social world.
Find opportunities to meet new people. Most people make friends through work or school. Once we get older, it can become more difficult to find new connections or become a part of new social circles. Recent research shows that most adults claim to have “less than 5 close friends.” If you’re looking to expand your circle, there are many opportunities available to you. Depending on your likes, hobbies, and interests, consider going out more to music shows, bars, coffee shops, workshops, church/religious services, bowling leagues, adult education classes, sports events, or book clubs. Seek out local groups in your area or volunteer somewhere. You can also take advantage of websites like Meet Up to connect with like-minded people who live close-by. All it takes is one new friend to introduce you to an entirely new social circle. Be patient and don’t worry if you don’t initially hit it off with the first couple people you meet. Finding the right relationships that fit into our lives can take time.
Use social media and the internet to connect. The internet can be a great place to connect with like-minded people who we’d never meet in the real world. Online communities on social media, message boards, or video games can often provide a valuable source of social interaction, especially for people who don’t have many “real life” friends. The internet can be particularly helpful for connecting with others who have rare or eccentric hobbies, such as fans of a specific author, athlete, music genre, or comic book franchise. Unfortunately, many online communities can also become negative, competitive, and toxic (see the online disinhibition effect), so it’s necessary you build a positive digital environment that works for you. That doesn’t mean hiding in your own “echo chamber,” but it does mean cultivating a feed and followers who ultimately add value to your life and don’t subtract it. First focus on topics you’re naturally interested in such as science, technology, sports, or movies. Try not to be a passive consumer of information, actively enter conversations by asking questions or sharing knowledge with others. Often times we can build meaningful connections with people online that are just as important as those we find in the real world. However, while online relationships can have many benefits, we shouldn’t see them as a substitute for real world “face to face” interactions.
Always remember that quality of relationships > quantity of relationships.
You don’t need to be super popular or the life of the party to have a healthy social life. All you need is a couple really close friends who support you, trust you, and enjoy your presence. That’s everything you need to be socially satisfied.
Healthy relationships are a fundamental aspect of happiness and well-being for everyone. Our need to belong to a “tribe” or group is hardwired into our brain, biology, and evolution. Like every other aspect of a balanced person, it can’t be ignored.
Are your daily social needs being fulfilled?
5. WORK / FINANCIAL WELL-BEING
Another fundamental aspect of a balanced person is work, money, and material concerns.
At the most basic level, we depend on food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, and other necessities so we can live a healthy and dignified life.
People that struggle to make a living can often hurt in many other areas: physical health (can’t afford good foods, healthcare, or medicine), relationships (can’t support family, no money for dating), as well as our mental and emotional well-being (stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem).
Unless you win the lottery or have someone else to provide for you, finding a steady job or career is often one of the most focused on areas in life. From childhood up until we finish high school or college, we are constantly asked, “What do you want to do for a living?”
A few people find jobs they love, many find jobs they like, and most find jobs they can at least tolerate. Balancing psychological needs with financial needs can be a difficult task depending on your current situation.
While we don’t always get a choice in what we do for a living, there are important ways to give ourselves more power over our work life and financial life. Here are important guidelines to keep in mind.
Things to do:
Focus on your strengths. Everyone has a place in this world where they add value. Before you decide what type of work you’d like to do for a living, it’s important to know what your natural strengths, skills, and talents are. If you’re friendly and good with people, you may excel at managing, customer service, or human resources type jobs. If you’re more introverted and creative, you may want to focus on writing, graphic design, computer programming, or freelance work. What type of activities are you typically good at (or at least above average)? What were your best subjects in school? What do you enjoy doing and why? Complete the strengths worksheet to discover more about your natural skillset. Ultimately, knowing your strengths will influence what types of jobs or career choices will suit you best – including where you contribute the most value.
Value education and experience. No matter what your job is, there are always new ways to learn and improve. The best workers in life are those who are always growing and mastering their craft. College is still an important part of education, but what’s even more important is to stay self-motivated and continue learning after school. Many people I know have landed successful jobs that had virtually nothing to do with what they studied in college. In several cases, they were people who taught themselves coding/programming, built a portfolio to show their work to potential employers, and climbed their way up the company ladder from there. All self-taught. You can also consider going to trade schools, workshops, mentorships, internships, and other forms of gaining knowledge and experience that are outside of the traditional college model. Any work experience is better than none at all – you just need to start somewhere and begin building yourself up.
Make the most of your job. While it’s rare for any of us to get our “dream job,” we can always make the most of our work life by being a good employee and doing our best. Use nudges to keep yourself motivated and productive throughout the day, learn mental strategies for getting things done that you normally “don’t like” doing, and make friends at work with bosses, coworkers, clients, or customers, because those are the people you’re going to be spending a lot of time with and it’s crucial you have healthy and functioning relationships with them. No matter what your job is try to see the underlying purpose or meaning behind it. What value does it add to the world? Are you proud of the work you do?
Live within your means. Regardless of how much money you make, one of the most commonsense rules for financial well-being is living within your means. This includes keeping a budget that you can maintain (for food, rent/mortgage, bills, gas, clothes, and leisure expenses), and not buying too much stuff you can’t immediately afford. Debt can be common at some point in our lives (due to student loans, credit card debt, medical emergencies, etc.), but try to be mindful to not put yourself in a hole that you can’t climb out of. Avoid luxury expenses that put you at financial risk. We sometimes over-extend ourselves due to social comparison and a “keeping up with the Joneses” mentality. We think if our friend or neighbor gets a brand new car or goes on an expensive trip, then we need to “one-up” them with a similar purchase. Many times people fall into massive debt because they are trying to chase status, fame, luxury, or exorbitant pleasures. In general, keep track of all your monthly expenses and find ways to cut back on spending that isn’t necessary. Learn about spending biases that can lead to overconsumption (like the allure of “FREE!,” the “Relativity Trap,” and “One Click” purchases). Big corporations are masters of psychology and persuasion. If we aren’t vigilant about our spending habits (especially if you enjoy retail therapy), then we’ll often fall for tricks that cause us to spend more money than we should.
Create a healthy relationship with material things. This article is about being a balanced person. Work and money are very important aspects of life, but materialistic beliefs can also backfire to hurt us. No one lays down on their deathbed wishing they spent more time in the office. Work-a-holics can end up focusing so much on their career that they neglect giving enough attention to their family, health, and well-being. Never forget that there is a lot more to a good life than just money and material things, despite what you may see glamorized in movies, TV shows, or commercials. Psychology research shows that after a certain point, increased wealth and income has very little effect on our overall happiness and life satisfaction. Being rich sounds awesome, but it won’t necessarily make you any happier than if you earned less with a stable and secure life. Take the materialism quiz to see if you have a healthy relationship with money and stuff.
Remember, money is important but it isn’t everything.
Financial well-being will often look radically different depending on the person. Certain people may be content with modest and minimal living, while others crave more luxury, adventure, and pleasure. Whichever lifestyle you choose, it’s necessary that money finds the proper role in your life without being completely consumed by it.
One succinct way to define true financial well-being is “not needing to think about money all the time.”
6. MEANINGFUL / SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING
The meaningful or spiritual aspects of life can often be overlooked.
We may occasionally ask ourselves big questions like, “Who am I?” “Why am I here?” or “What’s my purpose?” but we rarely translate these questions into our daily lives through action.
For many people, religion is their main source of spirituality and meaning. Attending church, being part of a local community, prayer, and volunteering or giving to charities are common ways people boost meaning in their daily lives. Religion has been shown to improve happiness and well-being by creating a strong sense of purpose and community.
However, we don’t need religion to have a meaningful life. There are many other sources of meaning, including art, culture, philosophy, literature, music, relationships, activism, introspection, and creativity.
Where do you get your meaning in life?
Things to do:
Learn the pillars of a meaningful life. One excellent guide on how to live a meaningful life outlines five different pillars to focus on, including 1) A sense of belonging (having healthy relationships with those around you), 2) A sense of purpose (feeling that you contribute to a larger whole), 3) Storytelling (the life story we tell about ourselves, as well as stories and myths about the world we live in), 4) Transcendence (experiencing “awe” and “inspiration” in the presence of great things), 5) Growth (having a sense that you are evolving and moving forward as a person). All five pillars contribute to a rich and meaningful existence.
Spend more time in nature. Nature reminds us that we are part of something larger than ourselves, a whole process known as “life.” Nature is a fantastic source of meaning because it continuously inspires positive emotions like joy, amazement, gratitude, and awe. The best part is that nature is all around us – we don’t need to plan a weekend camping trip to experience it – instead just pay attention to everyday nature that is all around you: trees on the drive to work, birdwatching in your backyard, or spending time in your garden over the summer. Having pets to care for is another easy and wonderful source of nature and connection, even if it’s just a small fish tank to maintain. Nature also includes enjoying the beauty of a nice view such as sunrises, sunsets, mountaintops, storm watching, and star-gazing.
Take a complete picture perspective. Finding meaning requires being able to look at things from a big picture perspective. What influence do your actions have in the long-term? What type of impact will you leave on the world after you die? When you keep the complete picture in mind, you recognize that even super small actions can add up and have big results in the future. Your life doesn’t begin at birth nor end at death, you are part of an intergenerational chain of cause-and-effect that has stretched thousands of years. That’s a powerful thought if you can see the true significance behind it.
Embrace art, music, and culture. Artists are the creators of new meanings, especially famous painters, musicians, filmmakers, photographers, authors, playwrights, and dancers. Pursuing a creative hobby of your own is one fantastic way to infuse new meaning into your life. You can also embrace art and culture more by going to museums, art galleries, music concerts, and theaters. A lot of beautiful art is archived in online art and cultural exhibits, so you can discover a lot of new inspiration by just sitting in the comfort of your own home. Artists of all forms teach us how universal the human condition is. It’s a huge inspirational boost when you realize a book written over a hundred years ago resonates exactly with how you feel today. One of my strongest memories is attending a music concert of my favorite band with thousands of others listening and singing along. Creativity is one of humanity’s greatest gifts and there’s a lot of wisdom, beauty, and feelings of universal connection it can offer us.
Signs, symbols, and synchronicity. A meaningful life can be more about feeling inspiration and empowerment rather than thinking only logically and factually about the world. Embrace things you can’t always explain. If you feel like you’re getting a “sign” from the universe, accept it. Our minds often think unconsciously through the power of symbols, especially through reoccurring dreams or nightmares that may be trying to tell you something important. Meaning can be created anywhere if you have the right perspective. Many of my favorite moments in life are when I experience synchronicity, which is finding a connection between two things that seem completely unrelated at first. For example, if I start reading a book and then someone brings up the same book randomly the next day, I try to see that as a sign that I’m on the right path. It may or may not be true, but it is a simple and easy way to add more meaning to the little things in life.
Have faith that life is good. Faith may not have any role in science, but it does play an important role in good living. At the end of the day, one of the most important beliefs we can have is that “life is good” and things will generally work out in the end. One of my personal favorite quotes is, “Pray to God, but row to shore.” It shows us to have hope and faith in life, but still take action and try our best in the moment. Both faith and action are necessary ingredients to a happy and fulfilling life. A belief in God or a higher power can make this whole process easier. However, even if you can’t bring yourself to accept “metaphysical” or “supernatural” ideas, at least try to sense the oneness and interconnectedness of all things. These ideas are an endless source of power, strength, and resilience, even in the face of incredible hardships and tribulations.
A “meaningful life” can be one of the most difficult areas of life to improve, especially while living in a world that is filled with nihilism, hedonism, and materialism.
However, once you build a strong spiritual core you can withstand almost any difficulty or hardship. It can empower you to a whole new level that non-spiritual people don’t usually have access to.
CONCLUSION
To sum things up we must invest time and energy in all six of these aspects if we want to live a happy and balanced life.
Once again, these six aspects of a balanced life include: 1) Physical, 2) Mental, 3) Emotional, 4) Social, 5) Work/Financial, and 6) Meaningful/Spiritual.
Which area are you the strongest in? Which area are you the weakest in?
Keep this framework in mind as you embark on a lifetime of self-improvement. Try the Daily Routine (PDF) exercise and use this resource as a guideline.
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If you’ve been in a rut lately and you’re looking for something new to do, there are many reasons you should consider taking up a new hobby.
It can be challenging to find new activities that you’re passionate about, but we’ve got 11 ideas for computer-based hobbies that are both fun and potentially beneficial for your career.
Check out these ideas to get inspired to try something different. Whether you want to be creative, expressive, or innovative, at least one of these computer-based hobbies is sure to be something right up your alley.
Let’s take a look.
11 Computer-Based Hobbies to Broaden Your Tech Skills
1. Website Design
Creating and maintaining your own website isn’t as difficult as it once was.
There are a lot of programs out there that can basically walk you through the process, and it’s great to have your own website to help build your business, store your portfolio, or even showcase your wedding or other significant life event.
Once you’ve decided what your topic is, you will need to secure your domain name, add your content, and spread the word. After that, you just need to maintain it by updating it as necessary and archiving outdated content.
Web design is ultimately a competition. Everyone is fighting for people’s attention these days, so you want to stand out from the crowd.
Especially if you’re trying to make money off of your website, you need to outperform others that are similar, so use your creativity along with your unique insight on the topic of your choice to gain a following.
If you dedicate yourself to designing a website and learn the necessary skills, this hobby can also open doors for new opportunities to make money.
Resource: Using a framework such as WordPress makes designing websites a fun and user-friendly activity.
2. Blogging
If you love writing, creating a blog could be a great computer-based hobby for you. All you need is a computer, the internet, some basic tech skills, a topic, and a domain name.
Your domain name is your blog’s unique name plus an extension (like .com, .net, or .org). If you already know what you want your domain name to be, you will first need to check if it’s available because you can’t use a name that’s already being used.
You can buy an existing domain name if someone already owns it, but considering supply = 1, the demand will greatly determine the price. For example, “carinsurance.com” would cost you a cool $49.7 million.
Using a free, third-party website to host your content is alright if you’re looking for a personal outlet or you’re planning to work on an informal project, but if you’re blogging under more professional conditions, using a free platform may undermine your attempt to build a professional identity.
It can also be risky to use a third party platform for your blog because not only can it shut down at any point (which would turn all of your hard work into ancient history), the third party can also declare ownership of anything you post–meaning you wouldn’t be able to move your content to another platform if you wanted to down the road.
So if you want to establish yourself as an authoritative source, register your domain name. This will help people see you as an expert with some staying-power.
You can build your audience through your unique formatting and engaging content. Then, if you want to monetize your blog, you can apply for an affiliate program such as Google Adsense or Amazon Associates. This will allow you to earn money by allowing companies to advertise on your blog.
Designing 3D models is a computer-based hobby that results in digital objects that are capable of being animated, which makes this process essential for creating characters and special effects.
This process is used in many professions and other hobbies such as architecture, engineering, virtual reality, illustration, video games, advertising, etc.
To start designing a 3D model, you need to pick a 3D modeling program and then become familiar with the skills that go along with it. From there, you can build a 3D model portfolio and even sell your printed products on Etsy, Shapeways, or at your local farmer’s market.
People become very passionate about this hobby, especially those who love being innovative and making things. If you have an idea that you’ve never seen in real life, you can create it into existence. You can literally turn your ideas into a reality with 3D modeling.
Whether you have a lot of papers lying around your house or your computer storage is nearing its limit, you can declutter your life by putting files in the cloud.
Scan any loose papers that you’re holding onto and backup all of your digital files so you can access them from anywhere that has an internet connection.
This will also help keep you organized. Not only can you separate and group all of your files in a way that makes sense to you, you can also gain access to your most updated work, no matter where you are.
Each time you edit a file that is saved to the cloud, it is synced and updated across all of your devices, so you don’t need to worry about only having access to an old version of whatever you’re working on.
Decluttering to the cloud also adds some security to your files. Cloud providers take extra steps to ensure your files remain private and are not available to access by anyone else aside from the people you designate.
You can make using cloud storage a significant part of any decluttering hobby.
Online learning has developed exponentially, especially within the last two years with the presence of the coronavirus.
There are a lot of benefits of a virtual learning environment, and online degrees and certificates are much more accepted now than they once were. You can learn just about anything on the internet, from how to manage your money to how to speak Chinese.
If there is a topic that you really want to learn about but you’re not seeking a degree, you can enroll in individual online classes to start learning. This makes taking online classes a great hobby to enhance your knowledge while focusing on something you enjoy.
You can enroll in individual online classes to start learning topics that you really want to learn about but you’re not seeking a degree.
Online classes can offer you a high-quality learning experience at a fraction of the cost that you may pay at a traditional brick and mortar school. And because lifelong learning is such an important factor in self-improvement, this is a great hobby to adopt at any age.
Resource: Here is a comparison of two popular online learning platforms, Skillshare and Udemy.
6. Work on Your AI Skills
Artificial intelligence is a broad concept that encompasses computer systems that can perform tasks and make decisions that typically require human intelligence, such as automation, speech recognition, and language translation.
AI has become a mainstream concept, so whether you want to take up learning AI to get a job in the industry, to help your business, or just to play around, this is a useful and interesting skill to develop that can lead to many new projects to work on in the future.
There are a lot of different games you can play online with other players around the world. Among other benefits of this hobby, there are social aspects to online gaming that allow people to stay connected in an increasingly digital society.
Immersive online games that require strategy and problem-solving call for players to consume and remember a lot of information.
Playing games such as these can help improve your memory and your brain’s processing speed. Furthermore, playing online games can help you learn to focus on a target and gain motivation to achieve a goal.
Studies have shown that playing online games can help people progress their multi-tasking skills because it requires the use of strategy, analysis of risk and reward, and the ability to react quickly in the face of change.
There are a lot of games that are offered online for free, which are easily accessible to anyone who has an internet connection. Many free games allow users to communicate through text or audio chat, which circles back to staying socially connected with others.
You probably already browse the internet a lot–so you know there is a wealth of information out there. Having this unstructured learning tool at your fingertips allows you to be an autodidact for life.
But whether you’re looking up something specific or you’re continuously clicking on deep links, you will always find something new and exciting to read about.
You can search for things that you’re passionate about, read other people’s comments on posts, watch videos, and see what’s going on in the world right now. You can find something new every day to help you learn more about the world.
If music is your passion, the internet has a lot to offer without requiring the purchase of an expensive or large instrument. You can compose music online, collaborate with other musicians, promote music that you’ve made, and even create sheet music.
There’s a site for anything you may want to do with music, and most of them are free. Seeing as a lot of music is digital these days, this is a great place to start even if you haven’t felt musically inclined up until this point in your life.
If you enjoy photography, you will love this computer-related hobby. Most pictures these days are in digital format, so your options for editing are virtually endless.
Photoshop is a popular option for digital editors. This software was designed for retouching and editing images, but you can also create your own images with Photoshop. Once you understand how to edit images, it will be much easier to learn how to create your own from scratch.
Try out digital editing if you enjoy photography since pictures these days are in digital format.
You can make a hobby simply out of the basics of Photoshop and its shortcuts before even discovering the software’s full potential, so this is a hobby that can last a long time.
Programming is an engaging hobby that many people ultimately turn into a paying job. Learning programming will help you sharpen your modern professional skills while completing fun projects.
There are a lot of things you can create online yourself that you probably never thought you could. You can get started with the basics of programming even if you don’t want to create intricate software.
After choosing a programming language to learn (some of the most popular are Java, C#, Ruby, and Python–and they all have the same fundamentals), you then need to find online resources that can help you learn about this fun hobby!
All of these hobbies require a reasonable existing level of knowledge of using a computer and the internet, and each will broaden your tech skills in some way. You can use many of these hobbies to benefit you in your professional life in addition to enjoying engaging with them during your free time.
Give some of these hobbies a shot that you haven’t tried yet and see what you can discover.
And if you’re looking for more hobby ideas, be sure to check out these blog posts:
Connie Mathers is a professional editor and freelance writer. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and a Master’s Degree in Social Work. When she is not writing, Connie is either spending time with her daughter and two dogs, running, or working at her full-time job as a social worker in Richmond, VA.
There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Please do your own research before making any online purchase.
We all need breaks from working to do things that we personally enjoy, but what if you were able to make your leisure time more productive?
Your pastimes don’t need to be a waste of time; you can use those hours to benefit you while still engaging in an activity that you enjoy. You just have to find the right hobbies!
Engaging in almost any hobby will be a more productive use of your time than watching reruns or scrolling through social media. So in this article, we are going to look at 15 hobbies in particular that are productive and will help you improve your career or help you with your lifelong success.
But first, let’s briefly talk about what qualifies a hobby as being productive.
What to Look For In a Productive Hobby
First, you need a hobby that you enjoy so you will commit some time to engaging in it and stick with it.
Secondly, a productive hobby should be one that makes you think or teaches you about something new–and it doesn’t have to be relevant to what you do in your professional life–it just needs to encourage you to use new techniques or problem-solving skills.
A productive hobby may also involve using your creativity in practical ways. When you read through these examples, you will find that they can all stretch your brain in some way–give you a cognitive workout–while also exercising your creativity.
This means that they require using both hemispheres of your brain to ensure you’re continuing to develop your analytical skills and problem-solving skills, as well as your emotional intelligence and creativity.
If you do this, you’ll notice measurable benefits in most (if not all) areas of your life.
Let’s look at some examples.
15 Productive Hobbies to Make You a Successful Person
1. Grow a Garden
Grow plants to succeed in your career? What?
It’s true. Aside from reducing stress–which is an important part of becoming successful in itself–gardening has also been linked to improved mental health outcomes, sharper observation skills, and even a decrease in loneliness.
Making good use of your own land to provide for your family’s nutritional needs is a very powerful skill to have. You can become self-reliant for food with just a little bit of yard space, sun, and water.
Watching your garden grow will help you feel successful and proud. Plus, who doesn’t love the taste of fresh produce? Pair this hobby with #15 and you will certainly feel productive.
Bring a little healthy competition into your life by playing the timeless game of chess. You will have fun as you give your brain a workout by strategizing your way to winning against your competitor.
This is an easy hobby to get into because if you can’t find a friend who wants to play, you can play virtually with someone online somewhere else in the world.
Playing chess is productive because it will help you improve your analytical thinking skills, focus, and memory.
And it will help you become successful in several ways–one of which is that chess players learn how to anticipate their opponent’s next moves. Doing so requires you to develop the ability to see another person’s perspective to be able to conclude which move they might make next.
Behavioral scientists say this ability to adopt someone else’s point of view is a critical part of building empathy and healthy social relationships, which is key to success in any venture.
Practicing meditation can prepare you for success by expanding your awareness and helping you recognize all of the opportunities you have in life. And once you have your mind set on a goal, meditating will increase your chances of reaching it.
Aside from reducing stress, anxiety, and negative feelings or frustrations surrounding your work, research shows that meditation can help you appreciate the positive aspects, improve your memory and capacity to learn, and help you concentrate, which are all important for reaching your goals in life.
Learning a new language can certainly help you be successful in our society of economic globalization. This is a productive hobby because it will offer you a competitive edge in your career if you’re able to communicate with internal and external partners around the world.
But learning another language offers more benefits than just expanding your career.
People who speak two or more languages have been found to have improved problem-solving skills, analytical skills, and have a greater ability to focus than people who only speak one language–and these traits can help you in any area of your life.
Knowing another language can also make your travel experiences richer, as you can communicate with locals and gain cultural knowledge first-hand.
If you want to learn quickly, then the key to mastering a new skill is to only focus on the information that can be immediately applied. Watch the video below to learn about just in time learning:
5. Run
Running is obviously a productive hobby if you’re seeking to improve your health, but how can running make you successful in your professional life? I’ll give you my take from personal experience.
Running teaches you that you–and only you–control your attitude, which then controls your actions.
Starting with just getting up early and having the willpower to get out of bed (despite the weather) and go for a run requires an “I can” attitude. And not just “I can do this, despite the fact I’m tired, cold, etc.”
But I physically can do this, which is a gift in itself and likely won’t be one that lasts forever. So if I have the physical ability to get up and run before work, I’m going to take advantage of it and be grateful.
Running also teaches you how to compete…against yourself. You may be aiming to beat a personal record or meet goals that you’ve created for long-term growth, or you may simply be competing with the voice in your head telling you that the last mile isn’t worth it or you should stay in bed, you need your rest.
No matter what the basis is of your competition from within, running will give you great practice for sharpening the skills of the competitor in you that values success.
Running has also taught me how to be comfortable being uncomfortable. That first half mile on a cold January morning can be brutal, but if you can get over that hump and keep moving, you’ll find mental comfort in the fact that you will get in your normal routine (with pace/breathing) soon enough.
This is like when you start a new job and everything seems so hard at first. Then, six months in, you’re able to help out with training the new hires because you’ve found your routine. You just have to get over that initial barrier of discomfort to get where you want to be.
I could go on…for a long time. But for the sake of this article, I’ll sum up by saying successful runners aren’t those who are comparing their times and abilities against others.
They’re those who can appreciate other people’s running hobbies, but who ultimately only measure themselves against their own unique standards. This is an important facet of success in other areas of your life.
Successful people are those who want to become the best version of themselves, and have the mental strength to overcome temptations of instant gratification to achieve their bigger picture of success.
Creating vision boards will help you succeed in all areas of your life. This is a productive and creative hobby that will result in a daily reminder of your goals for the future, which will keep you motivated and help you continue to work toward them.
And, as it turns out, visualizing your success works! One study found that 82% of small business owners who used a vision board to achieve their goals reported that they accomplished more than 50% the goals they pictured on their original board.
Creating a vision board is a productive and creative hobby that will result in a daily reminder of your goals for the future.
This is a fun hobby that you can’t really get wrong. You can either do one big vision board for all areas of your life or you can do separate vision boards for your health goals, your professional goals, your relationship goals, etc.
Resources: If you’re new to vision boards, here is a good “how to” article, and these templates are helpful if you don’t know where to start.
7. Volunteer
Being productive is all about making the best use of your time. If you think you’re short on time, research shows that volunteering will actually help you feel otherwise.
According to the study, using your time to help organizations that you care about will help you feel more “time affluent” and less rushed than when you:
Waste your time
Spend your time solely on yourself
Have unexpected free time
Unlike when you are solely focused on your own life, volunteering can give you a sense of confidence, and make you feel very useful. Furthermore, it will help you feel like you’ve accomplished something and help you feel certain that you can accomplish more in the future.
So spending your time volunteering can make you feel less restricted with time, more productive, and of course it can help you be successful in several ways. Volunteering can:
Help you make connections and network with like-minded people, which could potentially open the door for some future job opportunities
Help you learn new skills and solve problems you’ve never faced before
Boost your leadership skills, according to one survey where 92% of HR leaders reported that volunteering helps boost leadership and other critical professional skills
Volunteering also helps you be more successful in your personal life. The socialization factor of this hobby helps fight symptoms of loneliness and depression, and it can help you feel a bigger sense of purpose in your life.
Resource: This website will help you find volunteer opportunities in your area.
8. Go Hiking
If you love nature and being active, hiking is a great hobby that will allow you to enjoy both.
Research shows that when you go hiking, you’re able to disconnect from technology and reconnect with nature, which can improve your creativity and problem-solving abilities.
The massive amount of technology and noise that we experience in our everyday lives constantly disrupts our thoughts and demands our attention, which exhausts our cognitive functions.
So, when you’re overwhelmed with your everyday routine, going hiking can offer a huge relief by reducing mental fatigue and soothing your mind. This makes hiking a productive hobby, as you’re getting your mind and body ready to tackle upcoming projects.
Resource: Here is a guide to help you get started with this hobby.
9. Practice Yoga
Yoga isn’t just about moving your body into specific and intricate poses, this practice also strengthens your mind. More and more business organizations are realizing that practicing yoga is an effective way to create more productive, efficient, and enthusiastic employees, which leads to a better bottom line.
Yoga is a productive hobby because it encourages you to disregard external thoughts or stimuli to create space to focus exclusively on your mind, body, and breath.
Having this laser-focused mindset on improving yourself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, will help you be more prepared and productive while you’re working.
Want to turn something you love into something that can make you some extra cash?
Take one of your current hobbies (or start a new one) and monetize it! This will help you diversify your income sources, which will give you a bit more financial stability. If you spend some time focusing on increasing your earning potential by having multiple sources of income, it can help you become more self-reliant.
Having a side hustle can help you diversify your income sources and make you become more self-reliant.
Starting a side hustle could end up making you independently successful if you’re able to turn your business into your primary income source.
There are tons of stories online of people who started a side hustle because they figured they could earn some extra cash by doing what they loved to do, which then turned into their full-time gig.
Are you crafty? Or artistic? Work on perfecting your passion so you can diversify your success.
If reading is one of your hobbies, it means you’re in a constant pursuit of knowledge and growth, because reading and learning go hand in hand.
If you read the right things (which doesn’t mean reading your favorite fiction novel over and over), you will automatically and naturally become more informed, healthier, happier, and more successful as a result of this pastime
This is because successful people view reading as the one thing standing in between themselves and infinite knowledge. This means that successful people read books that are geared toward being successful to continuously improve their own lives.
Because, if you’re not learning anything useful, how do you expect to grow?
You don’t need to be a professional to get the benefits from writing. Even if you just write in a journal, it can help you think positively and reaffirm your wishes for your future on paper, which is helpful in visualizing yourself achieving your life goals and turning your dreams into a reality.
Writing in the form of journaling can give you the foundation for success that you need to help you build a mindset that brings your vision within reach.
But writing for others is also a great key to success, and is certainly a great hobby to help you find your voice.
When you practice writing with clarity, honesty, and modesty on a regular basis, it will enhance your communication skills and your ability to cultivate authentic connections with others.
And to be successful, you need to be able to “win over” people in a way that makes them want to work with you instead of against you.
Successful people can inspire and influence readers by offering their unique perspectives or new ideas. Success is hard to come by if you’re not able to inspire other people in some way, as it takes a compelling person to incite lasting, positive change.
There are several ways you can pursue a writing habit to make you a successful person, such as:
Resource: Reading this article will help you with building your daily writing habit.
13. Take a Class Online
Learning is always a productive hobby that will increase your success in any area of your life. And with the internet at your fingertips, you can have a structured learning experience without having to leave your living room.
Online classes are convenient to take, and it has become more commonplace than ever to learn on your own schedule through online programs. There is an online class for pretty much anything you may be interested in (and you can always do your own research instead of or in addition to taking a formal class).
With online learning, you can have a structured learning experience without having to leave your living room.
There are a lot of online learning platforms, such as Coursera, Skillshare, and Udemy, that offer thousands of instructor-led courses, some of which are free. Signing up for a course typically offers you access to supplemental materials that are only available to students.
Lifelong learning is a productive hobby that will always be a great option to help you succeed and grow in any of your endeavors.
Learning about investing is a productive way to take control of your financial success. If you can turn investing into a hobby, you can have fun while growing and diversifying your portfolio.
By learning about smart ways to invest or save your money, you will be setting yourself up for financial success.
And, while this topic may sound dull or confusing at first, once you start to learn the basics about investing, you will likely find that you enjoy the challenge that comes along with it and the sense of satisfaction you get when you make a good financial decision.
Resource: There are plenty of podcasts about personal finance that you can listen to in order to get started with this hobby.
15. Learn to Cook
There are a lot of benefits to taking up a cooking hobby, aside from just saving money and eating a healthier diet.
You will also be practicing some unique planning and preparation skills while positively contributing to the health and wellbeing of your family. Cooking is one hobby that not only requires focus, but also the ability to effectively multitask to see the process through from beginning to end.
Cooking is a great way to express your creative side–as you get to make all of the choices! You can see the impact that your small changes have on the outcome of a dish and experiment through trial and error.
You’ll need to use your science, math, and critical thinking skills, so get ready to put those lessons from grade school to good use!
Learning to cook can also improve the success of your relationship. Many couples find that actively learning new skills together is an effective way to strengthen their bond.
And, if you’re both starting from scratch, then you will be putting yourselves out there together by trying something new and challenging with each other.
In the long run, learning how to cook can offer significant benefits if you want to make the most of your personal and professional lives. Once you get into this hobby, you’ll have a great new social opportunity to make use of.
You’ll be able to use your skills to help create healthier habits that are less expensive than picking up take-out every night. And you’ll certainly gain the respect of those around you, which can help you in any realm of your life.
Final Thoughts on Productive Hobbies
No matter which of the hobbies listed in this article you choose to pursue, it will make a positive impact on your life and your future in some way.
While the relationship between some of these hobbies and your success may not seem directly related, all of these hobbies help you hone the skills that are vital to success, no matter what you do for a living or what your passion is.
Take one or two of these hobbies on and see where it takes you.
And if you’re looking for more interesting hobbies, be sure to check out these blog posts:
Connie Mathers is a professional editor and freelance writer. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and a Master’s Degree in Social Work. When she is not writing, Connie is either spending time with her daughter and two dogs, running, or working at her full-time job as a social worker in Richmond, VA.
Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.
Forbes forecasts that by 2025, around 32.6 million Americans will work remotely. If you’re an entrepreneur among those clocking in from home, your workspace could likely use some sprucing up. Adding some plants is a great place to start, and now you don’t need to worry about having a green thumb, thanks to Plantum.
With Plantum, an AI Plant Identifying app, you can become an amateur botanist with your iPhone or iPad. A lifetime subscription to a Plantum Premium Plan for iOS can be yours for just $14.97 — $45 off the usual price and the best online price — now through January 1 with no coupon code needed.
Let Plantum help you identify over 15,000 plant species with its AI-powered app. Aside from helping you figure out the exact type of plant you’re dealing with in only three seconds, you’ll also learn how to tend to your plants and keep them healthy. See how much you should water and fertilize them, find the right soil for your plant child, and even discover exactly what level of sunlight they require thanks to the app’s unique light meter.
You can diagnose conditions straight from the app and find out how to help. And if you’ve got enough on your plate as a busy entrepreneur, the app can also help you remember when and how to tend to your plants with a reminder feature.
Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.
Many of us still have gifts we need to buy and people we need to come up with ideas for, and the holidays are in some ways here and still fast approaching. For entrepreneurs who are looking to treat some people they work with, perhaps something more artistic, affordable, and easy to deliver in a short amount of time should be in order. A great example is the 2024 Guitar Lessons Training Bundle, which is on sale for just $15.97 (reg. $480) through December 25.
This comprehensive and well-curated bundle features 12 courses and nearly 80 hours of content on how to play guitar. At the top of the selection of courses, the Beginning Guitar Lessons Crash Course features 18 lessons on introductory topics like how to read TAB or tablature, how to be able to name every note on the fret, how to find barre chords, and more. This course has an impressive average rating of 4.6/5 stars.
Another cool course featured in the bundle, Songwriting for the Curious Guitarist, is a collection of lectures on how to arrange your songs, create chord progressions, find interesting strum patterns, and more thought-provoking angles on the songwriting process.
This course and the others featured in the bundle are taught by Dan Dresnok — a guitar teacher with over 30 years of teaching experience. He’s guided tens of thousands of students both online and in person.
This well-curated guide is available online with the click of a mouse, so in terms of buying gifts, you won’t need to worry about shipping times.
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Do you ever feel like your weekly routine gets a bit… monotonous? Repetitious? And maybe not as fun or challenging as it once was?
Of course, we all get into our predictable weekly routines that essentially define our lives. But what do you think about doing activities outside of work (and home) that you not only enjoy doing, but could also contribute to your success in other areas of your life?
There are a ton of benefits to having a hobby, ranging from mental and physical to possibly even financial. Spending time doing something that you enjoy that isn’t work-related will help you be more satisfied with life, especially if what you’re doing is only for your own personal benefit.
This increased feeling of happiness in life can overflow to benefit your relationships and your performance at work.
How to Select a Hobby
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re considering starting a new hobby. Consider the following:
The Challenge: You may want to consider looking for a hobby that can become increasingly challenging as you progress. This doesn’t mean it has to have a huge learning curve or you need to become an expert, but if you tend to get bored with things quickly, look for something that you can continuously improve upon.
Your Strengths: Play to your strengths so you don’t get frustrated or bored. Also, consider your current fitness level, any costs that you may incur, and your passions when choosing a hobby.
Stress: What is the level of stress that the hobby could potentially cause? If you start playing poker (which I imagine can be a high-stress game), you may want to find another hobby as well that is a bit calming to balance it out.
Time: If you have a family and you work full time, you probably (hopefully) don’t want to take up a hobby that is going to consume your entire weekend if it’s something that doesn’t include your family.
This isn’t to say you should limit yourself–you may actually end up surprising yourself by loving something that you’ve never been interested in before. So, keep an open mind, but also consider the other factors in your life so you can find a good fit.
So let’s take a look at 65 fun hobbies that any woman could take up.
65 Fun Hobbies for Women of All Ages
1. Create Vision Boards
Creating and maintaining a vision board is something we talk about a lot on here because of how much it can benefit you in all areas of your life. Your vision board will give you a daily reminder of your long term goals and a tangible, visual source of inspiration to work toward them.
It’s ok if you’re not confident in your singing. You can learn how to sing! If it’s something that you enjoy doing, join a volunteer choir or sign up for voice lessons to finetune your skills. There are actually a lot of benefits to singing, including:
Not only are there environmental benefits to upcycling, you can also gain personal benefits by creating brand new things from items that may otherwise end up in a dumpster.
So, aside from minimizing landfill waste, you’re also reducing the need for the production of new things (which leads to a reduction in pollution, carbon emissions, etc.)
This is definitely a hobby that could turn a profit as well. Updating old furniture is a popular way to add unique pieces to home decor and people definitely are looking for cool things to add to their homes. You can sell your things on Facebook Marketplace or even at a local farmer’s market.
Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community and make you feel good about yourself. Volunteering for a cause that you’re passionate about can also help you meet like-minded people and could potentially open the door for some future job opportunities.
Resource: Find opportunities in your city to volunteer on this website.
6. Run
If you’re one of those people who think that running just isn’t for you…there is a good chance you’re wrong! You may assume the opposite, but running can be relaxing and it can definitely be a stress reliever.
Running will help you strengthen your muscles, build endurance, and maintain a healthy weight. You will also be benefiting your heart health as you run, which is crucial because heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.
There are also many benefits to walking, so don’t feel pressured to run if that really isn’t your thing. You can walk for longer than if you were to go out for a run because it requires less intensity and endurance, but the more you do it, the more fit you will become.
Walking can reduce stress and can also be a social hobby if you grab a friend who also wants to get some fresh air.
If you prefer to walk alone, this may be a good time to listen to your favorite podcasts or practice walking meditation. If you need to, you can break up a long walk into two shorter walks during the day to gain the same benefits.
Take a break from online communities and get together with your friends in person with a purpose.
Getting a group together with a common goal on a regular basis for something aside from going to brunch can be stimulating for your mind, interesting, and social all at the same time. Plus, reading is super important.
Reach out to some of your friends who share your interests and take a poll of what they may want to read. Once you decide on a book, create a meeting schedule, grab some wine and snacks, and discuss everyone’s take on the book.
Many who suffer from stress and depression are triggered by boredom and a lack of structure. However, the focus that it takes to color helps take one’s mind off of negative issues and redirects their thinking in a more productive way. The process of acting and doing (rather than sitting back and watching) is an effective way to deter yourself from focusing on emotional turmoil.
This is a great hobby for those who suffer from anxiety, because focusing on harmless coloring is a calming activity that can put your fight or flight response to rest and allow you to relax while engaging in a safe activity. Focusing on coloring can replace negative thoughts from entering your mind.
What is a topic that you have some expertise in or what really interests you? Interior design? Upcycling furniture? Parenting? Book reviews?
Whatever your niche is, you can share your experience, opinions, and knowledge with the world by creating a blog. By doing this, you can also get feedback from your readers through comments, which can help you learn something new in return.
Blogging also has the potential to generate some income if you allow companies to advertise their products on your blog, which is an added benefit.
11. Go Camping
I know some families who go camping with their kids on a regular basis and love it. I’m not saying this is for me, but considering how popular it is, there’s a good chance it could be for you. And, go figure, there are a ton of health benefits that you can get from spending this time in nature.
Camping can reduce clinical depression by offering you a form of exercising that’s completely disconnected from your work life. All you need is some camping and hiking gear and supplies and you will be ready to face the great outdoors.
Get your friends together for your trip so you can sit around the campfire, bond, laugh, make s’mores, and create memories.
I know several people who have found local sports leagues to become involved with. It’s a great way to meet new people, get some exercise, and engage in some friendly competition.
I know softball and kickball are popular for this type of activity, but there are also tennis, soccer, bowling, basketball, and endless other options for sports leagues out there.
Combining socializing with being outside and getting exercise is a pretty ideal hobby.
Resource: This website allows you to put in your city to find a sports league of your choice.
13. Geocaching
This active outdoor hobby involves using a GPS to hide and find treasures (“geocaches”) in specific areas that are marked by coordinates all over the world. In its simplest form, geocaching requires:
Going to the “Hide & Seek a Cache” page on the website and entering your zip code into the search
Picking a geocache from the list that populates
Putting the coordinates that are given into your GPS and going out to find the geocache
Signing the logbook and putting the geocache back
Sharing your experience online
A typical cache is a waterproof container that contains a logbook in it for each person who finds it to sign. The caches have little treasures in them such as books or small trinkets.
People enjoy this hobby for a variety of reasons, such as having the opportunity to explore new places, meeting new people who also geocache, getting some exercise outdoors, and finding a hidden treasure.
Canning food has recently increased in popularity with COVID-19 and the survivalist movement that’s been taking place. Canning food is an effective way to ensure you have an emergency food supply and to preserve some produce that you’ve overgrown and don’t want to waste.
Canning is an inexpensive hobby that is easy to start.
Resource: This video walks you through the process of preserving food through canning.
15. Learn a New Language
I know this is a hobby that I would love to focus on. Learning a new language will challenge your brain in new ways while also helping you learn about a different culture.
While this may be a time consuming hobby, you don’t have to put a deadline on it and it will be worth the effort in the end. Plus, it will allow you to communicate with others that you would otherwise never interact with because of your language barrier.
And, interestingly enough, studying a foreign language will improve your knowledge of your own language because it will help increase your English vocabulary skills. You will start to notice the interrelation of different languages, and how many languages use the same base for words.
Resource: The best place to turn for your first lesson in a new language is the internet. Check out Rocket Languages, an app in which you can choose from a selection of languages you want to learn, and then sign up for a free trial where you can receive a few sample lessons.
16. Learn About Investing
This is important to do at all ages so you can have a handle on your finances and take control of your financial well-being. Also, learning about investing can hugely benefit you in the long run if you make it into an enjoyable hobby.
Learn how to set yourself up for financial success and be financially independent by learning about the best ways to invest or save your earnings.
While this might sound boring if it’s not up your alley, once you start to learn about investing, you will definitely find it to be a challenge and hopefully you’ll find it to be satisfying as well. There are also podcasts about personal finance that may be easier to get into if you would rather listen than read.
How cool would it be to have your name on a published book?
It’s easier now than ever to become a published author because you don’t have to rely on a big publishing company to accept your work.
You can relay your message on whatever subject is especially important to you–and it will end up in a tangible format that you can keep forever and can be passed on for ages. You can also express your creativity as you’re sharing your thoughts with others.
By self-publishing your book, you can take control of the process. Take your time and write a few hundred words each day until you’re satisfied with your work. Once you get into it, it will probably go a lot faster than you think.
Resource: Here is a website that will walk you through self-publishing a book.
18. Learn Self Defense
It is becoming increasingly important to know how to defend yourself in our troubling times. To ensure your own safety, you should be armed with techniques and skills to escape a potentially harmful attack.
Martial arts is a common form of self defense, as it’s designed to help people systematically defend themselves rather than fight back.
Learning self-defense will also help you improve your self-esteem, self-confidence, and gain awareness. Knowing self defense will help you make smart choices about the situations you allow yourself to be in, reducing your chances of becoming a victim of a crime.
I can’t count the number of times I have gotten completely lost in a documentary. There are so many outstanding documentaries out there on Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, HBO, etc that are interesting, educational, entertaining, and even downright scary.
Start by watching Three Identical Strangers because it is the best hour and 36 minutes you will ever spend, and then research your favorite genres and make a list of all of the documentaries that interest you. This may end up being the hobby that you most look forward to!
I recently met a new friend and went to her house for the first time and there were books…everywhere. Like, stacks of books in the living room, dining room, on the porch—just everywhere. So, of course, I said, ”uh, what’s the deal with the books…?”
Well, it turns out her husband finds books that are either free or really low-priced at flea markets and then he turns around and sells them online. She said that he will only get about $10 for some, but others have gone for $50, and it adds up over time.
If books aren’t your thing, go through your closet and find those gently used clothes that you don’t wear anymore and try to make a buck by selling them online. Even if you only make a few dollars, you will still be decluttering your living space.
It’s easy to forget about puzzles with all of the digital distractions we have, but I personally love doing jigsaw puzzles. And of course there are some cognitive benefits to doing them, including:
Exercising the logical and creative sides of your brain, giving you a mental workout that will improve your focus and problem-solving skills.
Improving your short-term memory by reinforcing neural connections and increasing processing speed.
Improving visual-spatial reasoning because it forces you to look at each piece and figure out how it fits into the big picture.
Relieving stress because when you focus on one thing for an extended period of time without interruption, you’re essentially meditating. Your everyday stress evaporates as your blood pressure and heart rate are reduced.
Getting away from the bustle and never ending stimuli of our digital lifestyle.
Learning about where your family came from and tracing your roots is a satisfying hobby that you can share with other members of your family. This can also help serve future generations for many years to come.
To learn about your genealogy, you just need some good research skills, the ability to organize information, and enough curiosity to keep you motivated. Doing this will help you understand your history a bit better.
No one minds saving a bit of money here and there. Couponing is a fun hobby that can save you a ton of money if you play your cards right. This might be the right hobby for you if you love finding great deals.
If you get really into couponing, you can start figuring out how much an item typically costs, where you can find the best deal, and how much to stock up on to last you until the next sale.
Resource: Check out this video on couponing for beginners.
24. Flower Arranging
Studies have shown that flowers have a strong impact on one’s mental wellbeing and immediate happiness. So what could be better than spending time around flowers yourself and making arrangements that can make other people happy as well?
Flower arrangements make great gifts for other people and they’re perfect for decorating your own home.
Resource: Here is how to make a flower arrangement under $15.
25. Get Into Pottery
One reason that pottery is regaining its popularity is because it’s a sustainable way to express your creativity in our wasteful society. Pottery involves focus, precision, and patience, as just one slip up could turn your creation back into a pile of mud.
However, doing pottery literally forces you to stay off of your phone while you concentrate on this creation that ends up being something functional in your life–such as a vase or a mug. And the creativity options are endless.
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m awful at tennis, but I love playing it anyway and it’s great exercise. Playing tennis is a good way to socialize, work on your physical stamina and hand/eye coordination—and, there are a lot of pretty cute tennis outfits to wear out there.
Even if your coordination is about as good as mine is (so, not at all), don’t let playing tennis be intimidating, just try it!
Resource: This video will teach you how to play tennis in ten minutes.
27. Start an Organizing Routine
If you want to get yourself organized and get rid of clutter, make a system for your cleaning processes, and organize any things in your house that don’t have a “home.”
Gather some supplies to declutter your living space. Doing so will help reduce your everyday stress and feelings of being overwhelmed with “things.” When your living and working space is neat and organized, you will feel more peace of mind as you move through your day.
There are a lot of opportunities to learn online–and many of them cost nothing. You can learn just about anything you want through online sites such as Coursera and Udemy.
Embrace lifelong learning by learning about things like self-improvement, business, nutrition, financial markets, psychology, money management, meditation, and tons of other things.
If online learning isn’t your thing, look into the classes that they offer at your local community college and see what you have to do to sign up for any that interest you.
If you like decorating, and you like essential oils, you will love making candles. (If you’re new to essential oils, here are 17 great options to use for a candle that you keep at your desk, as they help with focus and concentration). You only need some basic supplies to make candles, and you can pick them up at pretty much any craft store.
Decorating candles can be very relaxing as you express your creativity through various colors and scents. Furthermore, these make perfect gifts, so it can help save you money in the long run.
Resource: Here is a beginner’s guide to making scented candles
30. Pet Sit
If you love dogs and cats but can’t have your own for whatever reason (maybe you work or travel too much or your apartment building doesn’t allow pets), get into pet sitting as a hobby so you can still spend time with some furry friends.
Pet sitting involves caring for someone’s pet in their home while the owner is out of town. People also consider dog walking to be a form of pet sitting because it entails going to a pet owner’s home to give their pet exercise and attention.
There are a lot of advantages to getting a pet sitter, so they are in high demand. These include:
Pets are less stressed when they can stay in their own home while their family is gone
Their diet and exercise routines can remain unchanged
The owner’s anxiety is eliminated knowing their pet is with a trusted caretaker
Pets minimize their exposure to illness
This is also a great way to earn some extra income on the side.
One way you can be more altruistic is by focusing some of your time on the education system and offering your knowledge to tutoring a student. Tutors help students of all ages advance their education, refine their skills, and be more successful in a subject of their choice.
A lot of elementary schools welcome volunteer tutors to help students during lunch–especially with reading. Doing this can allow you to be a mentor to a child while also helping them excel academically.
Tutoring is a rewarding and flexible hobby because you’ll be making a positive difference in a student’s life. Whether you’re helping children or adults, the individual educational support that you give can empower them to live up to their full potential.
Studying philosophy is very interesting because it allows you to use both logic and reasoning to try to understand how people (including yourself) perceive life and the world.
Reading what other philosophers have come up with helps you exercise your critical thinking skills and decide what you believe to be true.
Different areas of philosophy can be determined by the questions that are asked Philosophy teaches the ways in which we might start to answer these, offering insight into ourselves and our life’s purpose.
Get involved in your community in a different way by attending various events, networking, and getting to know the people who live in your neighborhood.
Look at your community’s website (and the websites of towns nearby) or look on Facebook to find a list of events going on in your area, many of which are free. You may be surprised to see how many different activities are going on around you.
Doing stand-up comedy is a way to engage in joyous communication with others–making them feel what you feel (either positive or negative) while expecting to ultimately end up with a good laugh.
This style of entertainment is a good one to practice because even if you aren’t up on a stage, you can use your knowledge of comedy when talking to people on an everyday basis.
There are probably a variety of comedy clubs in your area that welcome amateur stand-up performers. Check them out, and even if you don’t perform on the first night, you can get used to the atmosphere.
Biking is a rewarding hobby because aside from being great exercise, it allows you to explore whatever area you’re in.
Many people opt to ride a bike to work instead of driving to get in some exercise or to help save the environment, and unlike some more expensive gym classes, once you have a bike, it is free to enjoy.
You can build stamina through riding your bike and go on exhilarating adventures that are unique from traditional workouts. Plus, with the availability of GPS, you can plot your course and pick a route that suits your individual skill level as well.
You can join a league and make some new friends or just practice on your own, but either way, bowling is a great pastime. There are a lot of reasons why bowling is a unique and exciting hobby.
Firstly, it’s inexpensive and there’s a low barrier to entry, as you don’t need to buy any special equipment to play. People of any age can bowl–even young children can enjoy this hobby by using bumpers.
And, you don’t have to worry if your aim is a bit off– with practice, you will get the hang of it and the feeling you get when you finally get a strike will be amazing.
Resource: Here are some basic bowling techniques.
37. Wine Tasting
Wine tasting is a great option for a more refined experience if you appreciate different varieties of wine and their histories.
Going wine tasting allows you to visit beautiful, open fields where temperatures are pleasant and humidity is low, which is an ideal environment for the grapes to grow that go into creating unique wines.
Wine tasting tours last for a few hours and give you an opportunity to taste rare blends that you may not get to experience otherwise.
You can also do wine tasting locally by attending wine tasting sessions at local stores. Or, set up a wine tasting experience for yourself and your friends by getting together and each bringing a bottle or two of wine for everyone to taste and talk about.
If you’re like me, you spent a lot of your childhood years trying to imitate the choreography that was on music videos on MTV and VH1. Then the best part was then getting together with friends to perform the routines together.
And I’m willing to bet that you had a group of 5 in which you were labeled one of the Spice Girls (I was Baby Spice).
Just like doing this in your childhood was fun, it can still be fun today. It’s challenging and helps you get out some pent-up energy because it’s a great workout.
Whether or not you have girlfriends who want to mess around with choreography like you did in the olden days, this can be a fun and expressive hobby. Plus, once you’ve learned something, you can put it on TikTok to show off your new moves.
Resource: Here is a video that teaches you how to learn choreography fast.
39. Golf
Golfing isn’t just for men, and seeing as a lot of executive business decisions are made on the golf course, it’s important for women to get in on this hobby as well. Plus, playing golf allows you to get more exercise than you probably think, especially if you walk the course.
You can make a lot of new connections while golfing–both personal and professional–and you can participate in golfing events that are often held as fundraisers.
Golfing definitely requires some skill, so you can continue to challenge yourself to improve. This is also an activity that you can do with your whole family, as a lot of children enjoy the feeling of victory when they’re able to putt the ball into the hole.
Resource: Check out the basics on how to play golf.
40. Play Video Games
This is usually something that is labelled as a hobby for guys, but escaping reality by playing video games can also be a source of stress relief for women. Even Forbes says so.
Swimming is a great hobby because you get a full-body workout as you move your entire body against the resistance of water. Swimming can:
Keep your heart rate up while reducing the impact on your joints
Build endurance, strength, and heart health
Help you maintain a healthy weight
Keep your muscles toned
Plus, it’s super relaxing to just float through the water.
Resource: Here are some tips on learning how to swim in your adult years.
42. Make Bread
Fresh, warm, homemade bread right out of the oven is the BEST. And, if you can deliver a loaf while it’s still warm to a friend, they will love you forever.
Homemade bread is completely unlike store bought bread–even if you get it from the bakery. Plus, you can experiment with different types of breadmaking and then use it for things like French toast and croutons.
You can experiment with different types of breadmaking.
43. Interior Design
If you have the eye for decorating and matching various pieces of art, furniture, and knick-knacks, then making a hobby out of it could even turn into an extra source of income for you.
First, use your skills to redecorate your own living space and then start an instagram page (or other social media outlet) to share your talent with others. This can help get the word out to your friends and family that you’re interested in interior design and you can help create their dream rooms.
Cards are getting expensive! I think my mom’s last mother’s day card was $9.99 or something close to that. And I know it would have been more meaningful to her to get a handmade card.
If you like to do arts and crafts, you can make a wide variety of cards to always have on hand so you never have to put that on your shopping list. Most of the cards out there these days are junk anyway.
Make your cards individual to your needs and say words that are coming from your heart instead of a company’s production team.
If you want to find a hobby that you can do alone or with friends, checking out the museums in your area is a great choice. Try to go to one museum each month to broaden your horizons.
Doing this will help you learn about history, art, culture, nature, science, etc through exhibits and displays. Make a day out of it by adding lunch and a walk too.
It’s amazing what some people have become famous for doing on YouTube…such as simply opening toys or videotaping their everyday lives.
If you have a certain skill (like cooking, or fixing appliances) that you can create “how to” videos on, you could help a lot of people while also engaging in one of your passions.
With the increase of people who are listening to books instead of reading them, there is a greater need for voice talent to record books. You can turn this demand into a fun hobby (and possibly make some money) if you have a pleasant voice and you enjoy reading!
Get your friends together for a fun and unique way to socialize with each other without having to spend a ton of money on going out!
Living this shared experience with friends helps create a bond that’s deeper than you can get by sharing a cup of coffee. During game nights, you learn together, you laugh, you compete, and you get out of your comfort zones together.
This is a great hobby to start with your friends to strengthen your bond in a memorable way.
As a system, astrology has its own logic. It’s the study of how the position of everything in the universe at the time of your birth impacts various aspects of your life, like your career, personality, and relationships.
The study of astrology has gained a lot of popularity lately, especially with the ease of access to information online.
There’s a low barrier to entry to starting this hobby, and nearly endless amounts of information to dive into if you end up falling down a research hole.
With a little studying, you can learn about your own astrological chart–and analyze any truths that you may find in it–and help other people understand this practice for themselves as well.
We can always improve ourselves in some way. Reading self-improvement books as a hobby is very rewarding because it lets you continuously learn about whatever topic that you want in order to better yourself in some way.
This inexpensive hobby is great for people of any age, despite your interests or lifestyle. Even if you just read a chapter a day, any personal development book will help inspire you to enhance your life by recognizing your strengths and eliminating any limiting beliefs you may hold about your potential.
Cooking is certainly a useful hobby to have, especially if you live with other people. You can make your cooking (or baking) as simple or as complicated as you want. Take some time to experiment in the kitchen to see what you like to cook, what you’re really good at making, and what other people seem to enjoy.
Cooking is practical, but also creative and can be artistic. Cooking combines art and science to create an end product to nourish your body. And that’s pretty cool if you think about it.
Learning to cook can help you become acquainted with and understand different cultures and customs better, in addition to learning life skills surrounding eating healthy, creating and sticking to a food budget, and cleaning up after yourself.
You need to exercise your brain just as much as you do your body so you can maintain your cognitive fitness.
Brain training and actively working to boost your intelligence encourages mental stimulation and neuroplasticity, which means your brain will continue to create new neural connections throughout your life.
With this continuous improvement in brain function, the nerve cells in your brain will be more equipped to compensate in the case of a brain injury or disease and to properly adapt their response to new conditions or changes in your environment.
Resource: Take up a hobby of playing brain games to keep your cognitive functioning astute.
53. Start Sewing
This may sound old fashioned, but learning to sew your own clothes will allow you to have a wardrobe that is perfectly tailored to your style and the shape of your body. Furthermore, you can save money on costly tailoring repairs to your existing clothes.
Sewing machines have made great strides over the years, and you would probably be impressed with the features that they offer. Even basic machines can accommodate a variety of fabrics and stitching designs, so you can still get creative if you’re on a budget.
If you don’t want to deal with the potential fuss of a sewing machine, consider learning how to knit.
This is a great hobby because once you get the hang of it, you can passively knit while doing something else (like watching a movie). You can knit your own winter accessories to stay warm and make matching sets to give as gifts.
Knitting is also convenient because you can bring your current project with you anywhere you go and quickly pick up where you left off. Pull out your project while you’re sitting in a waiting room or on the subway heading to work. Knitting is convenient, versatile, and practical.
Resource: Here is the first lesson of a free beginner’s knitting class on YouTube.
55. Photography
Whether you download some fancy photography apps and use your smartphone or you invest in a professional camera, taking up photography can be a really fun hobby.
Plus, it’s practical. With photography being digital these days, you can get immediate feedback from the pictures you take through social media or by just texting a picture to a friend.
Your photography can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. But, no matter what, when you get that perfect shot, it’s always a rewarding feeling. By capturing moments as they happen, you can immortalize your life’s events.
Photography can connect you to your past, associate you with something in the present, and preserve memories without the use of words, making it an influential hobby for anyone.
Rescuing a cat or dog will definitely add some responsibilities to your schedule while also giving you companionship. When you adopt, you can save a pet by making them part of your family, which also clears up space in the animal shelter for another animal who may need it.
Responsible pet ownership definitely requires time, patience, commitment, and a lot of research–so make sure you evaluate your current routine before bringing home a new buddy. For example, if you work full time, you probably don’t want to adopt an active puppy.
Doing yoga has a myriad of benefits. Aside from just making you feel good, practicing the postures, breathing methods, and meditation improves both your physical and mental health. Yoga lets you get in tune with your body, calm down, get in shape.
Many people do yoga to fix whatever is ailing them. Specifically, yoga helps manage depression and anxiety, arthritis, respiratory issues, back pain, blood pressure, chronic fatigue, diabetes, cardiovascular health, MS, stress, epilepsy, and other conditions. Additionally, yoga:
Improves flexibility, strength, and stamina
Reduces muscle tension
Helps improve self esteem
Improves your focus and concentration
Reduces body fat
Increases blood flow
Boosts your immune system
Resource: Here is a video that walks you through a yoga routine for beginners.
58. Make Your Own Jewelry
Making your own jewelry helps you express your creativity and end up with a final product that you will undoubtedly love. Making your jewelry is not only stress relieving, it’s also less expensive than buying it. Plus, you can use the jewelry you make as gifts, which can cut down on those costs as well.
If you find that you really enjoy doing this, you could even start an Etsy shop to sell some of your creations. Get unique in your designs and try to come up with styles that you’ve never seen before.
Make yourself stand out from the crowd with a statement piece or two–and help others update their personal style while you’re at it!
Resource: Here is a video to help get you started with making your own jewelry.
59. Learn How to Do Calligraphy
I’ve always admired people who naturally have awesome handwriting, as there are definitely times when I go back and can’t read my own notes. Taking the extra step to learn calligraphy can help you make homemade invitations and cards that are certain to impress people.
Writing calligraphy is a great way to get some “me time” in because it forces you to slow down and focus on what you’re doing. It also lets you express your creativity through both art and writing.
Imagine you want to send a standout thank-you note after a job interview. Beautiful handwriting coupled with a high-quality envelope presentation shows your potential employer that you’re meticulous, detail-oriented, and you strive to impress people, which are great characteristics of an employee–so knowing how to do calligraphy has additional perks you may not have considered.
Resource: Get started with some basic calligraphy strokes.
60. Start a Journal
Maintaining a journal helps you process your thoughts and take the stress that is in your mind and put it on paper. There are a lot of reasons people write in journals, and you don’t have to have a specific one, but some ideas include:
Consider what is important in your life and what you want to reflect upon the most and start writing.
Resource: Here are some of the best journals on the market to start out with if you aren’t sure what you want in terms of features of your journal.
61. Collect Something
I love looking through thrift stores and some of the (less expensive) antique stores around town. If you find an item that really strikes you, start collecting similar items and display them in your home.
But be careful, it’s easy to go overboard or get carried away with collecting by buying everything that you see that is related to your collection. Only pick out the pieces that you truly love. Plan out a strategy for your antique shopping before you go, and consider bringing along a buddy to keep you accountable.
By maintaining a garden, you can introduce more nutrient-dense, home grown produce to your family’s diet or you could simply add some curb appeal to your home.
Even if you live in an apartment, you can reap the benefits of growing herbs and some smaller fruits and vegetables. You may not realize the difference in taste of home grown foods than those that you buy conventionally until you try it!
Gardening is also a decent form of exercise if you have a yard, as it requires a lot of moving around. Many people find this hobby to be rewarding as they watch their seeds grow while connecting with nature.
Plus, this is a good activity that you can get your kids involved with if you want to teach them about responsibility.
Resource: Don’t think you have a green thumb? Here are some plants that are hard-to-kill.
63. Scrapbook
Sure, your memories are stored on your social media sites, but getting offline and starting a tangible scrapbook can be cathartic.
It can help you preserve the parts of your memories that you wouldn’t normally keep–like the nightly specials at the restaurant you went to while on vacation with your partner.
Keeping these smaller details is always fun to look back on later in life and it can help jog your memory of some pretty fun times.
Resource: Here is a good video on how to make your first scrapbook.
64. Dance
Dancing is a great way to stay in shape for people of any age. Not only will it strengthen your muscles, it can also increase your endurance and improve your overall fitness level. Plus, think of the balance, coordination, flexibility, and agility you can master.
Find a Zumba class or some local dance nights in your community. Or, grab your partner and take some Salsa lessons. Dancing can increase the release of endorphins in your brain and helps to get your body flowing, so it can benefit you both mentally and physically.
Painting is a good hobby because it has a lot of psychological benefits to offer. Not only can it help cultivate creativity, psychologists have related the experience of concentrating on the process of painting to mindfulness activities like yoga and meditation.
Your age and level of talent here are irrelevant. Anyone can gain the relaxing benefits of painting and expressing their own imagination through color. You can attend a guided painting class if you want some structure, or just get some brushes and paint and go somewhere that you feel inspired to paint.
You have a lot to choose from here, so I hope at least a few of these ideas resonated with you. The good thing about taking up a hobby is that if you end up not loving it, you can easily move on to the next one. Give some of these ideas a shot and see how they can benefit your life.
Finally, if you’re looking for other hobby ideas, check out our other posts:
Connie Mathers is a professional editor and freelance writer. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and a Master’s Degree in Social Work. When she is not writing, Connie is either spending time with her daughter and two dogs, running, or working at her full-time job as a social worker in Richmond, VA.
Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.
Entrepreneurs work hard, but that doesn’t mean they can’t play hard, too. No matter what your favorite pastime is, it’s important to ensure you’re getting downtime. This is especially true for business owners since the average work week for an entrepreneur is 12 hours longer than most people’s standard 9-to-5 schedule (per TeamStage).
If you’ve ever considered winding down with some gaming but aren’t sure what system you’ll like the most, there’s now a great place to see if the world of Xbox is for you. A one-month subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is now just $9.97 — nearly $20 off the usual price — for a limited time, ready for you to test and have some fun.
Applicable to both brand new and existing users, this one-month subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate gives you a taste of the fun so you can see if it’s for you. You’ll get access to more than 100 high-quality games, an EA play membership, and exclusive content you won’t see elsewhere for one seriously low price.
Aside from all the games you’ll grow to love, you will also unlock access to all the benefits of Xbox Live Gold. There, you can connect with other gamers and receive free games every month while also taking advantage of a massive 50% savings in the Xbox store. This one-month pass provides more games than you’d ever get to enjoy, serving as a great taste of the platform.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Not all hobbies are created equal. Over the last decade, I’ve obsessively studied success (and what successful people do) by reading a book/month on the topic, researching it (so I could write my own books on it) and being mentored by both CEOs and executive coaches. I’ve found nearly all successful people are intentional and deliberate about how they spend their time. When it comes to their hobbies, watching television or reading tabloids doesn’t rank high. Here’s what does.
Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.
According to Fortunly, 81% of small-business owners in the United States end up working overtime. If you’re a busy entrepreneur, you know that truth all too well after pulling some crazy hours week after week. That means it’s more important than ever to make sure you have time to unwind, especially with the busy holiday season ahead.
Whether you have a gamer on your gifting list or you personally love to fit in a few rounds of Mario Kart after a busy day, the Nintendo Switch is a great way to unwind. And right now, just in time for the season of gift giving, this Portable Nintendo Switch Dock Conversion Cable can be yours for only $17.99 (reg. $29). But you’ll need to act fast — though there’s no coupon code required, this deal only lasts through November 16.
The Portable Nintendo Switch Dock Conversion Cable lets you fit in some gaming anytime, anywhere, as you won’t need your dock to have a seamless gaming experience. It’s a Nintendo Switch HDMI cable that supports 4K resolution and works with other USB-C devices, offering a plug-and-play experience that lets you get right to playing your favorite games.
With this conversion cable, you can kick bulky docking stations to the curb and quickly charge your Nintendo Switch from anywhere with 100W fast charging. Not only does it make gaming more convenient, it’s simple to use and affordable, making it a must-have gaming accessory for your arsenal.
Give the gift of gaming on the go this holiday season with the Portable Nintendo Switch Dock Conversion Cable, only $17.99 (reg. $29), with no coupon code required, now through November 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
