Q&A for How to Find a Hobby

I think we're living in a really unique time when almost any hobby can be turned into a job. I had a client who loved belly dancing, and now she travels around the world teaching belly dancing lessons and performing. It can take some time to get to the point where you're making meaningful money doing what you love, but you can always work towards this goal on the side while you're still at your normal job.

I think it helps to connect with other people who enjoy the same thing you do. If you used to love collecting stamps and you're kind of getting bored with it, try reaching out to an online stamp-collecting community. Talk to them. Trade stamps, or talk about your collection. That's a great way to reignite your love for a hobby.

By doing it! You're never going to figure out if you enjoy something if you never give it a shot. There's no reason you can't stop pursuing a hobby if it turns out that it isn't right for you.

Of course you can! People of all ages collect toys as a hobby -- including adults!

Maybe you're being too narrow in your definition of what a hobby is or can be or putting too much pressure on yourself to find the "perfect" thing. Think of what you enjoy doing when you have time on your hands and have nothing else you need to do -- even if it's sitting and reading a book or taking walks outside, this could be your hobby. Feel free to continue experimenting, though, because it may be that you haven't found the right hobby yet.

Bring your child to a large hobby or craft shop and wander around to see what appeals most.

Go after what interests you. When I was a teen I loved astronomy and would look at the constellations in the night sky. Remember your interests may change as you get older. For now, look into what works for you and your family's budget.

Try to give it some time, if you haven't already, as it can take a while to learn to like an instrument. If, after several months, you're still not interested, let your parents know and ask what else you can explore for hobbies.

Try programming, tinkering with hardware, or designing websites - which could include web programming. There are a lot of avenues you can take. You might even teach basic computer skills.

Find out why your parents don't want you to do it. Is it dangerous? Does it go against your parents' beliefs? Once you've found out, try to meet in the middle. Maybe there's something similar to what you want that your parents will approve of.

You can be a collector of rare ones or even make your own stuffed animals using a very basic pattern.

Yes, it is. It helps people relax, and many areas offer classes to learn how to properly use aromatherapy. You might get to understand the history of it, and why it was invented as well.

If you want your hobby to be "athletic", try some less mainstream sports like archery or horseback riding.

Gardening! You could plant flowers, vegetables, herbs, or a combination! You could also join some environmental groups around your town that focus on things like planting trees or preserving green spaces.

Reading, writing, painting, drawing, watching movies and shows (or listening to music) with your headphones on.

Military model building. Go to your local hobby shop and pick up a kit with a low skill level to start with, and then work your way up to harder kit.

Hobbies are only limited by your imagination. Make a list of things you enjoy doing, and then a list of ways to practice or participate in each one. There may be a group of like-minded people in your community, so ask a parent to help you find one or join an online group.

Look into cosmetology schools or theater classes specializing in makeup. That could be a start.

If you like helping people, then volunteer work would be a great hobby for you. You could sign up to volunteer at some local soup kitchens, animal shelters, homeless shelters, etc.

You could take up dancing, singing, drawing or painting, writing, reading, or maybe even cooking or baking!

Stop taking things so literally perhaps? You could try flower designs on fabric, paintings, drawings, clothing, furniture, house walls, fashion accessories, stationery, etc. as business ideas, only drawing inspiration from the flowers, defending the environment, etc. You're not expected to be a florist if your skills lie elsewhere.

Try 4-H clubs in your area or local summer camps.You could try dirt bikes, although this can be expensive, and there are safety issues. You might try gardening or hiking. Talk it over with your parents or older relatives to get more ideas.

Here you have a lot of options. You could try sewing or kitting or you could draw pictures of clothes. Try buying some plain clothes, then touching them up. You could add ribbons, fabric paint, embroider and then have a fashion show with friends!

Start a simple hobby. You could try something that won't take too long. Don't read long books or plant seeds, because they take a long time to grow. If you start a hobby and get bored of it, go on to something else. You can have multiple hobbies and pick them up and set them aside as you like. Hobbies are supposed to be fun, so if you don't enjoy something, you don't need to keep doing it.

Try volunteering at your local animal shelter. You can play with the cats and dogs there as a substitute for having a pet. You could also look after people's pets and try drawing people's pets.

Try looking around you. See what your friends do for fun and try that. Or join in that basketball game across the street in that kids driveway. Visit that kid who really likes gardening, or the one that likes to dance. Or maybe make gaming your hobby. There are tons of gaming competitions big and small that could be close to you. Do some research. Use the environment around you to find a new hobby.

Creating a YouTube channel, practicing with other singers and seeing concerts are great hobbies for singers.

You could go to a local pet shelter and see if you could volunteer there. You could also try dog sitting or dog walking. With the latter option you might be able to make some money from your hobby.

If they make you sad, you should find new hobbies and interests that you find less upsetting.

There are plenty of noncompetitive hobbies to pick up, especially ones that don't involve other people. Try to find a type of music you like, or a particular Netflix series, or even a good book! The important thing is that you find an experience you enjoy by yourself - no one else can do that for you.