Ever hear that old term, “the spice of life”? People don’t say it too much anymore, but it’s a fantastic phrase—it basically refers to anything that makes your life fuller, richer, and more enjoyable.
And, let’s be honest with ourselves… after the last couple of years, many of us would like to experience fuller, richer, and more enjoyable lives.
Want to know one of the easiest ways to make your life better? It’s really simple:
You get a HOBBY.
That sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? That a simple hobby is going to make your life better?
Well, it’s true. And not only is it true, it’s true in a lot of different ways. Studies have shown that hobbies can make you more creative. They can help you in your career. They can improve your mental health. They can even make you a better person.
So… what are you waiting for?
Try something. Try anything! Be interested and become interesting.
Below, we’ve compiled a broad range of hobbies, and we hope something sticks with you. Some of them you could probably come up with on your own—gardening—but some aren’t so intuitive. Whatever it is, give it a shot and see what happens.
After all—the worst that can happen is that you get more creative, better in your career, mentally healthier, and an all-around better person, so… why not?
First up!
Physical Activities
Why not get fit while doing something you love? Here are about a dozen physical activities that have robust communities, and they’re REALLY good for you:
Rock Climbing
This can range from “surprisingly dangerous” to “surprisingly not dangerous.” Rock climbing offers an amazing upper body workout, and it can be done with others or alone. You can find a local rock climbing or bouldering gym, or look into the exciting world of outdoor rock climbing for a real adventure.
Yoga
Want to adventure outward? Start your journey inward. Yoga is a great way to exercise and boost your mobility without getting your heart racing, and certain types of yoga, like vinyasa or power yoga, can even help you build strength. You can practice it by yourself at home with the help of the many yogis on YouTube, or join a local class.
Jogging
Just put on your running shoes and get out the door! Jogging is a hobby with a low barrier to entry, and it’s great for your cardiovascular health. Do it alone, or find a local jogging meet-up. If you don’t feel ready to jog, look into programs like Couch to 5k.
Cycling
Much like jogging, cycling is also a great cardio workout. It’s practical and versatile, with options from casual city cycling to intense mountain biking. You can choose all kinds of goals with cycling, or get into adjacent hobbies like building or maintaining your own bike.
Weight Training
The most common and effective way of building strength and improving your health, whether at home or the gym. It also paves the way for trying specific sports like weightlifting, powerlifting, and bodybuilding.
Axe-Throwing
It’s a little different, a lot of fun, and it feels incredibly masculine. Axe-throwing has become incredibly popular in recent years, so you might be surprised at the number of existing venues in your area. There are also leagues you can join!
Dancing
Go traditional with standard ballroom or try something sultry like bachata. There are hundreds of dance styles out there, and in many classes, women are over-represented so you’ll never struggle to find a dance partner.
Skiing or Snowboarding
If you live up north or close to a mountain, skiing and snowboarding are both excellent hobbies to pick up. They’re very exciting, and they’re a great way to stay active during winter. For more intense cardio, you can also try cross-country skiing.
Parkour
Parkour (i.e. running and jumping over obstacles like a ninja) is a contender for “Most Over-Hyped and Somehow Also Under-Hyped Hobby.” It’s also a great no-equipment, outdoor workout, although it’s important you start slowly to avoid injury.
Team Sports
What better what to meet people than to join an actual team and work towards a common goal? If that sounds like fun, perhaps you should try…
Basketball
Believe it or not, basketball is one of the fastest-growing sports out there, and joining a rec team can be a great way to meet people quickly and get in shape. Basketball may seem obvious, but it’s a great one because nearly every town has a few leagues, you probably already know the rules, and you won’t need expensive equipment. You can jump right in.
Soccer
In what is probably the official sport of Planet Earth, soccer offers the same camaraderie and accessibility as other team sports. It’s a fun game, and it’s extremely popular all over the world, so you’ll be able to make international connections.
Quidditch
Combine your love of Harry Potter books with a surprisingly fun and active sport that attracts players of all genders. Inspired by the magical game from Harry Potter, players get to run around with a broom between their legs, throwing quaffles. There’s even a major league!
Football or Rugby
If you’re not afraid of getting shoved around, you can get into a full-contact sport like American football or rugby. Rugby, especially, is great since you won’t require much equipment.
Ultimate Frisbee
This is another unusual team sport, but it’s a lot of fun. The rules are reminiscent of football, but instead of a ball, you throw around a frisbee. It’s a great cardio exercise with less contact than other sports.
Gaming
This makes us extremely happy: gaming—both online and off—has grown tremendously over the last decade or so, and the opportunities to have fun and meet others has never been so vast. Consider:
Chess
Chess is not an easy game, but it’s a great way of keeping your mind sharp. Nowadays, you can play online or join local groups.
Tabletop Roleplaying
Tabletop RPGs like Dungeons and Dragons or Pathfinder offer fun gameplay and teamwork and also allow you to stretch your improv skills during roleplay. This is one of those “infinite” hobbies, and it can crack open your world in ways you can’t imagine. If you don’t have anyone you can start with, visit a local comic shop or game store and get involved.
Poker
Skill and luck go hand-in-hand when it comes to poker. You can join low-stakes games just for the pleasure of it, or try your hand at making some spare cash playing online. Just, uhhhh… don’t get addicted. Some people get addicted to it, and if that happens, seek help.
Otherwise… have fun!
Video Games
The world of video games is huge, and it’s easy to get sucked in. From huge multi-player games that allow you to connect with others to small-scale adventure games that tell you a story, the types of games are endless, and there are also tournaments and leagues you can join.
Board Games
There are thousands of amazing board games out there, and many people make it a point to collect and play them often. You can also choose just one game to focus on. Many towns have board game cafes and clubs where you can meet and play with others.
Arts, Crafts & DIY
The classic! Arts, Crats, and DIY is fantastic because it’s such a broad category.
We’d give one piece of advice: don’t get “bound in” by your gender here. Some of these are “traditionally male” or “traditionally female” hobbies, but that’s garbage. Dive into something that interests and challenges you.
Woodworking
Woodworking is a practical hobby that lets you be both creative and physical. You will need to invest in a workspace, wood, and some tools, but for many, it’s worth it. What’s more impressive than being able to say you made a table or coat hanger all by yourself?
Pottery & Sculpture
Pottery and sculpture classes are a great place to create art while also socializing, and with clay, you can produce all kinds of practical wares or artistic trinkets. You can also get into making clay creations by yourself at home, but you’ll need access to a kiln to finish your pieces.
Knitting
If you’re the kind of guy who doesn’t let stigma stop him, try knitting. Knitting is surprisingly relaxing and meditative, and you can do it while listening to podcasts or watching TV. Everyone needs a cozy scarf, hat, or sweater, and as you get good, you can even experiment with wacky patterns like these Star Wars-themed designs.
Blacksmithing
Blacksmithing is the craft of forging for metal. It’s an impressive hobby for men to take on, with some intense materials and a big workshop. Through blacksmithing, you can produce knives, sculptures, cooking utensils, and even large structures like gates or rails.
Writing
Put your thoughts to a page, and see where you end up! You could write the next great American novel or just put together a fun blog. To get started, you can get inspired by projects like National Novel Writing Month or podcasts like Start With This.
Photography
Nowadays, you don’t need a fancy camera to enjoy photography. Learning basic theory will allow you to take great photos even with your smartphone, and you can always progress from there. Nature, food, pets, portraits—there are so many things worth capturing in a photo!
Painting
One of the most classic art forms, painting is another way of bringing to life the amazing ideas that exist in your head. There are all different kinds of mediums, including oil paints, watercolors, and acrylics, and you can try it alone, join a class, or follow along to Bob Ross.
Sketching
Sketching is just as respectable an art form as painting, but instead of messy, colorful paint, you get to use pencils or pens, for a more precise technique.
Graphic Design
Graphic design is a huge field that allows you to get creative without getting dirty, and it has a ton of useful applications. As with anything, getting good at it takes work, but it’s not a
Entertainment
The advent of the internet brought entertainment from a solo endeavour to a team sport. Entertainment has always been a huge industry, but somehow—from meetups to discussion groups to ComiCons—it’s gotten even bigger in past years.
You can jump into the deep end create amazing cosplay, or start really simply and…
Read!
It’s easy for adults to forget how pleasurable reading can be. Getting into reading is a great hobby, and it doesn’t even have to be solitary, since you can easily find local book clubs. Book clubs can be an incredibly enriching experience, and you’ll meet people you’d never have met otherwise.
Become a Film Buff
It’s hard to make the argument that watching movies counts as a hobby. On the other hand, becoming a movie buff by working your way through the classics, developing complex opinions, and learning film theory or trivia certainly counts. You can even share your thoughts by keeping a blog or writing reviews.
Start a Podcast
If you have something to say to the world, why not start a podcast? Podcasts range widely, from discussion shows to TV show recaps to interviews. Producing a podcast is demanding but fascinating, and allows you to acquire a range of skills from recording and audio editing to marketing.
Learn to Play an Instrument
It’s never too late to pick up the instrument you always dreamed of playing. Making music can be calming or cathartic, depending on your tastes, and there are dozens of instruments out there to try. We recommend the humble ukulele for the lowest barrier-to-entry, but if you like a challenge, give the French horn or violin a try.
Collect Vinyl
As any record collector will tell you, listening to music on vinyl is a totally different experience. It involves learning to set up a record player, playing with analog technology, and hunting for gems at second-hand stores. Plus, vinyl records have a high resale value, so you can get into trading.
Culinary
Everybody gotta eat, no? Why not try your hand at…
Grilling
Grilling is probably the most masculine of all culinary skills, even if the reasons behind that are dubious. That said, a grilled meal is always delicious, and as it turns out, there’s a lot to it, from picking the right grill, learning to judge when a cut of meat is done, and experimenting with sauces and marinades.
Baking
As any experienced cook will tell, cooking is an art but baking is a science. If you’re the type who likes to follow recipes closely or understand the science behind what you do, baking is very you—not to mention you’ll end up with a lot of tasty treats to impress your friends and neighbors.
Sourdough Bread Making
Fun fact: there’s a bakery in San Francisco that has been baking the same loaf of sourdough bread for decades. The founder of the bakery started with some dough, cut 90% of it off to bake, added more dough to the remaining 10%, took off 90% of that to bake, added more dough to the remaining 10%…!
Making a sourdough starter and baking sourdough bread has become its own unique hobby over the last year or so. Caring for a sourdough starter is a little like caring for a pet that helps you make delicious bread.
Mixology
Learning to mix a whole range of cocktails will make you everyone’s favorite friend at parties. There is a lot of room to learn and experiment, and you can even get physical by learning some flair bartending tricks.
Brewing
Beer brewing is a rewarding hobby, especially nowadays when craft beer is so popular. There’s some chemistry involved, and there’s room for error, but that’s part of the fun!
Science, Technology, and Finance
Listen: if you like any of these hobbies enough, they can become an actual career. There’s nothing better than doing what you love and getting paid for it, so why not look into…
Star Gazing
Discover the solar system with a telescope! You can watch the stars from the comfort of your own home, or add travel to the fun by driving to dark areas or visiting observatories.
Coding
We’re living in a digital age, so learning a programming language can be a fun hobby that can even lead you to a new career.
Build a PC
On the hardware side of things, why not build your own PC? You’ll learn valuable technical skills and end up with a powerful computer at a reduced cost.
Become an Amateur Scientist
Buy a textbook, and invest yourself in a new scientific field. There are a lot of sciences that are quite accessible to beginners, like geology, botany, meteorology, and more.
Robotics
Take your interest in technology to the next level with robotics. Start out with a kit, and learn what it takes to construct your own robot.
Investing
Managing your own investments can become a profitable hobby. It’s best to start out small as you learn about the market, and before you know it, you might be set for retirement!
Crypto
Investing and trading with crypto (and, more recently, NFTs) has become a huge alternative to mainstream investing. It’s a great hobby to pick up if you’re skeptical of Wall Street and traditional investments.
Fashion, Lifestyle, and Grooming
Remember earlier, when we said that everybody gotta eat? Well, everybody gotta wear clothes, too. Why not make it into your passion?
Tailoring & Sewing
Every man should know how to sew a button, but going deeper and learning to tailor or sew can become a very practical hobby. You could learn to design clothes from scratch or focus on practical skills like how to hem a pair of pants or how to adjust a shirt.
Wet Shaving
Most men shave casually, but through wet shaving, it can also become a pleasant hobby. Learn about different razors, soaps, and other shaving aids, develop a technique that works for you, and have fun trying new products and scents.
Making DIY Grooming Products
Making your own grooming products is quite easy, and a lot of fun. You’ll feel like a chemist just by mixing up a few oils and scents, and before you know it, you’ll be making things like
Home and Garden
We mentioned gardening at the beginning of this post. This sounds like a low-stakes, low-excitement hobby, but it is SURPRISINGLY satisfying. There are plenty of different ways to go about it, too. You can dive into…
Indoor Plants
Having plants immediately turns your home into a happier place. Taking care of indoor plants requires various levels of commitment, from hearty succulents to delicate orchids. You can also grow herbs, to support a cooking hobby.
Gardening
Creating an outdoor garden is a fun hobby that’ll make your home nicer. It’ll force you to stretch both physical, intellectual, and creative muscles as you decide what to plant and care for your garden.
Fish Pond
If you’re a fish lover, building a fishpond in your garden and yard will be a pleasure. It involves a lot, from the actual construction and planning to setting up a healthy pond to caring for the fish.
Building a Terrarium
A terrarium is a miniature garden sealed in a glass container of some sort. Building terrariums is a creative process, and because of how they’re sealed, the final creation requires minimal care, so they make for excellent gifts.
Outdoor
Outdoors, vast and wild! What’s not to love? Get out there and enjoy…
Hiking
Going out into nature and simply walking along a trail is an easy hobby with low barrier to entry, but there’s a lot of room for increased difficulty. Before you know it, you’ll be trekking mountains on intense multi-day hikes.
Trail Running
Trail running offers amazing cardio in a more pleasant, natural environment. It’s great if you want to up the intensity from hiking. You’ll just need to invest in a proper pair of trail running shoes.
Bird Watching
Bird watching seems like a serene activity, but the die-hards know just how much excitement it can generate. You can do it alone with the help of an app or a book, or join a local group.
Camping
Simply staying alive in the outdoors is a skill worthy of learning, whether you’re into peace and quiet or keen on survivalism. With some camping equipment and a copy of Walden to keep you company, you’ll be communing with nature in no time.
Geocaching
Geocaching is a fun twist on more traditional outdoor activities. It’s a type of treasure hunt where, with the help of coordinates, participants can search for caches containing logbooks and trinkets that are usually hidden outdoors.
Water Hobbies
As far as physical activities go, swimming is beyond compare—it is an incredible way to get and stay healthy, and that’s true for men of all ages. Dive (literally) into…
Scuba Diving
Discover a whole new world below the ocean’s surface! Scuba diving is a hobby that’ll allow you to travel the world and see nature in a way that few people get to experience. It’s a little expensive but entirely addicting.
Boating
Learning to operate a boat is a great hobby for technical people who love to be out in nature. You can try sailing, which relies on the wind, learn to operate small fishing or wakeboard boats or get into living on the water in a yacht.
Kayaking or Canoeing
Getting out into the water in a small rowing vessel will offer you some amazing exercise. It’s a fun activity that you can do by yourself in a kayak or with others in a multi-person canoe.
Water Skiing
If you like an adrenaline rush, water skiing can be a lot of fun. Just imagine the wind in your hair as you jump over the waves! It’s not too hard to learn, and it’s quite easy to find rentals.
Surfing
If you have access to the ocean or even a particularly large lake, why not get into surfing? It requires practice to learn how to ride the waves, but once you master it, it’s one of the biggest adrenaline rushes.
Fishing
This practical hobby offers a calm way to relax in nature—at least until that exciting moment when a fish latches on to your bait. Then, it becomes an exciting activity that can also keep you fed.
Swimming
It may seem obvious, but swimming is a great low-impact exercise. There are all kinds of swim styles to master! It allows you to get in the water, and you can do it in pools or natural bodies of water.
Miscellaneous and Uncategorizable
Here are a few that, like you (and everyone else, lol) are totally unique. Why not try your hand at…
Magic
Presto change-o, better life-o! If you’re the dexterous type (or, at least, you’d like to be), learning to do magic tricks or sleight of hand can be pretty cool. As far as hobbies go, it’s pretty old-school, but it never ceases to be entertaining.
Volunteering
Giving back can be the most rewarding hobby of all! Look around for organizations that need volunteers in your area, or think outside the box. Many of the hobbies we’ve already listed can be turned into a volunteering opportunity—you can coach a sports team, cook at a soup kitchen, or incorporate garbage pick-up into your next hike.
Start a Collection
Starting any kind of collection is an interesting exercise. From stamps to Pokemon cards, whatever you collect becomes a point of pride and interest, as well as an investment that can pay off in the long term.
Learn a New Language
Learning a new language sharpens the mind and opens you up to new cultures and experiences. You can get started with the help of apps like Duolingo or join a class where you can also meet new people.
Genealogy
Dive deep into your own family history by tracing your genealogy. Learning where you come from is always fascinating, and it may give you perspective into your future, as well.
Which Hobby Will You Explore?
Honestly, it doesn’t matter. Just pick one. All that matters is you get started. If you don’t like it, you can move on to another one. Don’t overthink it. Just do it and give it an honest shot. And if it doesn’t go anywhere… so what? You gave it a shot, had some interesting experiences, and now have a few stories to tell. That’s a win!
And once you explore enough things… wallah! You’ll find something you like, and all of a sudden, you’re doing something you love, with a group of passionate people who share your interest, and your life is a little bit better for it. Nice!
Michael Morris is the head writer here at Rough and Tumble Gentleman. He's got a ducktail beard and loves Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He's married to the woman of his dreams and lives in Brooklyn, NY.
