As a chill in the air enters the equation, and thoughts of 2025 begin to bear down on us, we are sometimes filled with the hope (or, in the case of 2024 so far, blind optimism) that the next year will be just a little better.
The majority of New Year’s resolutions aren’t yet written, but here at IDEAL, we believe in getting ahead of ours. And if there’s anything to stay committed to next year, then it’s a new hobby.
Not just any new hobby, we might add, but, rather, one that can boost your mood, relieve stress, and improve your cognitive abilities, all whilst giving you a sense of fun and frivolity that’s perhaps been missing these last three years.
And hey; you might even be able to persuade your boss to fund your new curiosity, as it’s been reported that picking up a hobby might even benefit your productivity at work. According to a study held by the San Francisco State University, it was found that creative hobbies can directly improve work performance. Who knew?
Anyway, enough of the sale’s pitch; if you’re looking for creative hobbies that may even offer therapeutic benefits, then you’ve come to the right place. Here, we explore 7 of them…
Playing A Musical Instrument
This is one of the most popular hobbies people take up, and it’s easy to see why. Music is beautiful, it blesses the soul, and it gets even better if you are the one making that music.
The learning process alone offers a lot of benefits to your overall well-being as it channels your creativity. Learning how to play a musical instrument is a sure way to improve your listening skills, self-discipline, and it also helps you to overcome repeated failure. By the time you get comfortable playing the musical, you may well find that your creativity level and improvisational skills have improved.
This is just to a few of them myriad potential benefits, here. Don’t believe us? Check out this piece by, erm, us, on the health benefits of learning to play a musical instrument.
Diamond Painting
Painting is an excellent way to express your creative and artistic side. You can pour out your heart onto the canvas, and whilst some purely paint as a hobby, if you find a natural aptitude for it, you could even turn painting into a profession.
But that’s not all. For some, painting can even be therapeutic, with art therapy used to foster creativity, healing and an enhanced sense of wellbeing. Count us in!
In terms of art therapy, diamond painting is arguably one of the most beneficial hobbies for improved well-being, and can be practised by both children and adults. Thrive Global go further, positing that this particular form of artistic expression is great for creativity, stress relief and bonding with family.
And who are we to argue with that?
Wood Carving & Whittling
Wood carving and/or whittling is a creativity-based hobby that also offers the added benefit of being a useful life skill you can develop as you improve!
If you don’t have access to different types of wood, or you can easily get your hands on spare wood lying around, then that’s really all you need to get going aside from some basic tools like a wood carving mallet and a chisel.
Tap into your creativity and start small, learning perhaps how to carve a spoon on a lazy afternoon spent at Glastonbury, before dreaming bigger and making, say, something ornamental from recovered wood pallets.
Along the way, you’ll find yourself looking at wood in a whole new, creative light. There are so many useful items you can make by carving wood and whittling, such as wooden utensils, statues, a chessboard and pieces, and much more.
However you choose to hone your new hobby, the sense of satisfaction is a wellbeing benefit in and of itself.
Read: 5 IDEAL upcycling ideas for your bedroom
Sewing, Knitting & Crocheting
If you enjoy the idea of sewing, knitting, or crocheting, or all three, then rest assured, you’ll enjoy actually doing them, too!
We know what you’re thinking; ”I can’t sew, knit or crotchet”. Well, you can learn any of these skills, simply by enrolling in a sewing class or perhaps even by watching a few YouTube instructionals.
Sewing is such a beautiful hobby, helping to improve your concentration skills as you need focus to be able to sew properly. When sewing, you want to make sure you don’t make the wrong knot or loop, or else you may ruin your flow. This naturally helps you improve your attention span, focus, and precision skills.
The feeling you get from making something whole out of carefully made knots, loops and all, can give you more fulfilment than you can imagine, with the benefits akin to meditation, according to CNN.
What’s more, it’s been reported that the calming effects of sewing can help people express and heal themselves. Is there anything this magical hobby can’t do?
Learning To Play Chess
Chess is a timeless game that has captivated minds for centuries. It’s not just a game; it’s a mental workout that can significantly enhance your cognitive abilities. Learning to play chess can improve your problem-solving skills, boost your memory, and increase your concentration levels.
The beauty of chess lies in its complexity and the endless possibilities it offers. Each game is a new challenge, requiring strategic thinking and foresight. As you delve deeper into the game, you’ll find yourself developing patience and learning to think several steps ahead, skills that are invaluable both in and out of the game.
Another of the many powerful reasons to take up chess is that it’s a fantastic way to connect with others. Whether you’re playing with friends, family, or joining a local chess club, it offers a great opportunity to meet new people and build a sense of community. The social aspect of chess can be just as rewarding as the intellectual challenge it provides.
And let’s not forget the therapeutic benefits. The focus required to play chess can be a great way to relieve stress and take your mind off daily worries. It’s a hobby that can be enjoyed at any age, making it a lifelong pursuit that continually offers new learning experiences.
So, if you’re looking for a hobby that sharpens your mind, fosters social connections, and provides endless enjoyment, learning to play chess might just be the perfect choice for you.
Cosplaying
Cosplaying may not at first appear to be a creative pursuit, but when you dig a little deeper, you’ll realise it’s about as imaginative as a hobby can be.
Not only does it offer pure escapism, but you typically need to use some other creative hobbies like sewing, painting, and so on, if you want to get into cosplaying.
Cosplaying is very creativity-driven because you have to find a way to properly recreate a movie or game character on a limited budget. In the process, you might even learn life skills such as financial management. Result!
What’s more, as Psychology Today report, ”cosplay can facilitate personal and communal growth for those who participate”, providing a sense of empowerment. What’s not to love?
Learning & Cooking New Recipes
Now this is a hobby everyone can get on board with – we all have to eat after all! When trying new recipes, you get to give your brain a little workout, learning new techniques, skills, ingredients and dishes.
And, according to research conducted by Country Living, trying new recipes every week can boost your brain by 4.17%. When you also consider the added health benefits of knowing exactly what is going into your dinner, this one really is a no-brainer.
The Bottom Line
We hope you have found an activity above that you can take into 2023 as a new hobby, and, even better, use to make new connections within your community and beyond. Good luck, and we’ll see you at the local crocheting class?