New Year, New Hobbies

Forget about new year, new you — how about new year, new hobbies?

Trying a new hobby can help you relax, learn something, get in shape or even make friends.

Today’s hobby choices are not limited to legacy pastimes, such as stamp collecting, birdwatching or fishing. Not that there is anything wrong with those. People are thinking outside the hobby box, taking up everything from tossing axes to throwing themed dinner parties, so finding something that interests you should be easy.

The Benefits of Having a Hobby

Hobbies have numerous physical and mental health benefits, according to UCLA health. These include boosting your mood, improving your overall health, reducing your risk of chronic diseases and enhancing your cognitive abilities, not to mention the perks tied to specific activities.

Before choosing a hobby, reflect on your interests, goals, strengths, what you enjoy doing and the type of pastime that interests you. Do you want to get in shape, meet more people, develop a skill or just need a reason to quit streaming at night?

Start by revisiting the leisure activities you enjoyed when you were younger and see if you want to pursue any of those interests. Also ask friends and relatives for suggestions and why they enjoy their hobbies.

Weekend Road Trips in the Northeast

Looking for a weekend getaway? The Northeast is full of fascinating museums, natural beauty, quirky destinations and more. Just hop in the car and head out on one of these road trips.

Go now!

8 New Hobbies to Try

Painting

Besides being relaxing, painting is good exercise for your hands and fingers and is a way to boost creative thinking and problem-solving skills. It is also inexpensive and provides artwork for your home and gifts for others. If you want to socialize, attend or host a paint night, where people often snack and sip while they paint. Well-known people, like former President George W. Bush, took up painting as a hobby later in life.

Knitting and Crocheting

Studies have shown that knitting and crocheting benefit both the mind and body. The movements help keep hands and fingers nimble and learning complex stitches and patterns challenges the brain. Knitting and crocheting have also been shown to reduce stress and lower blood pressure. Besides that, you don’t need much to get started and you can knit and crochet almost anywhere. Check in your community for in-person classes that teach knitting and crocheting or learn from online tutorials. Plus, once you start completing projects, they can be given as gifts or donated.

Running

Of course, running has physical benefits — burning calories, increasing stamina, building muscle and decreasing your risk for heart disease. It also is a great stress reducer, releasing endorphins that help regulate mood. Running outside is even more beneficial, allowing you to escape from work or home pressures, get a taste of nature and a dose of vitamin D if it’s sunny. Plus, the initial investment in equipment is minimal. Listen to this episode of our podcast “Merging Into Life” to learn more about getting started as a runner.

Cooking

Cooking can be more than just getting food on the table. It’s a low-cost, creative, practical hobby that can involve the whole family. Not to mention, cooking reduces stress and can improve your well-being, since you will know everything that goes into your food. If, initially, you find cooking stressful, make sure you have all the ingredients and tools you need before starting a recipe. Experiment and develop your own dishes or add personal touches to some of your favorites. Or pick a favorite cuisine and focus on that. Get inspired by some of the trending recipes on TikTok.

Exercising

Exercising and going to the gym can often feel excruciating, but the trick is to find a workout you really enjoy. If you like music and being around people, consider aerobics, Zumba or dance. If not, pop in your earbuds and start cycling or hit the treadmill. Once you get into a routine and start to see results from regular exercise, such as more energy, better mood and more-toned muscles, continuing will be easy. Challenging yourself with goals, such as spending one more minute on the treadmill or completing another repetition also builds confidence and a sense of accomplishment.

AAA Northeast members can find their perfect gym with the Active&Fit Direct™ Program, which provides access to more than 12,700 gyms, wellness coaching and workout videos for a monthly fee of $28. There are no long-term contracts, so it’s easy to change gyms. After a year, members get back 10% of their membership fees.

Traveling

Some consider travel more of an interest than a hobby, but either way, it’s a wonderful way to spend your time. If you are new to traveling or plan to expand your horizons, AAA Travel can help you plan every aspect of a trip: booking flights, hotels, cruises and things to see and do. Experiencing new places spurs personal growth and appreciation of other cultures. It expands your knowledge base, recharges you and creates indelible memories.

Travel can also inspire another hobby — photography. No vacation is complete without a collection of stunning photos of the places you don’t want to forget. Photos give you a chance to tell stories and see the world differently. Research cameras to see which type is best for you. Mobile phones have excellent cameras, but you may want something more.

Simple Sculpting

You can create permanent works of art in 24 to 48 hours with air-dry clay, which doesn’t require a kiln. Clay kits with tools and paints, like this one, make it easy to start. Your air-dry clay creations can include magnets, jewelry and small trays. A few cautions: Objects made with this type of clay are not waterproof, cannot hold food and can be fragile.

Rock Climbing

If you can’t picture yourself dangling over a cliff, no worries. Indoor and outdoor rock climbing have been growing in popularity, and many rock-climbing gyms offer classes on how to do it safely. Climbing provides both physical and mental workouts. It builds strength and benefits your heart. Plus, mapping out the best route to the top exercises your problem-solving skills. Climbing gyms also provide a chance to socialize.

And with thousands of hobbies to try, if you don’t like your first pick, you can always move on.

Do you have a new or favorite hobby? Tell us about it in the comments.

Ellen R. Delisio

Ellen is a content producer for AAA Northeast, covering automotive, finance, public affairs and electric vehicle news. She is a former newspaper reporter with experience writing for print and online publications about everything from higher education to sustainability. She recently returned to her native Long Island after living in Connecticut for 20-plus years, and has never met a beach she didn’t like.