Let’s be real for a second—finding a hobby as an adult can feel like trying to pick a Netflix show when you're already tired. But while the usual advice to "just try something new" can sound stale, there’s a real, grounded reason to invest in a hobby beyond "something to do." A hobby is a way to express different parts of yourself, to discover sides of you that work, stress, or family life might have sidelined. It’s not just about filling your time—it’s about reflecting on what you value, what excites you, and what brings you back to you.
In your 30s and 40s, life gets busy. Careers, families, or simply the routine can make it feel like the window for “just messing around” has closed. But hobbies aren't just for kids or retirees. In fact, at this stage, you have the wisdom to know what you really enjoy—and the means to pursue it more fully.
1. Think About What Already Makes You Curious
Let’s throw out the notion that you need to be “good” at something to enjoy it.
One of the biggest blocks to trying a hobby is the fear of not being instantly great. But the best hobbies are often those you’re curious about, not those you’re already skilled at.
Instead of focusing on finding the perfect hobby, focus on what intrigues you. Do you find yourself stopping at a certain kind of post on Instagram? Do you envy friends who go hiking on weekends? Or have you always wanted to try that thing that sounds cool but feels a little out of your comfort zone? Follow that curiosity without the pressure of being good right away. This phase is about you—not perfection.
2. Rediscover Forgotten Parts of Yourself
Hobbies can also be about reclaiming parts of you that have been buried. Think about things you used to enjoy before life got busy. Were you obsessed with drawing as a kid but haven’t touched a pencil in years? Did you used to spend hours curating playlists but feel like music discovery has fallen off your radar?
As we grow up, we tend to narrow down our identity to what we “do” professionally or as a partner or parent. But having multiple self-concepts, as psychology research suggests, helps us bounce back from tough times by keeping other parts of ourselves alive when one part is going through a rough patch. So a hobby might be a way of saying: Hey, there’s more to me than my job or my responsibilities.
3. Don’t Limit Yourself to “Traditional” Hobbies
Your hobby doesn’t have to fit into a neat box. It doesn’t have to be pottery or hiking (although if those are your things, great!). You might find joy in something more niche or unusual, like making cocktails, playing with home automation, or learning about ancient civilizations through online courses.
More and more, we’re seeing hobbies that blur the lines between passion, creativity, and personal growth. Even something like photography or baking can become a pathway to self-discovery, showing you how you pay attention to the details or how you approach new challenges.
4. Look for Hobbies That Engage Multiple Aspects of You
Let’s talk about self-complexity for a second. It’s a concept from psychology that says people with more diverse and distinct self-aspects (like having lots of interests or identities) tend to handle stress better because their identity doesn’t crumble when one thing goes wrong. In short: having varied hobbies could actually make you more resilient to life’s ups and downs.
For example, think about a stressful day at work. If your entire identity is tied up in your career, a bad meeting can wreck your whole mood. But if you’re also someone who loves playing guitar or running trails on the weekend, you’ve got more to lean on when the workday isn’t going your way.
This is why serial hobbyists—people who are into lots of different things—seem to have it figured out. They introduce themselves to different parts of themselves all the time, which we love. Check out the conversation we had with serial hobbyist (and our COO) Yihua Zhang, who inspired us to massively up our hobby game. We dive into how hobbies shape his life, how he picks new ones, and why he swears by the power of keeping your identity broad. It’s a refreshing take on why having many hobbies isn’t scattered—it’s actually strategic.
5. Experiment Without Commitment
The best part about picking up a hobby as an adult is that there’s no pressure to stick with it if it’s not your thing. Try something small at first, maybe something you’ve been curious about but never had the chance to explore. Apps, community groups, and even local workshops are excellent places to start—whether it’s a weekly photography walk or signing up for a beginner’s improv class.
Give yourself permission to experiment and fail. Who knows? You might find yourself knitting blankets in one season and brewing your own kombucha the next.
Wrapping It Up
At the end of the day, hobbies are about finding joy, curiosity, and pieces of yourself you didn’t know existed—or forgot were there. The point isn’t to force yourself into something just to check a box, but to approach it with curiosity and openness. In your 30s and 40s, there’s a whole world of things to explore.
So, what’s the hobby that might show you a side of yourself you haven’t met yet? Find out by tuning into the YouTube interview and start thinking outside the box. You never know what you might discover.
And if after the pep talk, you’re still unsure, here you go, we pulled together a list of 15 hobbies we think you might enjoy.
