Long summer days with nothing to do are every kid’s dream. But as adults, looking at that looming empty time can be intimidating.
You could spend your summer endlessly scrolling TikTok on your phone. Or, you could pick up a hobby to fill the time.
Hobbies are great, often screen-free activities. They help you build skills, relax, and improve your mental health. Everyone has a slightly different definition of what a hobby is, but it can be anything from reading to hiking. If it’s something you do for fun, it’s a hobby.
If you want to start a hobby or pick up a new one this summer, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve curated a list of sixteen fun summer hobbies for you to try this year. Whether you want to stay inside with the AC or head out and enjoy the sun, this list has something for you.
Indoor Hobbies
Fiber Arts
Fiber arts are as old as time and enjoyed by people around the world. There are lots of kinds to try, including crochet, knitting, cross-stitch, embroidery, and even weaving. Most only require a few simple supplies to get started, making them great for beginner hobbyists.
Junk Journaling
You may have seen videos of people’s junk journals on social media, where they’re having quite a moment. Junk journaling is basically a scrapbook where you put items like ticket stubs, programs, receipts, and other bits of ephemera. They can be as complex or simple as you want, as long as they bring you joy.
Photography
Photography is easy to do, but difficult to master. This summer, find a photography course or YouTube videos and teach yourself to take better photos. It’s a satisfying skill, and you’ll become the go-to photographer for all your friends.
Bullet Journaling
If you’ve been struggling to find a planner that works for you, why not give bullet journaling a try? The system takes a little time to learn, but it’s entirely customizable for you and your planning needs. All you need is a pen and a notebook to get started.
Bake Bread
Learning to bake a good loaf of bread is an art. It can be a great summer hobby if you don’t mind using the oven in the heat. Whether you decide to tackle learning sourdough or stick to traditional artisan loaves, baking bread is a useful and delicious hobby.
Clothing Alteration
Are you tired of your clothes never fitting right? Learn to tailor them to fit you perfectly. You can do this by hand or get an inexpensive sewing machine (Goodwill and Facebook Marketplace are great places to check). The next thing you know, your clothes will look 10x better, just because they fit right.
Press Flowers
Pressing flowers is a way to preserve beautiful summertime blossoms dating back to the 16th century. While you can get a special press, it’s just as easy to do with a few heavy books and pieces of wax paper. You can use the pressed blossoms in your journal, for craft projects, or as decor around your house.
Nail Art
Want to save a little money on manicures? Teach yourself to do all those cool nail designs you see on Instagram at home. It’ll take a little trial and error, but if you make a mistake, nail polish is easy to remove and start over.
Outdoor Hobbies
Roller Skating
Roller skating is fun to do and offers many health benefits on the side. As you learn, you’ll burn calories, improve your balance, and gain self-confidence. If it’s too hot to skate outside where you live, find a local skating rink to enjoy the hobby with air conditioning.
Horseback Riding
Live out your horse girl dreams and finally learn to ride horseback this summer. Find a local stable to learn from experienced instructors how to ride and care for a horse. Like roller skating, it’s a great form of exercise with benefits like improved posture, better core strength, and more coordination.
Stand-Up Paddleboarding
Stand-up paddleboarding improves your balance while allowing you to explore local parks and rivers from a new vantage point. If you’re just starting out, try renting a paddleboard and taking a few lessons to learn the skill correctly. And if you fall off the board, which is pretty likely, you’ll get a refreshing dip in the water.
Trail Walking
Strap on your walking shoes and explore your local trails. Unlike hiking, you don’t have to worry about challenging trails or long scrambles. This is a great way to get outside and enjoy nature while also burning calories. You can also do this hobby with friends and make it more of a social activity.
Start a Garden
Gardening is a fun hobby that requires very little space or tools to get started. All you need are seeds, a few garden tools, and a patch of dirt or a few pots. From there, it’s up to you what you plant, whether tasty veggies or beautiful flowers.
Biking
Biking is a great form of exercise, a more sustainable way to travel places, and a good way to stay cool in hot weather. You can buy a used bike for cheap and then set out to get groceries, explore your town, or enjoy bike trails. This is another excellent hobby to do with friends.
Nature Journal
Nature journals combine art and journaling to create a record of the plants, animals, and insects you find. While starting one does require a bit of artistic skill, it’s also a great way to improve your drawing while spending time outside. You can begin right in your backyard, then venture further afield to your neighborhood or local parks and see what you find.
Collect Seashells or Rocks
Connect with your inner child and start a seashell or rock collection. You can use what you collect to create a display or make fun home decor. Anytime you go to a trail or beach, you’ll find new beauties to add, creating a collection full of memories.
Tips for Finding Hobbies
We hope that by now you feel excited about trying a new hobby this summer. But how do you find the hobby that’s perfect for you? Here are a few tips.
Experiment
You won’t know what you like until you try it. So don’t be afraid to experiment. If you don’t like the hobby you tried, move on to something else without guilt.
Start Small
It can be tempting to go out and buy everything you see people using on TikTok or the internet. But you don’t need all that fancy equipment to get started. For example, you can begin learning photography with your smartphone, and your regular sneakers can take you on any trail you want.
Take a Class
Taking a class is a great way to start learning and see if a hobby is for you. Many of them provide all the tools and supplies you need, reducing the upfront cost to try a hobby. If you don’t like it, you didn’t waste your money on a pottery wheel or expensive bike gear.
Hobbies are a great way to fill your time and improve your mental health on long summer days. Give one or two of these a try and see which one you like best.
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