25 Of The Most Relaxing Hobbies To Do At Home

Last Updated June 27, 2024 by Davina Kelly

Are you looking for the best relaxing hobbies to do at home? Everyone deserves a feel-good activity to engage in that makes you happy and takes your mind off of things.

The older we get the busier life gets and we often forget to focus on doing things we enjoy. Taking up a hobby is a great way to have fun and relax and it is a form of self-care.

Since shifting to working from home after the crisis I took up drawing as a hobby and it helped me to relax after work and clear my mind. In this post, I will share the best ideas for relaxing hobbies you can do at home.

This post is all about relaxing hobbies to do at home.

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Benefits of Having a Hobby

A hobby is something that you do regularly in your spare time for fun. For example, If you love drawing you don’t have to be good at it, as long as you enjoy doing it that is what matters.

There are many benefits to having a hobby, the older we get the more we stray away from doing activities just for fun. Having a hobby is a great way to get back to that.

Hobbies can help to boost your mental health, enhance your creativity, and challenge you. Having a hobby will give you something to look forward to outside of work and it can also help to improve your work-life balance.

After working all day how nice would it be to come home relax and unwind while working on your hobbies? Hobbies are also a good alternative to watching TV shows when you are bored. There is nothing wrong with watching Netflix lol but working on your hobby is more stimulating for your mind.

Here are some other benefits of having a hobby.

Reduces stress
Improves your mood
Can help to inspire you
Boosts your confidence
Great way to connect with others
Gives you a sense of purpose
It is a healthy habit
Will help you feel relaxed

Best Relaxing Hobbies To Do at Home:

1. Reading

Reading is one of the most relaxing hobbies you can do. There is nothing better than being cosy with a cup of tea and reading a good book. It allows you to get out of your own head and get lost in another story.

Through reading books you can learn, develop, and open your mind to different perspectives. I have learned so much over the years from reading different books. Reading also has benefits such as improving concentration, preventing cognitive decline, and aiding in sleep.

If you are new to reading I recommend trying different books until you find the genre you like. Or if there is something you are interested in you can start there. For example, if you are a romantic you can start by reading romance novels.

To be consistent and make it a habit I recommend choosing a time in the day when you will have at least 20 minutes of uninterrupted time. For example, I used to read on my commute to work, now I read first thing in the morning. Choose a time in the day that works best with your schedule, this way it will become a daily habit.

Here are some of my recent favourite books.

2. Music

How boring would life be without music? If you love listening to music it is probably already a hobby for you lol

There are other things you can do with music like learning to play an instrument, making playlists, and singing. You can create different playlists to reflect your mood and discover new artists.

I find that music helps me to feel relaxed and it always lifts my mood. There is no better feeling than putting on your headphones and zoning out while listening to your favourite songs.

3. Drawing

Most people think that you need to be an artist to draw, but trust me you don’t! I am not good at drawing but I still do it because I enjoy it.

When you draw you are immersed in the colours and lines so you forget about what is going on around you. It can help you to feel relaxed, and enhance your creativity, and over time you will improve your skills and become a better artist.

If you’re a beginner and have no idea where to start you can learn by taking classes on Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning community for creatives with classes on everything from drawing and illustration to graphic design. Once you sign up you’ll get access to unlimited classes, think of it like Netflix for learning.

You can sign up here and try it out FREE for 30 days. Don’t try to be perfect, just have fun.

4. Colouring

If you find drawing too intimidating you can try colouring. Colouring is a great relaxing hobby to do at home for adults and it can also calm your mind. It is also a great alternative to mindlessly watching TV.

You can colour using colouring in books or there are free colouring pages online that you can print out or colour digitally. Read here for some options.

5. Dancing

Dancing is a fun way to relax, boost your mood, and burn some calories. It is a great way to express your feelings and emotions through music. There are many different types of dance you could try like ballet, hip-hop, contemporary, and jazz.

Thanks to the internet you can now do it from the comfort of your own home. You can put on a YouTube video and follow along, you could create your own routine, or you could just put on your favourite music and freestyle. Make some space and let loose!

6. Baking

Baking is a great hobby to do at home. You can bake all different kinds of things like cakes, cookies, cupcakes, cake pops, muffins, etc. Experimenting with different flavours and decorating them beautifully will relax you and allow your creative juices to flow.

This is also a fun hobby to do with others, you can bake with your kids, family, and loved ones. The process of baking is fun, but eating the goods after is the most fun part lol

7. Cooking

Similar to baking cooking is a great relaxing hobby to do at home with a delicious outcome. If you love food why not cook more and get creative in the kitchen?

You can cook different cuisines or recreate your favourite dishes. Explore different ingredients, try different flavours, think outside of the box and get creative.

Test new recipes from Pinterest, cookbooks, or blogs. You can also take cooking classes online if you think you need more guidance.

8. Puzzles

Doing puzzles is a great way to relax at home and also stimulate your mind. You can get lost in trying to put the words or pieces together, once you figure it out you will feel so accomplished.

There are many types of puzzles you can do such as traditional puzzles or brain games. Choose the option that is most appealing to you. Here are some examples of puzzles you can try.

Jigsaw puzzles
Word search
Crosswords
Sudoku
Rubik’s cube

9. Candle Making

Candle-making is one of the most creative and therapeutic hobbies you can do at home. There is nothing better than a nice candle that makes your home smell good.

The process of melting wax, mixing oils and pouring candles is very relaxing. During this time you are focused on the present moment so your mind is at ease because you will forget about what is going on in the outside world.

This can be a fun project to get into and you don’t need experience to get started so don’t be intimidated if you are a beginner. I recommend watching some YouTube tutorials to get familiar with the process and then ordering your supplies. Here is an article walking you through the process step by step, read it here.

10. Writing

Writing is a great way to express yourself and your creativity. You can find a comfortable space at home and just let your imagination guide you.

There are many different types of writing you can do such as creative writing, blogging, short stories, essays, etc.

To get started I recommend choosing the type of writing that interests you the most. For example, if you love fashion you could write blog posts about fashion and the latest trends, etc. Don’t overthink it just grab a notepad and a pen or your laptop and start writing.

11. Yoga

Yoga is one of the best things you can do to relax your mind and body. If you are someone who overthinks a lot Yoga is a good option for you.

When you are doing Yoga you need to focus on your breath and the movement, this will force you to slow down and be present. Yoga can also help to manage stress and improve balance, flexibility and focus. You can watch YouTube videos and follow along and once you are familiar with the practice you can create your own flows.

12. Gardening

If you love being in nature and connecting to the natural world gardening is the perfect outdoor hobby for you to take up. Spending time in nature will make you feel relaxed and bring you a sense of peace

You can take care of your plant babies, design the layout of your flower bed and keep your garden clean and organised. Seeing everything come together will be deeply satisfying and rewarding.

13. Knitting

Knitting is one of the most beloved hobbies. It is soothing, and relaxing and doesn’t require a lot of thinking.

It is a great way to relax in the evening. You can knit while watching TV or while listening to music. To get started you can watch tutorials on YouTube or take classes online.

14. Journaling

Journaling is an amazing way to express your thoughts and feelings. If you are an introvert or an overthinker this hobby can be very helpful for your mental health because it can help to organise your thoughts and clear your mind.

There are many ways to journal. You can journal using prompts, brain dump, reflect or express gratitude. You can choose the option that appeals to you or you can do a combination.

For example, in the morning I journal to express gratitude and set intentions and in the evenings I will brain dump. This has helped improve my sleep because my mind isn’t racing at night. I have a post with journal prompts you can use, read it here.

Regardless of the method you choose journaling is a quiet and simple hobby that will help you feel relaxed. You don’t need a lot to get started, all you need is a pen and a notebook. I use a plain one like this from Amazon.

15. Painting

If you enjoy art you can express your creativity by painting. Painting is a quiet, relaxing hobby that is great for overthinkers as it can help to clear your mind.

You can try many different types of painting such as watercolour, acrylic and finger painting. You can find materials on eBay or Hobby Craft.

Make some space, cover your surface to prevent mess and let your creativity flow.

16. Listen To Podcasts

Listening to Podcasts is a great way to learn or be entertained while doing activities that don’t require a lot of attention. For example, you can listen to a podcast while cooking, cleaning or ironing.

There are so many podcast genres to choose from such as business, interviews, health, true crime, etc. In the evening while you are cleaning up after dinner you can make it a habit to listen to a podcast. Here are some of my favourites.

The Diary of a CEO
The Ed Mylett Show
Deep Dive with Ali Abdaal

17. DIY Crafting

Crafts and DIY projects are great hands-on activities you can do at home to feel more relaxed. It is another way to be creative and make something by hand from start to finish.

You don’t have to be a DIY guru you can just give it a try and see how you enjoy it. You will feel so accomplished when you see your finished project. To get started try searching on YouTube and Pinterest for ideas.

18. Calligraphy

Calligraphy is a fun, creative and relaxing hobby you can do at home. Once you have practised and perfected your craft you can create some beautiful decorative letters.

This hobby can also come in handy when writing cards, invitations and thank-you notes. To get started you can watch YouTube videos, take online classes and attend virtual workshops.

19. Organising

If you love having a clean organised home you can take up organising as a hobby. Having everything neat, organised and in its own space can make you feel very relaxed.

You can start with one room at a time until you have organised your entire home. Organising is a great relaxing hobby for anxiety because when your home is organised it can help your mind to be organised as you will know where everything is.

If you want to take it up a level you can get organising boxes, trays, etc and label them. You can do this while listening to music or a podcast. I always feel so good after I have done some organising.

20. Scrapbooking

Scrapbooking is a relaxing and sentimental hobby to do at home. Scrapbooks are a great way to preserve memories as pictures capture moments. Here are some scrapbook topic ideas you can try.

Memories
Anniversaries
Vision boards
Travel
Books read

Looking back on these memories will invoke different emotions and they also make a great gift. You can make them for yourself and family and friends. To make them artsy you can add glitter, stickers, and decorative paper. Find a comfortable space at home, relax and get creative.

21. Watch Documentaries

If you enjoy watching TV, watching documentaries is a great hobby to relax at home. Through watching documentaries you can learn about so many different things. If there is a person or something that interests you, watch a documentary about it.

You can choose from topics like history, celebrities, money, nature, animals, or business. Here are some good ones I have watched recently on Netflix.

Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street
How To Get Rich
Beckham

22. Learn a New Language

Learning a new language is an amazing hobby that is relaxing and can help to reduce stress. Knowing more than one language is a good skill and will be helpful when you are travelling.

Practising learning a new language and speaking it will make you feel accomplished and boost your confidence. You can use tools like Rosetta Stone or Babbel.

23. Crocheting

Crocheting is similar to knitting but slightly different because you only need one needle. Once you get the hang of it it can be a great relaxing hobby to do in the evening after work. You can do it while watching TV or listening to a podcast.

To get started you can watch YouTube tutorial videos or take online classes. You can order your supplies from Amazon, eBay or Hobby Craft.

24. Write Poetry

If you are a wordsmith you can take up poetry as a hobby. This is a great way to express your art in a rhythmic way.

Through writing poetry you can also improve your language, writing and speaking skills and build your vocabulary. It is also relaxing, and therapeutic, and can expand your worldview. To get started all you need is a pen and a notepad.

25. Play Card Games

Card games were something you probably played all the time when you were younger. Why not take it up as a relaxing hobby to do at home?

It can also be a fun activity to do with family, I recently taught my niece and nephew how to play blackjack, and now we play it all the time. You can play it with your partner, kids, or family. If you are solo you can play online against others. Some of my favourites are blackjack, solitaire, and rummy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Good Relaxing Hobbies?

All of the hobbies I have listed in this post are relaxing. These options will help you to relax, unwind, get creative, and have fun.

Here are some examples of good relaxing hobbies:

Painting
Organising
Knitting
Writing
Gardening

What Is a Good Hobby To Relieve Stress?

The best hobbies to relieve stress are ones that will also help you relax, I have included many options in this post. I have highlighted some of them below.

Yoga
Journalling
Listening to music

Relaxing Hobbies For Anxiety

Taking up a hobby is a great way to relieve anxiety. It allows you to engage in an activity that you enjoy while taking your mind off your worries. I have listed a few options that you can try in the post. I will highlight some of them below.

Baking
Cooking
Colouring
Candle Making

Final Thoughts

Taking up a relaxing hobby at home has a lot of wellness benefits. They allow you to engage in an activity you enjoy while taking your mind off of any worries you may have. It is also a way to unwind, have fun, and tap into your creativity.

I hope this post has encouraged you to pick up a new hobby and given you some ideas you want to try. Choose the one that is most appealing to you and make it a part of your routine, this way it will become part of your habits and you will have something to look forward to every week.

Have you found these hobby ideas helpful? Which ones will you try?