40 Unusual Hobbies You’ve Never Heard Of But Want To Try

If you are tired of the usual hobby ideas such as “reading books”, “painting”, and “journaling”, this post is for you. I can (almost) guarantee you’ve never considered trying most of these unusual hobbies below, but by the end, you will have a good list of options.

Which Activities Do We Call Hobbies?

We call a hobby any activity we feel passionate about and perform it relatively regularly. Most of the time, a hobby would be something that is either free or requires some sort of investment, but it would rarely make us money. We prefer those activities because of the emotional pleasure and mental stimulation they give us.

Outdoors: Hobby Ideas

1. Geocaching

I’ve heard about this hobby but never really explored its nature until now. And I’m intrigued!

Geocaching is an outdoor activity where you, the geocacher, use your GPS to seek and discover containers called caches. Those are waterproof containers with log books and different items that might be area-specific, fun, and of small value. You can find play cards, small pieces of jewelry, pins, craft items, toys, books, CDs, and more.

Once you find the container, your task is to log yourself in the log book and on the app (this app) and put the container back in the same location. You can get some of the items, but only if you replace them with items with the same or higher value.

This hobby gives you a reason to spend time outdoors, improves your orientation skills, and is a perfect activity for couples or families with children.

Nature Sound Recording

The sounds of nature are countless. The beauty of the world around us often gets noticed but rarely – heard. If you enjoy spending time outdoors and are looking for creative ways to explore it even further, consider starting to record the sounds of nature. You can go as broad or as narrow as you wish.

Urban Exploration Photography or Urbex

If you love capturing moments in time, this unusual hobby might be your perfect fit. Urban exploration (also known as “urbexing“) is the exploration and photography of urban buildings, usually abandoned structures.

This hobby comes with a few risks, such as safety (getting near abandoned structures can be dangerous) and getting permission to enter private property if that’s the case. However, once you consider these two things and work your way around them (meaning avoiding dangerous buildings and getting your permission or choosing public places), this could be a hobby you love.

Rock Balancing

We are still in the land of mindfulness and meditation. Rock balancing can be a tricky but very meditative hobby you can practice even at home. Yes, I know most people go to rivers and lakes to do those beautiful photos, but you can start in your own garden and progress as you go.

Ephemeral Art in Nature

This is a contemporary type of art meant to last for a very short period. Think of creating mandalas out of colored sand or arranging food on a plate to represent an animal or tell a story. This is ephemeral art but in nature.

An example of such art can be collecting and arranging a few leaves in the autumn that would represent the change of color from “birth” to their last moments (such as in the photo above). You can play with stones, leaves, grass, flowers, and everything else nature gives you. Using your imagination is crucial; you can never do the same project twice.

Urban Sketching

Sketching on location (the actual translation of urban sketching) is a particular form of art where you have to create your sketch while on location. It focuses on drawing everything from buildings and coffee shops to people in their everyday life.

Essentially, urban sketching is capturing a moment and turning it into a unique story never to be told again, as you will never see this place the same way as in the moment of creation.

This unusual hobby is perfect for anyone; it boosts creativity, improves drawing skills, and asks you to explore the details of the world around you.

Astrophotography

Snapping photos of your dog is seriously rewarding, but what if you could take that passion to another level? Astrophotography is a beautiful art creation that is captured through the lenses of your camera and also through your mind.

You might need to upgrade your gear, but it’s a rewarding, unusual hobby that will show you new worlds (quite literary).

Books and You: Unusual Hobby Ideas

Book Repairing

This is something I’ve been indulging in for the past few weeks. I am amazed by everything book-related, so repairing old books is just a natural progression of my obsession. I’ve got a hefty project of restoring an old 1800s book and spend most of my free time scrolling through YouTube and watching videos on how to repair books.

Does that sound like something enticing to you?

Bookbinding

This isn’t as unusual and unknown hobby as the rest on this list, but it still isn’t as popular as… journaling, for example. When I say “book binding”, don’t imagine a simple stitch on the spine of a notebook, though.

There are types of bindings that can all be fascinating, engaging, time-consuming, and cool. For example, case binding, comb binding, section-sewn binding, pamphlet binding, Japanese bookbinding, Coptic stitch binding, saddle stitch binding, and many more.

Maybe this would be your next “must-try” unusual hobby for 2024.

Annotated Books + Book Journaling

I know these sound like two different hobbies, but they can be combined, and here I use the combined version.

Annotating books isn’t something you only did back in your school years. More and more people enjoy annotating their favorite books regardless of the genre. Adding your thoughts and emotions throughout your (personal) copy can help you understand and remember the storyline better. You can highlight your favorite moments and descriptions or underline quotes that matter to you.

At the same time, having a book journal is the perfect addition to annotating because it gives you further summarized information and provides space for your overall thoughts and rating of the storyline.

Rare Books Collecting

I’ve only dipped my toe into this one, but the deeper I dive, the more I get obsessed with learning about the history of books, book collecting, and rare book finds. It certainly is a costly hobby when you decide to buy something, but the knowledge you need to gain beforehand will keep you busy for months.

Conlanging

Conlanging is the creation of constructed languages such as Dothraki (yes, GOT fans know all about it), Klingon, and Esperanto. That means that you can (if you want) create your own constructed language with cohesive, phonological, grammatical, and syntactical rules. And yes, other people can learn and speak that language with you. It’s something seriously popular for fantasy books (think Lord of The Rings) and games.

Blackout Poetry/Found Poetry

If you are into a seriously challenging but fun and cheap hobby idea that won’t require you to move away from your sofa, then this might be it.

Blackout poetry is the process of writing poems using already published books. You grab one of them, open a page in it, and blackout most of the words on the page, leaving only those that, if read one after another, would become a poem. Yes, I told you it’s fun!

Interactive Fiction Writing

IF (Interactive Fiction) is a story where the reader decides how and where the story progresses.

Back in the ’70s and ’80s, there were physical books that would ask you to choose your adventure and, depending on your decision, turn to a specific page of the book.

Nowadays, there is software helping you create your own interactive fiction, which is wildly popular in world-creation games.

Gardening – Related Hobbies

Bonsai Cultivation

“Bonsai” is a Japanese word and translates to “plant in tray”. Originating almost 2000 years ago, this hobby is a beautiful art of growing miniature size trees in shallow trays.

It has much more to it than just planting a seed in a small tray, though. This unusual hobby is certainly for people who love gardening but feel like they need a challenge in the plant world. Growing, pruning, and shaping a miniature tree teaches patience, dedication, and creativity.

Moss Gardening

Just as it sounds, moss gardening is a hobby where you grow moss (instead of trying to get rid of it). You can create miniature or bigger moss gardens, shape them, and combine different types of moss until you are satisfied with the results.

Zen Gardening

This beautiful hobby would require you to have a garden you can play with. The essence of zen gardening is creating a garden of rocks. Its roots originate from the Buddhist monasteries where creating a space for mindfulness and meditation was an essential part of the monks’ lives.

Nowadays, many of the old principles are still valid, but zen gardening has evolved into three main types: tsukiyama (hill gardens), chaniwa gardens (tea gardens), and karesansui (dry gardens).

Hungry For Knowledge Hobby Ideas

Mythology Research

There is a huge world you can explore – the one of ancient mythology where you dive deep into the culture of a specific ancient tribe or country.

Your options are nearly endless here. You can focus on exploring a specific holiday (such as Christmas customs around the world) or culture (such as Ancient Greek) or just learning fun facts about everyday habits and things we use. Still, their origin is from hundreds of years back.

For example, you probably know that most weddings are performed on Saturdays. But did you know that this is because Saturday is Saturn-day, and we perform the act of putting a ring on the finger to symbolize the new union? Well, now you know!

Exploring mythology would give you weird, fun, and impressive knowledge, so think about this hobby.

Astrology Chart Analysis

Astrology is an exciting and fascinating topic where you can never know everything, and nothing is as it seems. It’s like a new language, but the rules are bent, yet they’re present.

If astrology charting and understanding how the alignment of the planets affects our lives sounds like something you’d love to explore, this could be a hobby for you.

Translation as a Hobby

It sounds weird to translate as a hobby, but it’s the perfect way to expand your knowledge of a second (or third or fourth) language. This hobby is mentally stimulating, boosts creativity, and is really rewarding. Also, it gives you the opportunity to monetize it one day.

Nerdy Podcasting

Becoming a podcaster is so trendy right now. And if you are knowledgeable in a specific topic, you can join the herd and start your own podcast. You don’t have to monetize it; the idea is to do as much as you can whenever you can. Getting your tips and knowledge out there online is enough of a reward.

Mind Mapping

Use mind mapping tools or draw on paper to visually organize thoughts, ideas, and connections. It’s a great way to brainstorm and explore concepts.

Creative and Visual Hobbies

Altered Book Sculptures

This one has as many haters as it has followers. Altering books into sculptures is a time-consuming but creative hobby that can often give new life to forgotten books or books in bad shape that have no other purpose.

Of course, this isn’t a rule, and you will see many people using their favorite books in projects. Every project is different, and you can create and express yourself however you wish using the pages of the books.

Fantasy Map Making

Fantasy cartography or fictional map-making is just what it sounds like – you create new worlds on a map. You might think this is something only writers need for their fantasy books, but this is also a standalone hobby with growing popularity. Some fantasy cartographers go as far as creating planetary and galactic maps, too.

Miniatures Creation

Fairy/Gnome homes, treehouses, miniature gardens, book nooks, you name it, and it can be a theme for a miniature creation. This hobby teaches you patience, but it also allows your creativity to flourish fully, and you have no limits as to what you can create.

If you are curious about where to start, there are starter kits you can take a look at right here.

Calligraphy

Fairly popular, this hobby is still considered unusual because… well, you literally learn how to write… once again. It can be challenging and nerve-racking because you’re trying to add a branch to an already-established habit.

However, it is super fun; it improves your overall writing, teaches you patience, and the results in just a few weeks will amaze you. For complete beginners, here is a calligraphy set to get you started.

Soap Carving

This is such an interesting and aromatic hobby to have. It takes you a step further from making soap. Honestly, I am not sure you even have to make your own soap in order to carve shapes in it. The best part is that it’s a great hobby for children as well. So that’s an idea for all parents.

Antiquing and Restoration

These might be two different hobbies combined into one. Restoration of antique objects is a time-consuming and messy hobby that would ask you to have a dedicated and well-ventilated space in your home.

However, it’s so fun to start with a rusty old object and turn it into a beautiful piece of art that will reflect your creativity. Plus, it’s something you can monetize if you wish.

Fluid Art

I have a friend who creates beautiful paintings using fluid acrylic paint. Every piece is unique, and you can never be sure what the end result would be. Going to a few workshops can get you started, but it is usually a hobby you can do alone. Also, it’s monetizable.

Unusual Hobby Ideas For Tech People

GeoGuessr

The first time I heard about this unusual hobby was in a TikTok trend video where a guy was answering a “tell me you are single without telling me you’re single”-type of question. It made me laugh because it really is a weird way to spend your free time. Why?

You, as a player, are challenged to guess the location of an imagery from Google Street View. Uhm… that’s it! Sounds simple, right? Well, it isn’t.

This is a seriously nerdy game that takes time and learning new skills to master. Currently, there are 40 million player accounts on GeoGuessr, so its popularity is rapidly growing. (Source)

Board Game Designing

If you enjoy playing board games and have been doing it for a while, why not consider designing such? You can make it as visual and as complicated as you wish. You create the rules, the players, and the world in it. You can go as far as printing it all out and sharing it with your friends.

Digital Comic Creation

You don’t have to be a digital art designer to create your digital comic book. All you need is a passion for it, a storyline you came up with, and a free account in Canva or Pixton. There, you can drag and drop your characters, add speech bubbles, and explore how far your story can go. Oh, please, make sure they’re all happy endings… please!

Skills-Required Hobby Ideas

Insect Taxidermy

In essence, taxidermy is the process of preservation of animals, insects, crabs, and spiders by using a set of mechanical, chemical, and biological techniques.

It most definitely isn’t a hobby everyone should try, but there is a good-sized community that is dedicated to preserving insects. If it’s something you might be interested in or are just curious about the process, this is a very handy beginner’s guide for you.

Cryptic Crossword Puzzles

I must confess I’m having a hard time explaining what this hobby really is… its origins come from the UK, and it’s popular in the Commonwealth nations. The essence of these games lies in solving a crossword puzzle where each (cryptic) clue is a word puzzle (see, I told you it’s hard to explain).

You can read all about it right here, but it would be the perfect hobby for people who love solving math problems and using code words, love some mystery, and are obsessed with mind-challenging games and puzzles.

Fun and Unusual Hobbies

Historical Reenactment

An extremely entertaining, social, and interesting hobby that will allow you to dive deep into the history of your country or the type of events that interest you.

Magnetic Poetry Creation

You can play this creative game by yourself or include your family in it. Your task is to “write” poetry using words printed on magnet plates. Stick them on the fridge or any other metal surface. It’s fun, creative, and challenging as you will have to actually think of a poem using the words you have available. Yes, there are ready kits you can buy right here.

Learn Capoeira

Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art that looks like a dance, and it is performed to musical instruments. It looks mesmerizing, and if you’re not into martial arts but are willing to “give it a try”, this hobby might be the perfect place to start.

Natural Dyeing

Looking back on the past, we cannot skip this hobby that wasn’t a hobby at all just a few hundred years ago. Dyeing clothes or paper using natural ingredients is almost like science. I’ve never tried it with fabric, but I have dyed paper using coffee, tea, onion leaves, and avocado shells. It’s a fun and, most definitely, unusual hobby to have.

Shadow Puppetry

Talking of unusual hobbies to have, this one might be climbing to the top 5 of this list. Shadow puppetry is an ancient storytelling technique where performers would hold cut-out puppets between a source of light and the screen and then move the puppets while playing the story.

This hobby can be a fun family activity or something you can explore and master on your own. Creating the stories and the puppets can keep you busy for ages.

Experimental Cooking

Many people wouldn’t consider cooking a hobby, but how about experimental cooking? This unusual hobby asks you to create your recipes by combining ingredients in a new, innovative way. It’s like science in the kitchen, where you are the nerdy alchemist, and the food is your outlet for creativity. You have no limits on what and how a dish should look or taste, so you might as well fully enjoy the process without thinking about the result too much.

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