Starting a Hobby for the New Year

A lot of New Year’s advice and resolutions focus on goals for physical health and productivity. While these are great goals to focus on, we think there is one area that is often overlooked: making time for hobbies that you enjoy! 

It’s so easy to get caught up in all the things we have to do and put off the things we want to do. For 2025, Clever & WTF are making a point to spend some time on hobbies we love, and even starting new ones that we’ve always wanted to try. Read on to get tips for starting a hobby in the new year and some interesting hobbies you might like to try.

Decide on a New Hobby

To decide on a hobby to start for 2025, just think about if there are any hobbies that jump to your mind that you have always thought would be fun to learn. Maybe a friend has a hobby that you think is interesting. You could also think about some hobbies you enjoyed in your younger days that you might like to relearn. 

This is how Clever came up with her hobby. She used to enjoy crocheting when she was younger but never got past a beginner level, and has always wanted to get back into it. 

WTF decided on painting, as this has been an interest and hobby in the past but never stuck with it enough to complete an actual full-blown painting. 

If you are struggling to come up with a hobby, scroll down to our list of ideas. Decide on at least one hobby, but you might want to have a backup plan in case you research a hobby and decide it’s not the right fit.

Research a Little (But Not Too Much)

It can be easy to get stuck in the research phase, get overwhelmed, and never even start your hobby. To prevent this, decide on a reasonable length of time to dedicate to researching what you might need. You can simply check Google or Reddit to see what is recommended for beginners of your chosen hobby. After your time frame has passed, make a decision on whether the hobby is a good fit for you or whether to research your backup hobby.

There are a few things to consider when deciding on a hobby. Does the time commitment work? Are you looking to spend a few minutes a day on the hobby, or maybe you want to spend one full afternoon each weekend? Some hobbies you can work on in short spurts, but others may require a chunk of time. Is it expensive to start? Make sure you can get enough supplies to begin within a budget that is right for you. Are there any other special requirements that would be difficult for you? For example, if you want to start up tennis, is there a court nearby? Once you find a hobby that seems like a good fit, quickly move onto the next step.

Take Some Action

You want to start the forward momentum while you are still excited about the idea of the hobby. So decide on one action you can take to get started. This might be purchasing supplies or equipment, signing up for a class, or watching an instructional video. You may also decide to just jump right in and spend a few minutes on your hobby!

Clever’s first step was to ask for Woobles kits for Christmas since these were meant for beginners to learn crocheting. She received the Harry Potter Collector’s set pictured above and a Joe the coffee mug!

WTF’s first step was to watch video tutorials on YouTube. If you have an interest in a hobby, watching beginner tutorials, or tips and tricks videos can help you give an idea of what you’re getting into and what you’ll need to get started! 

Celebrate Your First Completed Project

When you finish your first project or goal, be sure to find a way to celebrate! You can show your friends or family your completed item, post about your progress on social media, or maybe purchase a new tool or supply you’d like to have for your next project. You can even come back to this post and leave a comment with your accomplishment!

Clever’s first Wooble was this Ron Weasley. It was really fun to make, and although it wasn’t perfect, it turned out pretty cute! She celebrated by opening the second box in the collector’s set to reveal her next project: Hermione Granger!

WTF’s first project was a painting she’d had in mind for months. Once the creative juices were flowing and she had a few hours of uninterrupted free time, it was a go! With the painting, WTF drew it first on the canvas with a pencil and then went in with paints. To celebrate, WTF got three more small canvasses to use when creativity strikes!

Take Small Steps and Don’t Give Up

Make sure to take notice of how you’ve improved since you began the hobby. Keep in mind nothing will come out perfect, especially when first starting! Use whatever time you do have and can commit to the hobby – we all have busy lives – even if it’s only fifteen minutes a day. This can include research, gathering supplies, and learning about the hobby as well. Making a note of your progress can help you stay on track and celebrate your wins, no matter how small! 

Don’t give up! Hobbies are for you and to bring you happiness, so go at your own pace and take it on the best way that works for you. Be wary of comparing your work to others too heavily, especially to people who have been experts in the hobby for years! Everyone progresses at their own rate, and at the end of the day, this is for YOU!

Ideas for New Hobbies

• Writing/Journaling
• Reading
• Crocheting/knitting
• Sports
• Play an instrument
• Learn a new language
• Create art
• Legos/puzzles
• Hiking/outdoor activities
• Experiencing new foods or cultures
• Start a D&D group
• Playing video games
• Collecting an item (stickers, cards, stamps, plushies, memorabilia, etc.)

What Do You Think?

What new hobbies are you interested in? Have you taken any steps towards your new hobby this year? Let us know in the comments below so we can celebrate together! 

Thank you so much for reading!

-Clever&WTF