So much of mom life is lived on repeat, from changing diapers to packing lunches. I love being a mom, but nothing turns my joy into drudgery quite like too much monotony. The few hobbies for moms I have turned to over the last year of pandemic parenting have become my lifeline, helping me to maintain my sense of autonomy when little people need me around the clock.
Time is scarce for busy moms, I know, but finding one or two things to do just for you is kind of essential to enjoying this season of mom life. Here are some of the hobby ideas I’ve researched and tried over the last eight years of being a mom.
Hobbies for Moms: What’s That?
For the most part, a hobby for a mom is just like any other hobby. It’s an activity you can turn to when you’ve got a few minutes to spare and need a chance to do something challenging, interesting, or fun.
What sets hobbies for busy moms apart, in my opinion, is that they need to require less time to get started and keep at it. For me, this has been the big challenge of finding a hobby. So much of what I tried requires more time than I have to give. My ideal hobby can be done within a few minutes a day or in an hour or less on the weekend when I have help. And it’s something that won’t cause me extra stress of guilt if I miss doing it for a day or week or month.
Another challenge for some moms might face is expense. Some hobbies for women come with a start-up cost, whether that’s buying supplies, enrolling in a class, or joining a club. I’ve intentionally kept the hobbies below fairly low cost.
Hobbies for Moms to Try
If finding a hobby can be challenging and extra time is hard to come by, why put so much effort into finding a hobby in the first place? Wouldn’t it be easier to use every extra minute to, say, take a nap or hop in the shower? Sure it would. If you’re in a particularly exhausting season of motherhood, that might be the right choice for you. It might be essential that you dedicate this season to loving the mom you are. But motherhood changes every day and some seasons come with needs that can’t be met by a nap or a long bath.
For instance, hobbies break up the monotony, especially if you’re at at-home mom these days. When your to-do list looks the same every day it is pretty important to change things up to avoid become bored and resentful of your job as a mom. Hobbies can also give moms a sense of accomplishment. Let’s be honest, cleaning the never clean house seven days a week—only for it to be trashed within minutes anyways—can be a bit demoralizing. A good hobby can give you that proud feeling that comes with finishing something, whether that be a challenging hike or a knitting project.
Lastly, a hobby can be a great way to meet new people. It is pretty easy to find other mothers who like what you like. Even now, in the pandemic, I’ve found other moms who are spending their spare time with knitting needles or a good book and then talking about it online because they want to connect, too. I think that’s pretty great.
Are you ready to squeeze something new into the little bits of extra time throughout your day? Here are some hobbies for moms that I’ve tried, a few I’ve admired while my friends give them a whirl, and a couple that aren’t for me but could totally be your next thing.
Hobbies for Moms Who Like to Move
- Rock climbing. Rock climbing can provide a challenge for moms who are bored with their typical exercise routine. Instead of a monthly membership, our local gym offers a punch card. Go when you can, there’s no pressure when you can’t!
- Dancing. Last year, I decided I wanted to learn to dance and found a local studio offering evening classes that doubled as a workout. It quickly became one of my favorite ways to get moving on a regular basis. Plus, I know every word of Truth Hurts and that’s pretty fun. And of course, you can always do this hobby in the comfort of your own home—you can find free videos on YouTube, learn some old-fashioned swing dancing (super fun), or enlist your partner to take some virtual lessons together.
- Hiking. Since it isn’t always possible to get away for some alone time when you’re itching for some fresh air and exercise, hiking makes a great mom and baby workout that is really rewarding. All you need for this hobby is a good pair of shoes, a water bottle, and a supportive hiking carrier for your little hiking buddy.
Hobbies for Outdoorsy Moms
- Container gardening. While gardening can seem overwhelming at first glance, there are many options you can get started with that don’t involve a full-scale garden outside. For example, container gardening is a good way to introduce yourself to this outdoor hobby. This year, my family is working on a themed garden. We’ll be planting a pizza garden, with tomatoes, fresh herbs, and peppers—our favorite pizza toppings! You can garden on your deck with any pots you may have or pick up a simple windowsill herb garden to get started in your own home.
- Nature journaling. If you love flowers, trees, birds, and bugs, you might enjoy nature journaling. There are a lot of ways to make this hobby work for you. If you enjoy painting or drawing, you can illustrate what you’re seeing outside and label them. If words are more your thing, you could write about your experience after a hike, copy down some poetry, and glue a few found items on an opposite page. Not sure where to start? Pick up a simple nature journal and track down some ideas from social if you’d like–but get creative and make it your own.
- Geocaching. This outdoor activity that involves tracking down one of the millions of caches hidden all over the world. These items are hidden by other geo-cachers who then leave information online about the location of the cache. Once you find your treasure, you log your name and replace it in the same location for others to hunt down. You can even use a portable GPS location tracker to help you get started.
Hobbies for Moms Who Like to Craft
- Scrapbooking. Remember the scrapbooking craze of the past? While this hobby may have lost some of its popularity since the rise of documenting your life online, many people are finding creative ways to engage in memory keeping outside of their feed by bringing scrapbooking back to life (and I’m definitely not mad about it). There’s a whole community of YouTubers who are sharing their creative journals and I’ve totally caught the bug. You can start with what you have or pick up a kit online to spark your creativity.
- Knitting and crocheting. This is a skill that once felt unattainable for me because I didn’t know anyone who could teach me. YouTube has really changed that, and I’ve learned everything from basic stitches to challenging patterns from videos I found online. You can also pick up a beginner’s crochet kit from Amazon, which has everything you need, from a hook to yarn, to get started. One thing I’ve come to love about both of these hobbies is how they can be done with a few minutes here or there, or in combination with other activities, such as watching a movie with your partner.
- Jewelry-making. One of my first hobbies as a new mom was making jewelry for my family and friends. Getting started is a simple as raiding the jewelry aisle at your local craft store for pliers, wire cutters, and beads or picking up an inexpensive jewelry-making kit that has everything you need as a beginner.
Hobbies for Nerdy Moms
- Gaming. This pandemic has made it hard to play board games with your friends, but there are a lot of great interactive gaming options available. For instance, Roll20 is a great way to keep up with an RPG hobby until get-togethers feel safe again. This virtual “table” lets you play your favorite role-playing games with your friends, or make new friends with other players online.
- Animal Crossing. I haven’t caught the bug myself, but I have several friends who are turning to this app when they need to check out for a little bit. If you have your doubts, I get it, but Animal Crossing is actually a great way to socialize in a virtual space, which is 100% pandemic safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I find a hobby I love?
Do your research! You know yourself better than anyone else so start with what you know you love. If you love to do artistic things, scour the internet for artistic hobbies. You can also ask around for new ideas from family and friends.
What can moms do for fun?
Moms can have fun by trying new things and being honest about what makes them smile. Don’t stick with a hobby or activity if it is a total snore-fest for you. Keep trying new things until you stumble on the right thing for you.
