This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Jeanny Sánchez Gómez. Find them on Instagram at @jeanny_sanchez. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
In college, I used to think of all the new hobbies I wanted to do and try if I only had the time for them. Now, having more than enough free time, I still struggle to commit to starting something new. Whether it was making up excuses about not having money, or that it wasn’t for me, excuse after excuse piled up and I had to reevaluate. Why am I so scared to try new things? Is it the fear of failure? Afraid of meeting new people? Something else? Getting over the initial fear of trying new things led me to find some of the most fulfilling activities that I do now and here is some advice so that you can get there too!
It took me a while to get over the initial slump of getting a new hobby. It almost felt silly being an adult with no real hobbies. I was stuck in an endless loop of work, sleep, and the occasional night out. Taking a step back I realized that I wanted to spend more of my free time doing activities that made me feel fulfilled, instead of just rotting in bed watching TikToks or partying the boredom away.
Even after having this epiphany, it took me a while to go out and try something new. Like I mentioned earlier I kept making excuses for myself. All of a sudden I did not have the extra time that I kept saying I did, I had to save money for x,y, and z so I couldn’t spend money on activity, the excuses piled up and I had to face the fact that I was scared of being by myself. I was constantly surrounded by friends or roommates, and doing the same activities over and over again, so venturing out to do something new and on my own felt terrifying.
So the first thing to do, when finding a new hobby is to not be scared to put yourself in new situations. After I realized where my fear was coming from, I had to actively keep making the choice to try something new. It was a big mental obstacle to overcome but eventually did after committing to see it through. Whichever reason your fear may stem from, the best way to get past that fear is to just go for it because not caring about how you look or how it goes can lead you to find something amazing.
The second to do is to figure out what exactly it is that you want to pick up as a new hobby. In the city I live in, there’s an Instagram page that consistently posts about events that are going on around town. Whether it is a block party for a new bar or business or a new workout space opening, it exposes you to new places and activities to do near you. Finding something similar for your area can be a great way to start finding new things to do where you live.
If that is hard to find, sometimes just talking to those around you can help you find a new hobby. Friends or co-workers might have hobbies or interests that might call your attention so that you can try them as well. Plus it is a great way to bond with that person about a newly shared interest!
Depending on where you live there are probably going to be some hobbies you can’t and can’t do from the list I’ll provide, so to start here’s one you can probably do!
Book Club
If you love to read and need motivation to get through a few books in a year, starting a book is a great way to do that. Whether you start a book club with friends, a friend of a friend, or with people you meet on apps like Bumble BFF, starting a book club is a hobby that gives you a good balance of alone time doing something you like and socializing. Even you don’t know where to start in forming a book club there’s plenty of guides online to help you get started.
Rock Climbing
This is the newest hobby that I have tried and so far also the most challenging. For me, this one has made me face the fear of looking silly in public. It is both physically and mentally challenging making it feel scary if you are new to it, especially if you might be scared of heights. But it is also the most rewarding. The adrenaline rush of solving a problem and realizing you’re at least 20 feet off the ground can make you feel invincible. So for those who are looking for something more exciting, rock climbing is the way to go.
Coloring/Painting/Crafts
Now I have never really picked up a hobby involving creating art or making crafts out of thinking that I needed it to come out perfect, which defeats the purpose of creating art in the first place. But as I was scrolling on TikTok one day, I came across this creator’s page that was just full of coloring and between the coloring and the voice over, I was fully convinced to buy my own coloring book and markers. Whether you want to pick up some cheap paint and canvases to start a self-taught painting journey or buy your own markers and coloring books, it’s such a fun, low-stakes hobby to do no matter your skill level.
Kayaking/Paddle Boarding
If you live near a body of water like a lake, kayaking or paddle boarding is a very fun hobby to pick up. Especially in the summertime, spending hours on the water is a great way to spend some time outdoors. Bring some water, snacks, sunscreen, a speaker, friends, or even a book, and soak up the sun. It is also a good way to exercise without feeling like you’re overexerting yourself.
Photography
Whether you have an old camera lying around, or just using your phone, it is so easy to start doing photography. Whether you want to learn to edit photos or just try to capture more pictures of the world around you, it’s a fun hobby to try out. You can start an Instagram account dedicated to it or if you’re more hands-on like me, start s scarp-book with those same photos.
With so many hobbies available, it is easy to find something that you will love doing. The hardest part is always just starting something new, but if you can overcome that first obstacle, you never know what you can discover about yourself.
Have you ever been scared of trying something new? Let us know how you found a new hobby in the comments below?
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