5 Best Hobbies to Pick up in Your 20s

Starting new things can be scary, and it can feel like there’s no point branching out from what you’re already good at. But anything you pick up in your 20s will be with you for the rest of your life, making now the best time to start. Here are 5 of the best hobbies to pick up in your 20s to set your future self up for success.

5 Best Hobbies to Pick Up in Your 20s

1. Photography

Your 20s could be some of the best years of your life, and there’s no better way to document them than with photography.

Photography is a great hobby to pick up in your 20s since there are virtually no start up costs. As a beginner, the camera on your phone should be good enough to take some gorgeous shots, and if you happen to enjoy it then you can always invest in a more professional camera down the line.

Photography is a fantastic way to boost your artistic thinking, and also gives you the opportunity to learn how to use photo editing software – a skill that may come in handy one day.

2. Writing

Writing is one of the best hobbies to pick up in your 20s, and is one of my favorite things to do in my spare time.

It’s a skill that anyone can become good at with enough practice, despite what your teachers may have told you at school. Just like any other skill, the more you write and the more you learn, the better you’ll become.

Becoming a great writer will help you express yourself more clearly – something that can help in all aspects of your life, from getting that promotion to helping you express problems in your personal relationships.

If you’re interested in learning to write – just start! You can share your work with others by publishing content online or starting a blog, but you don’t have to share your work if you don’t want to. 

I’d even suggest starting a journal as a way of improving your writing. Anything and everything you write will develop your writer’s voice and help you become a more natural and compelling writer.

If you’d like to learn more about how to be a better writer, I suggest picking up a copy of On Writing Well by William Zinsser. It’s a brilliant guide to writing with tips that writers of any level can benefit from. This book has transformed my writing style and I’ve picked up habits that will stay with me for the rest of my writing career.

3. Reading

It’s common for people who loved books as children to lose that passion as they enter adulthood. But reading is relaxing, provides you with interesting conversation points, and is great for your general brain health – so you should consider getting into reading while you’re young.

Read everything you can get your hands on. Whether that’s fiction, non fiction, articles or poetry – the trick is to find something that interests you and start from there.

4. Language Learning

You don’t need to be talented to learn a language, and with free programs such as Duolingo there’s no better time to start.

Learning a language is hard work but is extremely satisfying, and will be well worth the effort when you’re finally able to communicate with someone in their native language.

If you’re serious about language learning then you can hire a language tutor or even travel to countries that speak your target language. These are fantastic opportunities to explore different cultures – something I highly recommend doing while you’re young.

And if you’re not able to travel then reading books, blogs, or listening to podcasts in other languages is highly rewarding and can be a great insight into other cultures.

5. Music

Learning an instrument from scratch can be overwhelming, particularly if you’ve never played one before.

But playing music is a great way to relax and take time for yourself. Few things are as satisfying as watching yourself progress in your chosen instrument, and the feeling of finally learning a piece you never thought you’d be able to is hard to beat.

If there’s an instrument you’ve always wanted to know how to play, just give it a shot! There are plenty of beginner level tutorials on YouTube or SkillShare (click here to get 2 months free on SkillShare), and if you want to take your learning a step further then you can take a paid course. It’ll be hard at first, but the more you practice the easier it’ll become.

Comment and Subscribe!

These are just 5 of the best hobbies to pick up in your 20s, but there are hundreds of others you can try. Let us know in the comments what your favorite hobby is – you may inspire someone else to pick it up!

I urge you to try something new and out of your comfort zone every once in a while. If you’ve been holding back from picking up a new hobby, then my advice is to just start. Pick something that interests you and give it your best shot.

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