Personal Experience: Picking Up Hobbies As an Adult

by Sana Bun

Personal Experience: Picking Up Hobbies As an Adult

31 Dec 2024

Photo: Kit

Finding a new hobby as an adult can feel like showing up to the station just as the train pulls away — frustrating and a little late to the party. But as someone who picked up most of my current interests in my mid- and late-twenties, I can tell you this: hobbies don’t come with an age limit. Whether you are looking to get a little artsy, move your body, or simply give your brain a break from endless doomscrolling, there is something out there for you. With the New Year just around the corner, now is the perfect time to start something fresh. In this column, I am sharing accessible activities I have tried — ones that don’t require special skills or a small fortune to get started.

Arts and crafts have to be one of the easiest and most rewarding hobbies to dive into. For some reason, working with your hands feels almost meditative and gives you a mental reset. And the best part — all you really need to get started is some basic materials and a willingness to let your creativity flow. You can improvise and see where it goes, or educate yourself — go to some workshops, sign up for an online course or just find tutorials on YouTube — whatever suits your preferences and budget.

For me, it all began with painting. As a child, I was always drawn to drawing, and years later, when I happened to work for an art school, a whole new world opened up to me. I explored different materials and techniques, from markers to acrylics, but what truly captured my heart was watercolour. Why, you ask? Well, because of the endless variety it offers, and the more you master the theory, the more fun it gets.

Talens Van Gogh Watercolour Pocket Box84.99 AED

Arches Watercolor Pad 9x12-inch Natural White 100% Cotton Paper98.52 AED

Raphael SoftAqua Squirrel Watercolor Mini Brush101.66 AED

Talens Van Gogh Watercolour Pocket Box84.99 AED

Arches Watercolor Pad 9x12-inch Natural White 100% Cotton Paper98.52 AED

Raphael SoftAqua Squirrel Watercolor Mini Brush101.66 AED

Then, there was calligraphy, that gave me the same unwinding experience, but didn’t really stick after a while. But for my diligent perfectionist out there, this is something worth giving a shot.

Winsor & Newton Drawing Ink122.95 AED

Calligraphy Practice Paper: Hand Lettering Workbook and Calligraphy26.14 AED

Speedball Calligraphy Pen Set97 AED

Winsor & Newton Drawing Ink122.95 AED

Calligraphy Practice Paper: Hand Lettering Workbook and Calligraphy26.14 AED

Speedball Calligraphy Pen Set97 AED

Another creative passion I couldn’t avoid was pottery. As a crazy ceramic lady, there came a point when buying all these nice little things was not enough — I wanted to try making them myself. I still remember my very first private class, where I proudly produced my first (admittedly ugly) bowl. While later attempts turned out better, the final product didn’t matter as much as the process itself.

The main downside of pottery is the time it takes: first, you shape your piece, then you wait for it to be baked, then you decorate and glaze it, and wait again for it to be baked.

Thankfully, there are now air-drying clays and glazes available that don’t require baking and can be used at home. While you can’t use these for making food-safe items, when it comes to other creations — your imagination is the only limit.

Pott'd™ Home Air Dry Clay Pottery Kit for Beginners383.05 AED

Sculpd Pottery Kit, Air-Dry Clay Starter Kit for Beginners with Gloss Varnish181.69 AED

Caydo 2KG Air Dry Clay Pottery Kit for Beginners and Adults254.64 AED

Pott'd™ Home Air Dry Clay Pottery Kit for Beginners383.05 AED

Sculpd Pottery Kit, Air-Dry Clay Starter Kit for Beginners with Gloss Varnish181.69 AED

Caydo 2KG Air Dry Clay Pottery Kit for Beginners and Adults254.64 AED

If you are looking for a hobby that is portable, low-maintenance, and offers a satisfying sense of progress, knitting might just be what you need. All it takes is some yarn, needles, and the ability to follow a simple pattern — the rest is just practice and, as I have learned, a bit of consistency. While I never advanced beyond making scarves, I would still rate the experience 10/10.

Sixth & Spring Books Vogue Knitting The Ultimate Knitting Book189 AED

Utopia Crafts DK Double Knitting Yarn25.10 AED

JieGuanG Circular Knitting Needle Set29.99 AED

Sixth & Spring Books Vogue Knitting The Ultimate Knitting Book189 AED

Utopia Crafts DK Double Knitting Yarn25.10 AED

JieGuanG Circular Knitting Needle Set29.99 AED

My next category of activities is something that, I think, naturally emerges as your 30s approach (aka, house-related stuff). Over the past year, I have been getting quite adventurous with cooking, house planting (check out how it went), and even floristics. I have to say, these simple pursuits have brought a surprising amount of fulfillment to my daily routine — not to mention they have got some serious appreciation from my fiancé, who gained a couple of “happy” kilos thanks to my culinary experiments.

As I have gotten older, I have also become more mindful about my physical and mental health. What is interesting is that you can actually take care of both while having fun. The key to staying consistent with physical activity for me is choosing things I genuinely enjoy — and mindfulness just comes naturally as a bonus. My go-tos are yoga, tennis, and cycling. All are very friendly for newcomers unless you have any health restrictions.

adidas Camo Yoga Mat164 AED

Wilson Blade 100UL v8 Tennis Racket549 AED

HEAD Championship Tennis Balls32.54 AED

adidas Camo Yoga Mat164 AED

Wilson Blade 100UL v8 Tennis Racket549 AED

HEAD Championship Tennis Balls32.54 AED

Last, but definitely not least, don't forget about hobbies that keep your brain active. Whether it is writing, reading, or learning a new language, it is nice to shake off the digital fog and keep your neurons firing. Be open-minded, try different things, and you might just discover a new passion that challenges you in the best way possible.

by Sana Bun