How to Have a Hobby When You Don’t Have the Time

Do you wish you had more time for hobbies or leisure activities? If so, you’re in luck! I’ve got 6 practical tips to help you make time for your hobbies and passions every day… plus, more than 100 simple hobbies for busy adults!

If you’re a busy adult with an already-full plate, the idea of making time for your own hobbies can feel a little… well… unrealistic.

Between meals, laundry, school schedules, extracurriculars, yard work, volunteering, caring for various family members, and everything else, hobbies can seem like something reserved for other people with wide-open afternoons and endless energy.

But here’s the truth: hobbies don’t have to be big, structured, or time-consuming to matter. In fact, the most life-giving hobbies are often the simplest ones.

First, let’s redefine hobbies.

A hobby doesn’t necessarily need to be something big like starting a book club, training for a marathon, or learning to play an instrument (unless you truly want that).

A hobby can be as basic as taking a daily walk around the block, reading a few pages of a book before bed, starting a new coloring book, or calling a friend while you fold laundry.

These small, meaningful activities still count — and they still refill your tank.

So how do you make time for hobbies?

Let’s look at a few ways you can make time for life-giving hobbies in your life — no matter how full your days are!

1. Lower the Bar (a lot)

One of the biggest barriers to hobbies is the idea that they need to be something new, impressive, or productive.

They don’t.

• Reading two pages is still reading.
• Walking for 10 minutes is still movement.
• Making one small flower arrangement is still beautiful.
• Chatting with a friend while doing dishes still counts as connection.
• Reading one Proverb each day is still enlightening.

When you stop striving for big and bold (which will take significantly more time and energy), you’ll likely find you have opportunities throughout your day to enjoy smaller, less-intimidating hobbies.

2. Stack Hobbies with What You Already Do

Hobbies don’t necessarily require extra time (something that is likely at a premium for you). Instead, look for ways to layer hobbies into your existing routines.

Here are a bunch of ways I do this in my everyday life — some of these ideas might work for you too.

• Listen to an audiobook while driving or cleaning.
• Call a friend while walking or folding laundry.
• Stretch, walk, do yoga, or read a book while your kids play outside.
• Read or listen to a podcast while waiting in the pickup line.
• Knit while watching a sporting event.

This approach works because it doesn’t require you to rearrange your life — it simply adds a little joy to what’s already there.

3. Keep Your Hobbies Visible and Accessible

Out of sight often means out of mind, especially when life is busy. And while I personally prefer to keep most of my flat surfaces clean and decluttered, I do keep regularly-used items somewhere I can easily access them.

This is especially important when you’re trying to change your behavior (like adding in a few hobbies to your life).

• If you want to read more, keep a book on your nightstand or in your bag.
• If you want to sketch, leave your notebook and pencils in a specific spot on your desk or the counter.
• If you want to walk, keep your shoes by the door.
• If you’re learning a new instrument, let it out (I left my cello out for almost a year!)

These days, it’s rare that I go anywhere without earbuds, a book, and/or my current knitting project… making these hobbies always accessible, and not any extra effort.

4. Let Go of All-or-Nothing Thinking

You don’t need a full hour to enjoy a hobby. And you don’t need to do it perfectly. Hobbies aren’t about perfection; they’re about enjoyment, even if it is only a few moments of enjoyment.

• You don’t need to finish a full chapter.
• You don’t need to watch the full movie in one sitting.
• You don’t need to paint a masterpiece.
• You don’t need to walk three miles.
• You don’t need to shop all day.
• You don’t need to have a deep, hour-long conversation.

A little bit still counts, so use those 5 minutes before bed, the 15 minutes before everyone wakes up, or 10 minutes after dinner when everyone is happy, full, and doing their own thing.

I admit that squeezing hobbies into short pockets of time isn’t always as enjoyable as having a full afternoon to immerse in your hobby of choice, but it is better than nothing at all!

5. Involve Your Family

Some hobbies can actually include your family, instead of competing with it.

• Go for family walks or bike rides.
• Have a family reading time or movie night together.
• Plan a crafting afternoon with simple crafts that younger kids can do by themselves.
• Bake or cook for fun, not just necessity.
• Leave an in-progress puzzle on the table for anyone to work on throughout the week.
• Go to the tennis courts with a friend and their children — let the kids mess around while you 2 play more competitively.

It won’t always be peaceful, but it can still be enjoyable!

6. Remember Why Hobbies Matter

Hobbies aren’t selfish — they’re sustaining.

• They give your mind a break.
• They help you feel like yourself again.
• They sprinkle small pockets of joy into ordinary days.

And when you’re a little more rested, a little more fulfilled, and a little more connected, you show up better for everything else, too.

100+ Simple Hobbies for Busy Adults

For those of you who don’t even know where to start or what type of hobby to pursue, I’ve got you covered with a giant list of more than 100 simple hobbies for busy adults!

Quiet + Restful Hobbies

• Reading (books, magazines, devotionals, daily Bible verse)
• Audiobooks or podcasts
• Journaling (gratitude, brain dumps, prayer journal)
• Coloring (adult coloring books or even kids’ pages!)
• Sitting outside with coffee/tea
• Listening to music intentionally (not just background noise)
• Watching a comfort show (guilt-free)
• Puzzle books (crosswords, Sudoku, word searches)
• Stargazing

Creative, No Pressure Required, Hobbies

• Sketching or doodling
• Watercolor painting (very beginner-friendly)
• Hand lettering or calligraphy
• Writing (short reflections, blog posts, stories)
• Photography (even just with your phone)
• Scrapbooking or memory-keeping
• Decorating or rearranging a room
• Simple DIY crafts
• Knitting or crocheting (start small!)
• Sewing (I enjoy altering clothing I find at thrift stores)
• Seasonal decorating

Movement-Based Hobbies

• Walking (outside or on a treadmill)
• Stretching or basic yoga
• At-home workouts (short + simple)
• Dancing in your home
• Bike rides
• Playing outside with your kids or grandkids
• Gardening or yard work
• Hiking local trails
• Jump rope (it’s harder than you think!)

Productive, But Still Enjoyable Hobbies

(Because sometimes “doing something useful” feels relaxing!)

• Baking (bread, muffins, cookies)
• Trying a new recipe, just because
• Organizing a small space (drawer, closet, pantry)
• Decluttering (one area at a time)
• Meal planning
• Budgeting or tracking expenses
• Couponing or finding deals
• Planning future trips (even if just dreaming!)
• Home projects (painting, small updates)

Connection-Based Hobbies

• Calling or texting a friend regularly
• Voice messaging instead of texting (Voxer, Marco Polo, etc.)
• Writing letters or cards
• Hosting simple coffee dates
• Walking with a friend
• Game nights (family or friends)
• Book discussions (casual, not formal!)
• Volunteering
• LEGOs with your kids (unless the pieces would drive you crazy!)

Learning (In Small Doses) Hobbies

• Listening to educational podcasts
• Watching short tutorials (YouTube, etc.)
• Learning a new recipe each week
• Practicing a new language (apps or flashcards)
• Reading nonfiction books
• Learning about nutrition, gardening, whole grains, or homemaking
• Memorization (quotes, scripture, poetry)
• Word puzzles (on paper or Apps)

Outdoor + Fresh Air

• Sitting on the porch
• Gardening (flowers, herbs, veggies)
• Birdwatching
• Nature walks
• Visiting local parks
• Sitting at the beach (maybe without the kids and all their gear)
• Picnics (even super simple ones)
• Watching sunsets/sunrises
• Collecting rocks, leaves, or flowers with kids

“While You’re Already Doing Something” Hobbies

(Habit stacking for the win!)

• Audiobooks while cleaning
• Podcasts while driving
• Calling a friend while folding laundry
• Stretching while watching TV
• Practicing gratitude while doing dishes
• Listening to music while cooking
• Doing yard work while playing with kids and pets outside

Micro-Hobbies (5 – 15 Minutes)

• Reading a few pages
• Tidying one small space
• Stepping outside for fresh air
• Writing a quick journal entry
• Watering plants
• Doing a short workout video
• Practicing a creative skill for a few minutes
• Sending a thoughtful text or note

Seasonal / Rotating Hobbies

(Keeps things fresh without overwhelm or boredom)

• Summer: gardening, walking, grilling
• Fall: baking, decorating, cozy reading
• Winter: puzzles, crafts, baking, journaling
• Spring: decluttering, organizing, planting

Just-for-Fun (No Productivity Allowed) Hobbies

• Scrolling Pinterest for ideas
• Window shopping (online or in-store)
• Rearranging furniture
• Trying a new coffee or tea
• Watching old movies
• Playing simple games on your phone
• Singing along to music