Taking up a hobby is not only rewarding but it is good for our mental health. It’s easy to get burned out from the pressures of work. If we don’t have an outlet, the pressure tends to build. Hobbies allow for creativity, excercise and a sense of satisfaction from doing something that we enjoy. This list contains over a hundred great ideas that women can do as a hobby. These include ideas for all ages, seasons and climates. If any of the ideas look like more of a chore for you, definitely don’t try them. What one person thinks of as a chore or a terrifying risk of death, another will find exhilarating and enjoyable. The key is to try something that sounds fun and go from there. You may be surprised at what you find out about yourself!
Relaxing Hobbies For Women
1. Paper Crafts
You’d be surprised at what you can do with simple paper. With a little creativity, you can turn decorative paper into garland, wreaths, envelopes, flowers and stems. Besides decorative papers that you can purchase, you can also use book pages, songsheets or newspaper.
2. Knitting
Knitting isn’t just for grandmas! It’s such a relaxing activity and good for reducing stress. Because of this, it has become extremely popular with women of all ages. When you can make your own blanket, scarf or hat, it is very rewarding as well.
3. Embroidery
You may have done embroidery as a child with a hoop and a pattern. However, did you know that you can go a little more freestyle with embroidery these days? Customize clothing with embroidered words or add detailing to tea towels. This hobby is once again becoming popular, especially in the fashion scene.
4. Pottery
With pottery, you can make all kinds of interesting pieces for yourself or your home. You don’t even have to own your own kiln. There are plenty of pottery studios, with kilns to use, where you can go and create among other women.
5. Drawing
Get out a sketchbook and draw what you see. It is such a relaxing pass time that helps you to focus on your surroundings. Drawing is a skill that gets better with time and practice which makes it rewarding to observe the progress.
6. Reading
Whether you read for entertainment or learning, reading is probably the most relaxing hobby for women out there. Each book that you finish reading gives a nice sense of accomplishment. In fact, you can even set reading goals for yourself at places like Goodreads. It’s a fun way to keep track of what you have read.
7. Photography
With all of the great smartphone cameras available, anyone can easily take up photography without spending a ton of money on a separate digital camera. It’s so satisfying to get a good shot that is worth printing and framing.
8. Gathering in Faith Communities
If you’re religious, getting together for shared prayer, studying the Bible or singing meaningful songs together is a great way to find peace. It helps to put life into perspective and reduce stress.
9. Meditation
It’s a healthy way to clear the mind of negative thoughts and focus on a situation that needs clarity. Not only is this relaxing but it’s also a good way to calm anxiety.
10. Yoga
Stretching and deep breathing is a combination that relaxes and also tones your muscles. It’s a hobby that is beneficial for both the body and soul which is why it has become so popular among women.
11. Painting
Painting comes in a variety of forms and styles and is a fun and creative way to break from the grind. Whether you want to try oil paints, watercolor, abstract or realism, there are many techniques to explore.
12. Walking
Walking is not only great exercise but it is a calming activity that allows your mind to focus somewhat like meditation. It has also been known to reduce anxiety and is good for heart health.
13. Gardening
Another hobby that is very therapeutic is gardening. You get to nurture your plants from seeds to food for the table which is very satisfying.
14. Scrapbooking
Scrapbooking is a way to preserve your family memories in a creative way. Not only is the creativity itself fun, but viewing past photos brings on nostalgic joy.
15. Felting
Felting is compressing wool or other fibers together to form objects or accessories. There are various forms of felting including wet felting and dry felting!
16. Weaving
Weaving has made a major comeback since the ’70s and is now a popular technique for making rugs, wall hangings, placemats and other art.
17. Hand Lettering
If you enjoy penmanship or calligraphy, you will love hand lettering. It is a form of writing with a variety of decorative styles and is used for creating signs or printables.
18. Quilting
If you love working with fabric and thread, you might want to take up quilting. Each project can be comforting to work on. It’s a great way to use up fabric scraps or even recycle clothes.
19. Journaling
When you have a lot of thoughts and enjoy writing, journaling is a great idea. It helps to keep you focused, let out your emotions and keep a record of important events.
20. Adult Coloring
Like coloring for kids, adult coloring is much the same. The coloring pages just have advanced themes and more detail. It’s a relaxing activity that allows you to escape for a little while.
21. Dog Walking
If you love animals but don’t have one of your own, you can walk other people’s dogs either for a fee or as a volunteering opportunity. Dogs have a way of bringing comfort to people in a big way. There is a reason they are considered man’s best friend!
22. Fishing
A day on the lake fishing is so relaxing and satisfying, especially on a beautiful day.
23. Star Gazing
Get out a telescope and enjoy the spectacular display of stars! Or, simply sit outside in a comfortable lounger and look up at the sky.
24. Bird Watching
When you put out a bird feeder, you will be surprised at the huge variety of birds that you will see that you maybe didn’t even know existed. It can be very enjoyable just watching the birds’ mannerisms and seeing the variety of colors.
25. Flower Pressing
A fun way to preserve your favorite blooms is to press the flowers and make pretty displays.
Adventurous Hobbies For Women
26. Kickboxing
Kickboxing is a great workout (and a fun way to let out a little aggression!).
27. Snow Skiing
For the winter season, it’s always good to get outside to avoid the doldrums. Snow skiing is a fun way to do that. Whether you enjoy the faster pace of downhill skiing or the exercise of cross-country skiing, it’s a fun adventure either way.
28. Mountain/Rock Climbing
Depending on where you live, you could take on the challenge of mountain or rock climbing. Even if you live in a flat area, you may be able to still find some options close by. Indoor gyms that provide rock climbing are becoming more and more popular.
29. Parasailing
Parasailing is an adventure worth trying. You are basically pulled behind a boat while sitting in a seat that is attached to a parachute. It could be fun to travel to different areas to experience the views from the height you get with parasailing.
30. Sky Diving
For those of you who are not scared of heights, you may just want to jump off a plane. This is definitely not for the faint of heart but could be exhilarating for those adventure seekers.
31. Racing
If you like driving fast on the road, imagine having the freedom to drive as fast as you want. Indy car racing experiences are exhilarating and super fun. They start you out by controlling your speed and then set it higher as you get comfortable. By the end, you could be driving over 150 MPH.
32. Sailing
Sailing is calming and gives a sense of adventure at the same time. As long as you have the wind in your sails and calm seas it should be smooth sailing.
33. Hunting
Hunting has been gaining in popularity for women. If you enjoy nature and like being outside, this could be a hobby for you.
34. Camping
The sights that you can see from a campground or a rustic site make camping very desirable. Getting back to the basics and away from the hustle and bustle helps to reduce anxiety. Tent camping, especially, gets you one with nature.
35. Running
Some women get addicted to running because of how good it feels emotionally. The bonus is that it’s also a fantastic workout and great for the heart.
36. Hiking
For those who love nature and tougher terrains, hiking is a great alternative to walking or running. You can also combine hiking with tent camping for the ultimate adventure.
37. Kayaking/Canoeing
Kayaking or canoeing is a relaxing sport for those who enjoy being on the river or any body of water.
38. Paddle Boarding
Paddle boarding is another way to enjoy the water but you get to stand instead of sit. Some women even do yoga on a paddleboard.
39. Snorkeling
If you live by the ocean and enjoy seeing different types of fish, you will want to try snorkeling. This is typically done in shallower water and your head is close to the surface which is perfect for those who don’t like to be deep underwater.
40. Surfing
Catch a wave and try some surfing. While you do have to live close to an ocean to enjoy it more often, you can also do travel surfing.
41. Paragliding
Similar to parasailing, paragliding is a way to soar through the air but without a boat. The paraglider sits in a harness connected to a wing that is similar to a parachute and takes off by getting a running start.
42. Horseback Riding
This is a great hobby for women who love horses and the outdoors. Some of the trails you can ride are beautiful.
43. Water Skiing/Jet Skiing
For those who love water, you may want to get up close and personal with it in an exhilarating way. Although you need to rely on a boater to take you water skiing, you can also do it completely on your own with a jet ski.
44. Bungee Jumping
If you like a thrill, a safe way to do it is with bungee jumping! This is an idea some will like and others will find disturbing.
45. Paintballing
You might be surprised by how much you enjoy it!
46. Weight Training
Weight training for women is a great way to tone and strengthen your muscles which is different than heavy weight lifting. Most gyms have weight training classes that can be combined with aerobic exercise.
47. Self-Defense
Karate, jiu-jitsu and other self-defense classes are perfect for exercise as well as a feeling of security being able to defend yourself.
48. ATV Riding
Trail riding is a lot of fun. Whether you use a quad, side-by-side or dirt bike, it’s a great way to get around scenic areas in an adventurous way.
49. Rollerblading
Rollerblading isn’t as popular as it used to be but it’s still a fun sport for women. It tends to make you feel like a kid again at a skating rink.
50. Scuba Diving
If you enjoy going deep into the water, you will like scuba diving where you can get really into the deep.
Fun Hobbies For Women
51. Swimming
Swimming is a great workout and perfect for the water bug.
52. Basketball
Whether you like shooting hoops on your own or want to get involved with a team, basketball is a popular sport among women.
53. Softball
Softball is a fun social activity to take part in with other women—there are likely local leagues in your area.
54. Blogging
For those who like to write, blogging is a fun outlet to write about what you enjoy or have expertise in.
55. Aerobic Exercise
There are a wide variety of aerobic exercise ideas. Anything that gets your heart up is healthy. Some fun ideas are Jazzercise, Zumba or cycling.
56. Tennis
Tennis is great in any season, indoors or out. This makes it a popular go-to for women who like sports.
57. Pickleball
Pickleball is fairly new to the scene but gaining in popularity fast. Like tennis, it can be played both inside and out. It uses a smaller racquet than a tennis racket and the racket is either smooth or has air holes. Unlike tennis balls, the pickleball is a small plastic ball with holes.
58. Surface Designing
Surface designing is an addictive hobby using Photoshop or Illustrator. You can design patterns or other designs to put on fabric to sell on Spoonflower or other products at places like Society6, Redbubble or Zazzle.
59. Home DIY Projects
Working on decorative projects for the home is very rewarding. It’s satisfying to know that you can build or repurpose your own accessories in lieu of spending top dollar on purchased items.
60. Biking
Biking is great exercise and many bike trails allow you to enjoy beautiful scenery. You also don’t have to pay for gas to get around which is a win!
61. Baking
If you enjoy baking, you can not only do it for yourself but you can also bake for those in need, bake sales or for classroom treats. There are lots of ways to enjoy baking without having to eat all of the goodies yourself. (Although you can definitely enjoy that, too!)
62. Sewing
With a sewing machine, you can sew your own clothes or items for your house like curtains, pillow covers or placemats. Without a machine, you can still hand sew smaller items.
63. Cooking
If you love to cook, you can experiment with all kinds of different recipes and maybe even create your own cookbook.
64. Beading
Beading is a simple form of jewelry making and is perfect for beginners. Besides beaded jewelry, you can also make keychains and bookmarks or accessorize decorative items with beads.
65. Dancing
Dancing is the ultimate fun hobby! Take a class in swing dancing or Latin dancing to learn some great moves for the dance floor. Like Courteney Cox, you can even try a TikTok dance!
66. Horseshoes
Horseshoes are quite popular among the women of the older generation. It’s typical to find horseshoes being played in senior communities and is a great way to stay active and healthy.
67. Wood Burning
Wood burning is an extension of drawing accept you use a wood burning tool instead of a pencil. It’s a fun way to personalize any wooden object like a cutting board or hiking stick. Or, you can take a class to make intricate pyrography designs.
68. Leather Crafting
Leather crafting is simply using leather as a medium for creating works of art. This is a good choice for women who like the look and feel of leather—or anyone who enjoys unique designs.
69. Antiquing
Antique or vintage items are very popular to decorate with. Half of the fun is shopping the antique malls for unique items to display or repurpose.
70. Singing
There is nothing more joyful than singing. If you like to sing, try doing it not just in the shower but maybe join a choir or a local group.
71. Card Playing
Card playing is an activity that provides fun competition and can be done anywhere you can find at least one other person to play with. (Of course, Solitaire is a great option when you are by yourself!)
72. Golfing
Golfing is a very popular sport that is enjoyed by many women. If it looks like fun, you may want to take a class to learn the basics.
73. Word Games
Word games like Wordle, Quordle or Duotrigordle have been spreading through social media and are a super fun challenge. Other traditional games like Crosswords or Word Search are fun hobbies to start as well.
74. Puzzles
Puzzles are a fun pass time that you can keep going for days (or months!) depending on the size puzzle that you purchase.
75. Board Games
Board games are fun to play but require at least one other person. You could form a board game group where you meet regularly to play games together.
Fulfilling Hobbies For Women
76. Playing A Musical Instrument
No matter what your age, it’s never too late to learn how to play a musical instrument. Plus, learning a new skill will help to keep your brain active.
77. Floral Design
Floral design takes a good eye but can also be learned. If you want to make your own centerpieces and other floral arrangements, it can be very fulfilling to create something beautiful.
78. Writing
If you can put words together creatively, you may enjoy writing poems or stories for others to read. Who knows, you may even be able to publish something!
79. Soap Making
If you’ve ever walked into a boutique store and smelled the wonderfully fragrant handmade soaps, you might picture yourself creating your own customized scent. This can be a fun activity with a lot of experimentation that makes the end result super satisfying.
80. Candle Making
Candle making is a hobby much like soap making and is satisfying in the same way.
81. Furniture Restoration
Do you find yourself looking at your old furniture and wishing it had a more updated look to it? If you have the desire, why not practice on a piece or two to see what you can do. With some fresh paint, stain or new knobs, you can create a totally different style. It can be addicting once you start refreshing your old furniture!
82. Upcycling
You can go further with updating old things by working on smaller items that need a change. Some changes could even affect the whole purpose of the item. For instance, an old window could become a fun tabletop or an old door a new headboard.
83. Videography
Whether you want to make Youtube videos or simple family videos, it’s a fun skill to learn and experiment with. There are even online courses that you can take to get you started without even leaving home.
84. Interior Design
If you love to decorate, think about doing interior design for other people. It can be very rewarding to change a space from looking basic to having that wow factor.
85. Child Care
Depending on where you are in life, child care can be a rewarding activity that gives you an escape from your other responsibilities. It’s always enlightening to see things through a child’s eyes.
86. Volunteering
There are all kinds of ways to volunteer. If you feel pulled in a certain direction, volunteering will turn your focus from your own problems to helping out someone else instead which is extremely rewarding.
87. Learn A New Language
Keep the brain active by learning a new language. It can be an exciting challenge that will pay off if you have a desire to travel abroad.
88. Traveling
If you are able to take long stretches of time off or are retired, traveling to many different places could be a super fulfilling hobby. The discovery that goes along with a new area is refreshing and helps to rejuvenate new ideas.
89. Study an Interest
When you have an interest in things like history or government, take some time to study the topic. What we didn’t want to learn in high school is sometimes the most interesting as we get older.
90. Cake Decorating
It takes a special talent to create intricate decorations on a cake. But if you have the desire, it may be a skill that you want to learn.
91. Take a Class
No matter what your age is, there is always something more to learn. Learning keeps you young and is obviously good for your brain. And, believe it or not, some of us think of homework as a hobby!
92. Fitness Classes
Crossfit, spinning or Beachbody are all great fitness classes to rev up your fitness level. Challenge yourself with a class and enjoy getting yourself in the best shape ever.
93. Genealogy
If you have an interest in family history, you might enjoy exploring genealogy. Tracking down your roots is both interesting and rewarding.
94. Mentoring
What better way to give back than to mentor another person? Take a break from your own problems and mentor someone with the skills that you have.
95. Cricut Crafts
Cricut crafting can open up a world of opportunity. Used programmed designs to cut from materials like paper, vinyl, iron on transfers and more. Use these cutouts to embellish signs, t-shirts, gift cards and so much more. This is definitely a fun hobby with lots of options.
96. Book Club
If you love reading, go one step further and join a book club. You may be forced to read books you never would have chosen yourself but you will be surprised at what you find out that you enjoy after all.
97. Canning
This hobby would go along well with gardening. When you have too much produce to eat at the moment, canning will preserve it for a later time. You will enjoy the reward of a pantry full of jams, pickles, vegetables and more.
98. Herb Gardening
If you prefer a smaller gardening hobby, you can always start with herb gardening. You don’t even have to do it outside if you don’t want to. It’s easy to plant herbs in small containers to place on a windowsill.
99. Collecting
Collecting is a fun hobby that is all about the “search and find,” and can also be very addicting. Some popular items to collect are stamps, coins, sea glass, pottery, figurines, vintage tea cups and really anything that you enjoy looking at.
100. Jewelry Making
Jewelry making is the advanced form of beading that includes more intricate designs and materials. It’s so satisfying to create a beautiful piece of jewelry to wear or sell.
Unique Hobbies For Women
101. Homebrewing
If you like beer, this is something you may want to pursue!
102. Video Games
Playing video games can be a fun escape. There are such a wide variety of games to play that the number of women playing is catching up to the number of men.
103. Billiards
Otherwise known as pool, billiards is a great game with a skillful challenge.
104. Origami
Origami is the art of folding papers to form shapes. Some may find this to be a relaxing way to create all kinds of designs.
105. Wine Tasting
With all the wineries throughout the country, you could definitely make wine tasting a hobby!
106. Selling
Selling things is a beneficial hobby for your budget. You can sell personal items through garage sales or eBay. Sell handcrafted or vintage items on Etsy. Or, sell your own designs on products from other companies.
107. Woodworking
Building things out of wood is a creative outlet with endless possibilities.
108. Frisbee Golf
If you aren’t interested in hitting a small golf ball with an awkward club, you may prefer frisbee golf instead.
109. Ice Skating
Ice skating is a fun hobby for the winter. Whether you enjoy simply skating in a circle around the rink or want to try your hand (or, well, feet) at figure skating, it’s definitely a fun way to pass time.
110. Volleyball
Another popular sport for women is volleyball. Get active and join a team either on the beach or inside on a court.
111. Archery
Single-person challenges make great hobbies and taking up archery could prove to be rewarding.
112. Rafting
Rafting can be as challenging as you want to make it. It could be simply floating down a calm river in a tube or taking on white water rafting.
113. Acting
If you have a desire for acting, you could join a community theater to put your skills to the test.
114. Mosaics
Create fun designs using small tiles, cut glass or broken pottery. It’s fun to see what types of designs you can come up with.
115. Mushroom Foraging
Hunting for mushrooms like morels or chicken of the woods can be a fun challenge. Sometimes they are very difficult to find or spot, which makes it very exciting when you do.
116. Berry Picking
Berry picking is a great hobby for fruit lovers. If you like to bake with fruit or make jam, it will spur you on to keep picking.
117. Concert Going
If you enjoy listening to music, going to concerts is going to be a great hobby for you. It can be pretty expensive for the big concerts but you may also enjoy going to listen to lesser-known singers.
118. Sand Art
From building sand castles to creating designs with colored sand, sand art is a creative activity you may enjoy.
119. Paper Mache
This is a fun hobby using paper and paste to create 3D art objects.
120. Play the Stock Market
Care to take a little gamble? You may enjoy testing the stock market with a little of your cash. It’s easy to start with Robinhood. Who knows? You may strike it big.
121. Garage Saling
“Garage saling” is a fantastic way to shop for thrift finds. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure! When you find that treasure, it’s so, so satisfying.
122. Macramé
Macramé has made a comeback from the seventies—it’s even becoming a trend in fashion. If you have tried macramé before, you might want to take it up again to try it in new ways.
123. Home Renovations
Home renovations are very rewarding but they do take a lot of work. If you enjoy tearing walls apart and starting over, you will love doing this as a hobby. Do it for your own home or purchase homes to flip.
124. Stand Up Comedy
Have people called you a comedian? If you’re a funny lady, you may want to test the audience with a little stand-up comedy. Nowadays, you could even try to get a following online.
125. Campaigning
If you feel passionate about politics, you could campaign and volunteer for leaders in your local area or state. Next up, 400 fun questions to ask anyone—friends, family or strangers!
