Other than collecting Barbies, my first “real” hobby was piano—one that my parents coaxed me into and a stereotypical rite of passage for seemingly every Asian kid. I approached it like a chore, proved to be average at best, and let the inherent shame of mediocrity take the fun out of it. Fast forward to present day: I’m casually relearning Spanish and Chinese for zero reason other than pure enjoyment and the added bonus of quieting my overthinking mind. There’s no pressure of being graded and no judgment. Just me, a mashup of Spanglish and Chinglish, and Google Translate as my trusty sidekick. The no-stress and leisureness of it is the whole appeal.
Pressure-free hobbies aren’t just time-fillers; according to therapist April Crowe, LCSW, they’re self-care. “Doing something you genuinely enjoy helps you relax, gives you a break from daily stress, and can even improve your mental and physical health,” she shared. On top of that, hobbies can get you moving, challenge your brain, and even promote social connection—all major wins for your long-term well-being.
Wellness girlies borrowed from cool girl hobbies and gave them a glow-up, making them fun and functional. Below, the ultimate list of feel-good hobbies that will upgrade your health, happiness, and quality of life.
Experts Consulted
At The Everygirl, we believe that wellness advice should be grounded in accurate, science-backed information to ensure our readers can make informed decisions about their health and well-being. That’s why we prioritize consulting trusted, credible experts—so every piece of content is both reliable and empowering.
APRIL CROWE, LCSW
April Crowe is a licensed therapist at Paramount Wellness Retreat. She has over seven years of experience in the field of behavioral health, including working in acute-care psychiatric hospitals, post-acute mental health treatment centers, substance use treatment centers, non-profit organizations, and private practice. Her diverse professional experience allows her to specialize in a wide range of mental health, from trauma, stress, anxiety, and depression to PTSD, grief/loss, and substance use.
RUTH HERNANDEZ
Ruth Hernandez is a licensed clinical psychologist and mental health counselor at AddictionResource.net, specializing in emotion-focused therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and client-centered counseling. She prides herself on creating an inclusive and compassionate therapeutic space in which her clients are reassured and helped throughout their healing process. At AddictionResource.net, she’s actively helping people achieve recovery and better mental health.
1. Ballet
Pilates girls may be trading the reformer for ballet: a form of movement that’s just as effective as it is elegant. “It’s a fun way to get exercise, improve cardiovascular health, and boost coordination and balance,” Crowe said. “The best part? It releases endorphins, your brain’s natural feel-good chemicals, which help lift your mood and reduce stress.” Beyond being arguably more fun than your average gym sesh, channeling your inner Misty Copeland offers serious mind-and-body benefits (peep: the NFL football player who claims ballet is “harder than anything else I do”). More than some light cardio and strength training, ballet delivers on skeletal strength, muscular flexibility, and pelvic floor strength—supporting posture, core strength, injury prevention, and sexual health. Because dance uses bilateral stimulation, it can also help regulate stress and lower cortisol levels. TL;DR: Ballet may look pretty and delicate, but it’s a powerhouse workout that strengthens the body, steadies the mind, and lets you have fun while doing it.
How to try it: Can’t get to a ballet studio, or it’s not in the budget? Check out free online videos and streaming classes.
2. Gardening
Whether you consider it tapping into cottagecore or an environmentally-friendly statement, Crowe said working with plants can lower blood pressure and reduce anxiety. Add in sunlight exposure and fresh air, and you’re boosting serotonin (AKA the “happy hormone”) while increasing cortisol for better daytime energy. It gets better: Ruth Hernandez, a licensed clinical psychologist at AddictionResource.net, noted that friendly bacteria in soil can activate brain cells that produce serotonin. A 2020 study published in Landscape and Urban Planning found that gardening supports high emotional well-being, including feelings of happiness and purpose, while a 2021 survey showed that gardening at least two to three times a week is linked to higher levels of well-being, less stress, and more physical activity. And if you’re growing herbs or veggies? That’s the cherry on top. Homegrown produce is often more nutrient-dense than what you’ll find at the grocery store—making this hobby good for your mind, body, and plate.
How to try it: You don’t have to have a backyard or a lot of space to partake in this it-girl craft. Make efficient use of the room you do have by using wall-mounted containers or hanging planters to grow vertically. Or consider joining a community (AKA co-op) garden and add social connection to the list of advantages of gardening.
3. Sourdough Baking
If the lockdown gave us one redeeming hobby, it was mastering the sourdough starter. And while many of us growing up in the early 2000s were (wrongly) taught to fear carbs—namely bread—sourdough is actually a superfood with high nutritional value: The fiber in sourdough bread acts as a prebiotic and helps feed the “good” bacteria in your intestines, promoting a healthier digestive system. As Crowe explained, the fermentation process also breaks down gluten, making it easier to digest.
But Hernandez noted a lesser-known benefit beyond nutrition: “Sourdough baking helps release tension,” she said. “Kneading dough quiets your nervous system and clarifies your thinking.” Crowe agreed: “The entire process is incredibly therapeutic—watching your starter grow, kneading the dough, and patiently waiting for it to rise. It is a slow, mindful practice that requires patience, but the reward of pulling a fresh, golden loaf from the oven is worth it.”
How to try it: First things first, you need to start with, well, a starter. You can either make it from scratch or get a store-bought one (try asking your local bakery or ordering online—this one has rave reviews). Here’s a beginner-friendly step-by-step guide to making sourdough bread.
4. Pickeball or Tennis
If you need an excuse to lean fully into tennis core, let it be this: Findings from 2018 and 2022 research found that people who regularly play racquet sports live longer than those who stick to solo workouts like running, cycling, and swimming. The winning formula is a full-body, low-impact workout paired with mental stimulation and built-in social connection.
“Playing racquet sports, such as tennis or pickleball, is one of my top suggestions for clients to help them shift focus from their minds to their bodies,” Hernandez agreed. “They push your brain to make quick decisions and react promptly, promoting mental flexibility.” And unlike most workouts, tennis or pickleball aren’t meant to be done alone—they naturally foster social bonds, one of the key lifestyle behaviors shared by the longest-living Blue Zone communities. Whether you’re picking up tennis, badminton, or pickleball, racquet sports serve up a triple threat: longevity, sharper cognition, and a stronger sense of belonging.
How to try it: If you’re a new player, grab the appropriate gear and use a wall to practice hitting, refine hand-eye coordination, and get used to the feel of the racquet. Then enlist a buddy at the same level to rally with, or take advantage of online resources like USTA.com to find local groups, leagues, and hitting partners.
5. Learning a New Language
Being bilingual does more than help you order confidently on your foreign vacation; it can actually improve brain health, affecting cognitive well-being and emotional intelligence. A study in Cerebral Cortex discovered that people who speak two languages have more gray matter in the brain, the part of the brain responsible for sensation, perception, voluntary movement, learning, speech, and cognition. The result? Better short-term memory, problem-solving skills, and attention span compared to people who only speak one language.
Understanding and speaking another language can also help promote mental flexibility and preserve the brain’s white matter, which allows you to process information more efficiently. “Learning a new language is a brain booster in a big way,” Hernandez explained. “When you learn new information, your brain works harder, making it healthier. Speaking several languages has been proven to make your brain age slower.” Knowing more than one language does your brain major good—from being more adaptable to staving off the effects of aging to sharpening memory, concentration, and creativity, making it a no-brainer long-term investment for your cognitive health.
How to try it: Whether you use an app or find a class at your local university, nothing beats consistency and practice. Some of our favorite tips: Try an app like Preply that matches you with a language tutor for your budget (as little as $5-$10 per hour), write the sentences or words you struggle to remember on Post-Its, and immerse yourself in foreign films in the language you’re learning.
6. Crocheting
Break out the crochet hooks, ladies. What was once labeled an “old lady hobby” has been reclaimed by cool girls—think: crochet bikini tops, tongue-in-cheek embroidered throw pillows, and handmade pieces all over your feed. Other than the aesthetic appeal, crocheting comes with real wellness benefits. One 2013 study concluded that more frequent knitting or crocheting leads to greater calmness, happiness, and higher cognitive functioning.
Crocheting works similarly to meditation. “The repetitive actions of knitting/crocheting can soothe the mind and lower stress; it works like resetting your brain,” Hernandez said. “Doing things with your hands helps activate different parts of the brain and keeps it sharp. Also, making something pretty brings feelings of success that increase confidence.”
How to try it: There are endless how-tos on crocheting: Take your pick from guides with instructions and accompanying pictures, YouTube tutorials, and TikToks.
7. Vision Boarding
If a resolution says, “This is what I need to stop,” a vision board says, “This is what I want to invite in.” Instead of fixating on the habits you want to get rid of (and the shame surrounding them), vision boards shift your focus on the possibilities. As Crowe put it, creating a vision board is like designing a roadmap for your future. “It’s a simple yet powerful tool to clarify your desires—whether they relate to personal growth, career aspirations, relationships, or new experiences,” she said. Seeing your goals in images and words every day keeps them top of mind, making it easier to stay focused, motivated, and action-oriented. “This practice goes beyond wishful thinking; it reminds you of what you are striving for and inspires you to take action,” Crowe continued.
Whether you’re cutting and pasting IRL or pinning away on Pinterest, vision boarding taps into your creativity while helping you mentally rehearse your dream life (think of it like scrapbooking’s elevated cousin). According to social scientist Frank Niles, Ph.D., visualization activates neural pathways that prime the brain to act in alignment with what you imagine. So when you create a vision board and visualize your future and desired outcome, you don’t just dream it; you start to “see” how it can unfold.
How to try it: Look no further than our Vision Board 101.
8. Annotating Self-Help Books
Cool girls are taking reading to the next level by annotating their favorite books. And that goes for self-help titles too. Whether you’re aiming to improve relationships, enhance your confidence, or manage stress, there’s a book for it. Crowe pointed out that the right self-improvement reads can be game-changing: “They provide fresh perspectives, assist in breaking negative habits, and offer practical strategies for navigating challenges. Reading these books promotes self-reflection—you begin recognizing your patterns and contemplating ways to change them.” In other words, self-help books can give you tangible tools to move the needle in your life, and annotating them is how you make the advice sink in and stick, turning insights into real-life action.
How to try it: Not sure where to start? We’ve rounded up 20 self-improvement books that will inspire you to make positive changes toward who you want to be and give you insight on how to attain your goals.
9. DIYing “Daily Use” Products From Scratch
Research on the “self-creation” effect has found that making your own products can deepen appreciation, encourage mindful use, and increase overall happiness. Crowe agreed, highlighting that DIY-ing your everyday staples like almond milk, green juice, bagels, or herbal soda also gives you full control over what you consume, cutting out unnecessary preservatives and added sugars in favor of fresh, clean ingredients. Not to mention, think of the money you save (and the satisfaction you get) perfecting your own green juice or almond milk at home instead of shelling out another $8 for a store-bought bottle.
“A rewarding sense of satisfaction comes from making things from scratch, as it helps you connect more deeply with what you eat and drink,” Crowe continued. “Whether blending your morning green juice or experimenting with homemade herbal drinks, preparing your everyday staples yourself adds more mindfulness to your routine.”
How to try it: Thanks to countless online guides (like this, this, this), Martha Stewart’s got nothing on you.
Katherine Chang, Wellness Staff Writer
Katherine Chang is The Everygirl’s Wellness Staff Writer with over five years of experience in the health and wellness space. She navigates the latest wellness topics and trends through expert interviews and studies, and she’s always first in line to try them firsthand.
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