If quarantine taught us anything, it’s how important it can be to have a hobby.

If you’re a man and a dad and you don’t have a hobby, could now be the time you start the process to discover one you love?

We often think about men’s hobbies as being ones that are perhaps risky, like riding a motorcycle. You don’t have to have a dangerous hobby like motorcycles, however.

The following are some ways you can find a hobby that works for your life as a dad and that you can enjoy and use as a way to blow off steam.

The Benefits of a Hobby

A good way to start learning more about hobbies that you might like is to understand the specific benefits of having a hobby.

Having a hobby, depending on what it is, can decrease your stress, help you have a sense of purpose and belonging, and may make you a better dad. A lot of people find that in addition to hobbies improving their general quality of life, they can even make their work performance better.

For example, you can use skills you learn as part of your hobby and translate those to your career.

It’s fulfilling and exciting to have a hobby, and you can find one no matter how old you are.

What Do You Already Enjoy?

The best place to start as far as identifying a dad-friendly hobby is to think about what you already enjoy.

Do you like watching sports?

If so, why not join a team or league?

Do you love stand-up comedy? Consider taking a virtual or in-person improv class.

Do you love hiking? Join a group.

Along with thinking about what you currently like, what did you like when you were a kid? Sometimes we forget those things that brought us so much joy as children, but they can make great hobbies when we’re adults.

Try a Lot of Things

One of the best ways to find out what you like, aside from just considering things that bring you joy, is to try a lot of different things. One option you might consider is exploring the world of RC servo actuators, which are small devices that are commonly used in remote-controlled vehicles and other mechanical projects. They can provide a fun and engaging hobby for dads who enjoy tinkering and building. By learning about the intricacies of a RC servo actuator and experimenting with its different possibilities, you can also develop new skills like soldering, circuitry and programming that you can apply in other aspects of your life.

Spend a few months experimenting with potential hobbies and creative outlets until you find the thing that you want to keep doing over and over again.

It can take some time, and that’s ok. It’s fun to try new things.

As you’re exploring your options, be broad in your endeavors.

Ask People You Know

Do you have friends, family, or coworkers who have a hobby they’re passionate about?

Ask them more about it. Maybe they have some ideas of things you would like too, and it might be easier to get started doing certain activities if you’re doing them with someone you know.

Dedicate the Time

One of the most important parts of having a hobby is setting aside the time to do it. It’s hard when you have a family and a career, but create a window of time each week that you dedicate to exploring hobbies and then ultimately to doing the one you settle on.

Let your family know when you plan to have “me-time.” Manage expectations and then you won’t feel guilty about that truly being the time you set aside for yourself.

Be Careful with Your Budget

There is something that can sometimes happen when we’re experimenting to find a new hobby—we might spend a lot upfront and then lose interest.

Don’t buy new expensive equipment or commit to a series of classes until you’re sure you want to pursue something.

A lot of classes and groups will offer you the chance to try things out for free. If you need equipment to try something, rent it at first instead of buying it.

Then, over time as you dedicate more time to a specific hobby, you might also invest more money in it. It becomes a way to reward yourself.

Some Inspiration to Get You Started

There are millions of hobbies you can try, but some ideas include:

·         Woodworking—depending on how good you are, you might even be able to make this into a side hustle.

·         Cooking—try some online cooking classes to get started. A lot of people find that cooking is a great stress-reliever.

·         Gardening—gardening gets you moving and gets you outside. You don’t need a ton of space to try this out, and you’ll feel productive when you see what you’ve grown.

When you have a hobby as a dad and a man, it’s likely to make you better in all areas of your life.