Having a hobby is really good for your physical and mental health, but not every hobby is so good for the environment. Often, you have to use a lot of resources in order to sustain your hobby, and that can mean it is not a good fit for you.
The good news is, if you looking for a new hobby that will help you live more sustainably, I have lots of great ideas for you! Here are my top picks for sustainable hobbies that are easy to get into and fun:
Upcycle old furniture
Upcycling old furniture is a great hobby to get into if you are looking to do something creative without having to worry about the resources you use. You can simply take a worn old table and give it a fresh lick of paint or decorate it with decoupage magazine cuttings, to give it a whole new lease of life, and make your home look even more interesting than it already does. You might even be able to sell your upcycled creations on once you have mastered the art, so it could be a pretty lucrative way to spend your spare tie too.
Start a vegetable garden
If you have space outside your house, you can plant a vegetable garden or even some herbs and flowers. Planting a garden is a great way to get some exercise on the weekends, and it’s also a fun way to spend time with your family. You can grow your own vegetables and herbs, which will save money at the grocery store. It’ll also get you some exercise in by walking around your garden and tending to the plants, and most important of all, if you garden organically, it is a very sustainable hobby to have that will mean you need to rely much less on mass-produced grocery items.
Take a class
If there is a skill you have always wanted to learn, whether it be Powerpoint training that helps you to advance in your career or how to do basic yoga poses so that you can get healthy and find more peace, then chances are there is a class you can do either online or in your local community, and doing so is pretty sustainable, especially if you learn online so you don’t have to travel or use pen and paper.
Volunteer at your local animal shelter.
Volunteering at your local animal shelter is a great way to get involved with the community and make a difference in the lives of animals, and it can help you to be more eco-friendly because you will be in a position to encourage more people to adopt existing pets rather than buying puppies and kittens, all of whom require more resources.
If you're interested in volunteering at an animal shelter, many organizations offer opportunities for individuals who want to help take care of animals while they wait for their forever homes, so start asking around today and you are sure to find a suitable palace to help out in no time at all.
Join a board game club.
Board games are fun, and they're also a great way to learn new skills. As you play different board games, you'll develop your strategic thinking and problem-solving skills as well as having a lot of fun.
Of course, the great thing about joining a board game club is that you will not have to buy any new board games! Each member will take turns to bring a game they love for the group to play, or if you meet in a board game store, they might even have a library of games for you to choose from, thus this is a really sustainable hobby to have.
Get into photography
Photography is a great hobby for the environmentally conscious because it encourages you to explore the world around you and it doesn’t, thanks to digital tech, require you to keep buying lots of equipment. You can take photos of nature, animals, and people- and have fun doing it.
If you're just getting started in photography and want to learn more about how to frame your shots and use different types of equipment (including smartphones), check out some online resources like Digital Photography School or Reddit's /r/photography forum. There are also tons of books out there on the subject if you prefer reading them over watching videos or listening to podcasts.
Once you've got a handle on the basics behind composition and framing shots with your camera, try taking pictures at home with friends and family as subjects!
Start writing
Writing is the ultimate in sustainable hobbies, you need nothing more than a laptop pen and paper, or a typewriter, if you want to go old school, to get started, but it is also one of the most creative pursuits there is.
Of course, you can also make money from your writing if you create a blog or publish your own books in the Kindle bookstore, so it is a sustainable hobby that could also become a lucrative side hustle if that is something that is important to you.
Take a hike
Hiking is a very popular outdoor activity. It's great exercise, provides you with the opportunity to enjoy nature, and also means you can meet other people who share your interest in hiking.
Hiking can be done anywhere there are trails or even roads that lead into the wilderness. You'll likely find yourself surrounded by trees, streams, and wildlife if you're in an area that hasn't been heavily populated by humans.
This activity will give you a chance to get in touch with the natural world around us- and it's something everyone should try at least once.
I hope you’ll find one of these hobbies to be a great way to spend your free time. They’re all easy to get into and will not only give you something new in your life, but they are also sustainable, and they will, hopefully, help make the world a better place too!