Over the last year, I\u2019ve tried a ton of new hobbies\u2014all focused on making life cozier and slowing things down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s a quick rundown of what I\u2019ve tried and what I think. Every hobby has its fans, so don\u2019t take it personally if I don\u2019t love one you do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My favorite so far is diamond art. It\u2019s affordable (kits range from $1.25 to $20), requires minimal tools, and is easy to pick up and put down without much setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve also gotten big into cozy gaming. I was always a console player, but Steam completely changed that. I now have 235 games\u2014basically all bought this year. It can be my most expensive hobby (PCs, consoles), but most cozy games are cheap and often have demos. The real downside? Time disappears fast when you find a game you can\u2019t quit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Miniatures completely took over my life this past year. I went from a few MiniVerse balls to a full-blown workshop. One project led to another\u2014rooms, houses, book nooks\u2014and now I\u2019ve got a desk full of tools and a room full of builds. I\u2019ve made around 60 pieces (mostly for others) and lost count of the blind balls. It\u2019s a massive hobby, and I love it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I was never into Legos, but I got into building blocks when my son did. Even though he moved on, I still enjoy it\u2014just not the Lego prices. I prefer off-brand and miniature sets that lean more \u201ccozy\u201d instead of big-name franchises. I did splurge on an overpriced Autumn Gnome Garden, though\u2014and it was worth it. Builds can take anywhere from an hour to weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Crocheting? Not for me. Whether it\u2019s because I\u2019m left-handed or just not wired for it, I couldn\u2019t figure it out. After an hour of frustration, I was done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Same goes for knitting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Latch hook was much easier and actually pretty fun, but it ranks lower for me. The finished product looks very 1980s and cheap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I also tried growing sunflowers from a \u201cguaranteed to grow\u201d kit. RIP little buddies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lastly, I got into adult coloring because my wife did. Naturally, I went all in\u2014Ohuhu markers, pencils, gel pens, the works. We now have about 50 coloring books. I enjoy it, but it takes real skill to make pieces look amazing. I\u2019ve improved a bit with YouTube, but it\u2019s definitely more about relaxing than showing off for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The hobbies that stuck: cozy gaming, diamond art, miniatures, and coloring\u2014with building blocks mixed in when I find the right set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before early 2025, I hadn\u2019t tried 99% of these. Now I\u2019m always looking for the next hobby I may enjoy- I even made my wife a couple pairs of earrings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n