5 hobbies to obsess over in your late twenties

Sep 3, 2024

7 min read

What is it about being in your late twenties and constantly needing a new hobby to fixate on?

It's like every six weeks, I rotate through a new hyper-fixation that I need to completely throw myself into, thinking it will reshape my personality for the rest of my life—only to be sick of it after a month and hundreds of pounds later.

Is this what the rest of my life will look like? A constant rotation of expensive hobbies? If so, I'm honestly fine with it. I love having a new hobby to obsess over; it makes the day go faster and brings joy. So what's the big deal if I spend $260 on a pair of carbon-plated marathon shoes only to never actually run a marathon? It's fun.

So, I thought I would do the hard yards for you and actually prepare a list of some fantastic hobbies to fixate on.

Running:

Is it really a list about hobbies in your twenties if I don't include running? I get it, it's overdone, runners can come across as obnoxious, and it's not the type of hobby for everyone. But there's a reason everyone is obsessed with it—it actually feels great.

I could write a whole article about my love for running (and I probably will—future me to hyperlink it here), but I've been fixated on running for six months, and I'm still going strong because it feels that good. I think the satisfying thing about running is how buildable it feels and how tangible the progress is. I started by running the slowest, sloppiest 1km, which took me almost eight minutes and nearly killed me. Six months later, I'm days away from running my second 10km race, and I can't wait. I actually look forward to waking up early on the weekend (yes, voluntarily) to get my runs in.

I grew up as the unathletic, awkward child who couldn't run to save themselves. Now, I find great satisfaction in continuously pushing myself and building on my personal best time.

What you need to get started:

This hobby can be completely free if you want—all you need is a pair of sneakers, and you're good to go. But if you're anything like me, shiny items make the hobby more enjoyable, so here are my recommendations if you're getting into running:

Proper running shoes: Get fitted for a proper pair of running shoes. Proper shoes will make all the difference and will prevent injury if you're wearing the correct ones.
A smartwatch: I personally use an Apple Watch, and although it's not the most accurate or high-tech for running, it gets the job done and tracks my distance, time, and heart rate.
Sweat socks/running socks: If you suffer from blisters, these are a must!

I could go on, but again, it probably requires its own article.

Reading:

Did you use to read a lot as a child but haven't picked up a book since you binge-read The Hunger Games at age fifteen? Or maybe, when we crossed from Young Adult into Adult fiction, you struggled to find a book that gave you that same warm, fuzzy feeling that reading Twilight did.

Well, I'm here to tell you that there are some fabulous books out there just waiting to be read.

You may have already heard of 'BookTok,' but just in case you're not chronically online, I'll explain it. BookTok is a facet of TikTok where readers of all genres talk all about the books they're reading and recommend books. Thanks to BookTok, there has been a huge resurgence for many people who have been able to rediscover their love for reading. There is a lot of discourse about how BookTok has been the worst thing for literature and the demise of good books, but I think any medium that encourages people to read is a positive, regardless of whether the book contains erotica or not.

What you need to get started:

A library card for your local library.

Woman seated beside a pool wearing a yellow bikini, reading a book. Beside her is a bag and a hat.

Bullet journaling:

Do you like feeling organised? Are you a planner girlie? Do you struggle to track everything and want to keep it all in one place?

Bullet journaling is for you!

A bullet journal (or BuJo for those in the know) is a journaling system that organises scheduling, reminders, to-do lists, brainstorming, and other organisational tasks into a single notebook. The great thing with bullet journaling is that you have complete control over how it looks and what you track, which means that bullet journals come in all shapes and sizes. Some like their journals to be straightforward and minimalistic, whereas others involve fancy pens, arts and crafts, and all sorts of fun illustrations.

There are two camps of bullet journalers: those who use them for functionality and organisation, and those who enjoy using them as a creative outlet. There is no incorrect way to bullet journal because it's all about what works for you and what tasks you wish to track.

What you need to get started:

A blank journal: Preferably a dot journal, as these make it easier to create spreads and stay neat.
A pen.
Optional: Stickers, coloured pens, and fancy tape..

Play the Sims:

Do you ever just get the feminine urge to boot up The Sims 4 for four days straight and then not touch it for another twelve months until the urge strikes again?

Yeah, same.

The Sims franchise has been a comfort game of mine since I was seven years old, playing The Sims 2 and hoping my parents didn't see me spamming the 'woohoo' function. The Sims franchise has come a long way since those days, and my Sims can now woohoo in much higher definition.

During one of my manic Sims phases, I also discovered the Sims YouTube community, and that opened up a whole new can of worms. These YouTubers are doing the hard yards when it comes to dreaming up amazing storylines for your Sims, showing fun hacks for the game, and sharing how to make your gameplay more enjoyable.

This hobby may not be sustainable for the long term, but for a solid four days, you'll be thoroughly entertained.

What you need to get started:

A computer or laptop that isn't a heaping pile of junk. Unfortunately, the $400 ASUS I panic-bought during the COVID pandemic to work from home doesn't cope well with The Sims 4.
The Sims 4: The Sims 4 base game is free to download.

Start a podcast:

Yes, yes, I know. Starting a podcast is a lot, but do you ever have a hobby that you're so passionate about that you need to share it with everyone via a podcast—and then that becomes its own hobby?

Yes, I have had my own podcast, yes, it was during the COVID pandemic, and no, please don't search for it—I was a different person back then.

But having a podcast can be lots of fun and is actually extremely easy to create, even for the technologically challenged! The great thing about podcasting is it's essentially a two-for-one. You have the hobby of podcasting itself, and then you have the topic of your podcast, whether it's wellness, lifestyle, celebrity gossip, or what have you.

Podcasting can even be a social activity when you link up with an equally hobby-obsessed friend and create a podcast together. Ever felt like your opinions or conversations are so hilarious that the world simply must be privy to them via a podcast? This is the hobby for you.

What you need to get started:

It really depends on the quality you want, as to the level of equipment you need. This hobby can quickly become expensive when you're splashing out on fancy microphones and soundboards, but I would encourage you to start with a basic set-up to see if this hobby sticks before buying all the gear.

A microphone: You can get pretty decent microphones for under $100 that will be more than enough to get you started. Otherwise, a decent set of headphones should do the trick if you're just starting out.
Audio editing software: I used Audacity, which is free and has all the functions you need to edit a podcast episode. It's relatively easy to use (with the help of some YouTube tutorials).
A hosting platform: If you would like your podcast to appear on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Podcasts, you will need a platform to host it on. There are many ways you can do this, but the easiest is Spotify for Podcasts.

A laptop with audio editing software and a podcasting microphone with two people seated beside it.

I could write endlessly on each of these topics (they are fixations of mine after all) and I probably will at some stage. This list also could have easily been ten or even twenty long because yes, I have cycled through that many hobbies. But here's the thing—hobbies are more than just a way to pass the time. They’re a form of self-expression, a way to explore new interests, and sometimes, they help us discover parts of ourselves we didn't know existed.

Whether you stick with a hobby for years or abandon it after a few weeks, the joy is in the journey. It’s about diving into something new with enthusiasm, learning along the way, and not being afraid to move on when the excitement fades. Maybe it’s a product of our fast-paced, ever-changing world, or maybe it's just part of the human experience. Either way, there's something wonderfully liberating about embracing the transient nature of these fixations.

So, to all my fellow twenty-somethings (and beyond) who find themselves in a constant cycle of hobby obsession, I say this: Lean into it. Embrace the curiosity, the excitement, and yes, even the inevitable burnout. Each new hobby is a chance to learn something new, meet like-minded people, and most importantly, have fun. Life is too short to take it too seriously—so why not spend a little time (and money) on the things that bring you joy, even if it's just for a while?

In the end, it's not about the number of hobbies you master but the richness of the experiences you collect along the way. So go ahead, try that new hobby you’ve been eyeing—you never know where it might lead you. And if it doesn’t stick? Well, there’s always the next one waiting just around the corner.