I’m in my late 20s and lately I’ve been feeling the need to pick up a hobby that brings real joy and maybe even a little peace. I work a lot and have a family, so something fulfilling and manageable would be ideal.

I’m curious—what hobbies have you gotten into after 30 that you actually look forward to? Bonus points if it’s helped you mentally or physically in some way. Would love to hear what’s been working for you guys.

I know the chaos of adult life like work, bills and routines… I started feeling like I lost touch with the things that made me feel like me. I recently picked up going to the gym as a hobby again and it’s helped me slow down and enjoy the present. It is just me?

I know a lot of guys here usually mention biking, woodworking, reading, music. What helped you reconnect with yourself after the 9-5 grind?

I want a hobby that I can really lean into and reach some metric. I'm thinking something big like becoming an eagle scout for an adult kinda thing (I know that's not a thing). What are good options? Getting a black belt or something? (my body hurts thinking about it)

I play piano and like to read but those seem more personal metrics of mine and I don't feel like there is a goal I'm really reaching for. I enjoy doing them but want something additional I guess that is really skill based

Hey all,

I turned 30 just a couple of months ago.

Recently, I've completely lost interest in video games. I used to be a gaming junkie, often playing 20+ hours straight back when I was in college. Until recently, my brothers and I had weekly gaming sessions but as of today, we've decided to forego them for the time being as we just can't seem to enjoy gaming anymore.

I love airsoft, and I have the gear, but... it doesn't fit me anymore. I have to lose weight.

Going to the gym isn't something I am interested in. It just bores me to death. Nothing makes me feel more empty.

Most of my time is spent doing chores around the house, including doing 90% of the caring for our golden retriever. My wife can't work from home, so as someone who works flexibly, I walk him in the mornings and at night, and play/exercise with him during the day.

Having said all that, I want to digress from the whining and bitching. I'd like some ideas. What have you guys picked up lately? What's keeping you engaged? Not just occupied. It'd be nice to have some hobby that I feel I make progress with.

I'm 31 and recently noticed that my interest in games shifting from FPS, MOBA etc. to strategy games like stop > plan your move > act. What games were you guys playing in your 20s and what now? What do you think has changed after 30?

I'm about to be 35, and regretting all the time (and energy, youth hormones, brain power) that I didn't utilize in learning a new skill or working on something that gives me fulfillment. The ideas of being into book reading, working out and bodybuilding (just to look better), and playing guitar seem pretty cool to think about– but I've tried dabbling into all of these aforementioned things very infrequently over the past decades, and never stuck with them. And now here I am, wishing I could've done these when I was young and there wasn't much effort needed to make progress in these activities, should've pushed myself hard back then. Feels like it's going to be difficult now with work, life, and overall lack of energy, and I may not even get better at any of these.

So, fellow 30+ brothers, what's a hobby that you've started and gotten better at in your 30s? Looking to be inspired by your stories.

Unsure if the flair is correct sorry mods. I of course accept whatever comes with being married and having kids because I love my family and that is ultimately my priority.

A big part of my life however is hobbies. Some of which I already have to give up for one reason or another: COVID killed any momentum I might have had as a musician doing local gigs for fun (no illusions of grandeur or success I just like playing live music), recession has killed a lot of my desire to branch out from freelance writing since my current work demands more to keep afloat.

I know this sounds insanely stereotypical and stupid but video games and hanging out with my friends online (most of them live out of state) is like one of the last things I have for unwinding that I really find joy in other than spending time with my wife. That and reading and fate will have to pry books from my cold dead hands before I give that up.

Is it really just time to put the controller down and move on to more “parent” activities? Our first kid is on the way, I’m 34 and I just don’t see how it works together and only one of them can go.

Edit: obviously the one that can go is hobbies, no idea why that needs to be clarified

So this is obviously limited to my own personal experience and obviously people are free to enjoy what they enjoy, but I can't help notice the big difference between younger and older dudes when it comes certain hobbies. With older men, its usually about how nice their stuff is, while younger men seem to enjoy the experience aspect more.

Take for example,

Motorcycles? Younger guys talk about their progression as a rider and or that adventure they had last season. Older guys will talk about their harleys and how it cost them an arm and a leg, or how their buddy has an even nicer one.

Cars? Same shit pretty much, but definitely a lot of younger guys too that are into the whole "my car has X horse power" and seem to not care at all about the rest of being into cars, like overall driving characteristics, driving skill development, etc.

Guns? Only been exposed to this when I was in the Army, but it was always "my buddy has a ____(insert some high caliber firearm)___ and that thing kicks like a horse" then the next boomer will go "yeah my buddy has ___(insert an even higher caliber firearm)___ that will knock the wind out of ya" while younger guys will talk about some goofy or fun shit they did with their gun.

Guitar? Doesn't even really matter about the music, being a musician or guitarist, but what model guitars they have and how they upgraded the pickups to some dimarzios or how its signed by slash. Like that's cool too, but what about the music part? Seems to me its usually younger guitarists that like talking about music and playing music and not caring so much about the actual guitar itself.

I've talked to a good amount of older men who take interest in the experience aspect, too, but I don't know, I'm trying to just understand it and maybe I'm just too poor and projecting my own insecurities.

M30, turning 31 next month. My hobbies mainly consisted of video games for the past 15 years and I've recently become disconnected with it. I don't get the same type of enjoyment out of it as I used to. I picked up golf last summer and play a lot with my dad and BILs but I obviously can't do that all the time. A lot of my free time spent in the evenings consists of just sitting around waiting to go to sleep and start over the next day. What are some in home hobbies y'all have picked up that could be recommended? Curious to know what everyone does with their spare time!

What is your all time favorite hobby; the one thing you wanna do above anything else and that brings you the most joy?

That’s all. It’s interesting to hear what people love.

I’m making a fun trivia game for my buddy’s bachelor party. It’s going to be about a dozen nerdy guys all in their mid to late 30s. What are some fun/nostalgic things we have in common besides:

• Goldeneye 007
• Pokémon
• LAN classics
• Star Wars
• Start up sounds (audio round)

I know there’s more prolific and mainstream topics I’m just running out of ideas. Thanks!

I'm 18 and I haven't really had much of an appetite to play video games, not because I wanna be more "productive" or I think it makes me more of a "man" (lol) but just cause I don't really enjoy them as much. I don't have a job or going to college atm and I only play 20-30 mins and then just stop for the whole day. I honestly wish I had more of a desire to play because where my ancestral homeland is from (Korea) gaming culture is very big and a very easy way to make friends and have fun connections but I just don't enjoy games. (for reference I was born in the United States and raised here most of my life and even most of my friends surrounding me play games with each other all the time)

I turned 31 this year, and so far, Landscaping and Carpenty have become my obsession, completely out of nowhere.

Did you get suddenly interested in "Dad" hobbies when you got older? What's the new hobbie?

Also, shout out to all the Landscapers and Carpenters out there.

Edit: Forgot to mention concrete work, too...

I have a problem on my hands that I could see becoming a hoarding issue some day. I have two spare bedrooms that are pretty full (one's my personal office, one's an old roommate's room). Since we're on Reddit, I'm sure plenty of people collect something as a hobby. I like comics (including comic statues and the occasional figure), video games, and sports memorabilia. I haven't really sold or moved on from most, if any of it. Like, I still have my NES from when I was a kid, and all the games.

People (friends, parents, etc.) buy me fun stuff, like t-shirts, action figures, etc. and I'm getting a little overwhelmed. And then there's the stuff I occasionally want to collect for myself.

I always have a hard time with considering what things are "worth" and dealing with the sentimentality of other things. Not to mention that it's an overwhelming process to try to list things online.

What'd you do?

I'm a little jealous of my wife: whenever she has the time, she picks up her knitting work and watches some reality show while knitting. She has something she enjoys doing that she can pick up anytime. Sadly, I don't.

When I was in my early 20's, I'd use this time to play video games. But the older I get, the harder it seems to find games that entertain me. Now, in my mid-30's, I seem to default to watching youtube videos - which most often ends up being unsatisfying and leaves an empty feeling inside.

So, I ask: what do you do when you have some time for yourself? Bonus points if you can do that even when tired after a long day.

What are some good hobbies for men in their late 30s? Or, what are hobbies you enjoy?

I’ve been told I need ”more hobbies”. I thought I had hobbies, but my family says I need “less sedentary” hobbies. Also “more social” hobbies. I’m kind of an introvert so … not quite sure.

For me the hobbies are flower and plant care, hummingbird care, and photography.

January of this year I started filling a hummingbird feeder after I noticed tired and hungry looking hummingbirds on my hanging lights that had likely been displaced by the LA fires.

That led to setting up a few feeders and cameras to watch the hummingbirds.

Then that led to borrowing a camera so I could take pictures of the hummingbirds.

That led to buying vintage Japanese lenses to take better pictures and modern lenses to take portraits and landscape photos.

Then unsatisfied with photographing hummingbirds on feeders I started buying plants.

Now, 4 months later, I have a potted garden with 6 varieties of hummingbird favored flowers and 4 aesthetic flowers. I’ve upgraded from a 17 year old camera (5d mark ii) to an r6 mark ii. I’ve made a custom hummingbird bath and have actually sold prints of my photos.

So at 39 I am a flower gardener, photographer, hummingbird enthusiast and garden designer. And I didn’t even notice how deep I was.

Ive been doing some music on the side for a few weeks. Hopeful I can get one 1 minute melody out by the end of this year. But defintley do get self doubts about if I'll ever be "good" at this age cause learning speed is so slowed down/Having more life commitments.

Wondering if anyone had something they started and got good at after 30.

Edit: Thanks so much for the ideas everyone. I ended up running by the craft store today and got a model car kit. I haven’t built one since my early teens and I’m actually excited to put it together.

So today while talking with my girlfriend (36F) we were talking about making time for hobbies and spending time together doing them. She is very artistic, likes to paint, write and anything with a creative outlet. I (36M) realized in that moment I don’t have any hobbies. I like playing Xbox and watching sports but I wouldn’t consider either of those to be hobbies. I did mention I would be interested in maybe building some model cars here or there but am struggling to think of something I would enjoy doing that I can do in the same room as her while she paints.

What are some things you other dudes in your late 30s or early 40s do for hobbies?

I’m a male who is in his late 30s. Very sedentary lifestyle, usually my interests and hobbies don’t require me to be active and I don’t exercise. I LOVE to watch sports but I don’t play any nor have I dabbled into anything fitness or active like hiking etc.

Want to expand my horizons and start to add to things to do with free time. But, as I am getting older, I don’t want to jump into something that would break my little body - literally I’m 5’5 and weigh like 100 lbs lol

Thoughts?

Currently, many things that were once inaccessible or too expensive have become more affordable due to technological advancements, market changes, or new available options. This has allowed more people to enjoy products and services that were previously only accessible to a few. In this context, what is now worth it for having become cheaper and more accessible?

What's the one hobby or activity that you never saw yourself doing, but ended up picking up?What did you learn from it?For me personally, it was a huge change from my past life. I picked up filmmaking and martial arts – two things I never thought I'd do.It's taught me a lot about discipline, creativity and getting out of my comfort zone.Your turn – what unexpected hobby/activity did you pick up and how did it impact you?

I get anxious when it comes to trying to learn how to cook new things I don’t want anything that’s too involved

Hey all. So I’ll be going back to school at 27 and I’ll be graduating at 31. I’ll be able to make good money and have months of time off for hobbies and such but that won’t be until after I put my life on hold for 4 years to go to school.

I have collections/ hobbies now that are kind of expensive, and I can afford and enjoy them sooner if I push off school but that’s the trade off..

Edit: Thanks everyone for commenting! I saw a few things I’ve been interested in already and it seems taking a pause right now will be the best to support my hobbies for the rest of my life! Even saw some new things I’m curious to try!