Productive Hobbies for Women in Their 20s and 30s

Adults, especially women, often feel they don’t have time for hobbies or anything else unproductive. But we all deserve some time off from our responsibilities and there’s nothing wrong with doing something fun every once in a while. That being said, to combine the best of both worlds, you can have productive hobbies.

Go through this list of ideas for different hobbies that are productive and beneficial to you in one way or the other. Choose one or two that you think would fit your needs the best or that sounds the most interesting.

How can a hobby be productive?

Productivity comes down to doing what you should do or what is somehow useful. Most hobbies are just for fun or maybe to get your body moving (which is of course good).

But a productive hobby is a hobby that has the sole purpose of benefitting you and helping you change your life for the better. It can for example be something that will help you find better job opportunities or bring you some extra income. Or it can be about learning skills you think you will need.

1. Blogging

Blogging is a great way to combine fun and productivity. If you like writing and creating things, it’s a good option for you. And while it requires some investment if you are planning to get a lot of traffic, it doesn’t have to be expensive.

You can write about things related to your field if you think that would help your career. If you are just looking for a side hustle, you can write about anything you want. In any case, you will learn a lot of useful skills, from writing to search engine optimization to marketing.

2. Reading useful books

Reading itself is fun and it’s always a good idea to read fiction. But you might learn more from non-fiction and self-help books. Are there any topics you’ve always wanted to know more about? Or perhaps there is something that you think could benefit you in your career?

Start an extra productive hobby by dedicating some time each day to reading those books that you think would actually benefit you in life – whether they are biographies or how-to books.

3. Writing

Writing is one of the most useful skills you can have and that makes this one of the most productive hobbies of all. You can write short stories, blog posts, poems, articles, or even a novel. Whatever you write, it will definitely teach you a lot!

You can start writing just for fun if you want to or start with a specific goal in mind. You never know, that novel that you start writing just for the sake of writing something might one day get published!

4. Learn a language

Learning a new language is obviously useful, but it can also be very rewarding. Many people plan to learn a new language “one day” and some even start studying, but few care to work all the way to fluency. That’s why you will definitely stand out from the crowd if you do speak a foreign language well.

If this is something that sounds interesting to you, get started right away. The sooner you start, the faster you will make progress. Pick a language that you like or that you think will be the most useful to you.

Related article: Why You Should Learn a New Language to Get Ahead

5. Volunteering

Volunteer work often doesn’t feel like work at all, that’s why it’s such a great hobby. There are also plenty of volunteering options to choose from, so you will definitely find something you like. And if your schedule is tight, you can always volunteer online.

I recommend volunteer work especially to young people who are maybe still in college or have just graduated. Volunteer work looks great on your resume and it can teach you skills that employers are looking for.

Related article: 12 Reasons You Should Volunteer (and Get Ahead in Your Career)

6. Learn to code

Have you been thinking about learning to code? That’s a great idea! Coding can sound really difficult at first, but the basics really aren’t that hard.

If you want to for example build your own website, some basic understanding of HTML and CSS can help you a lot. And if you are wondering whether you could make a career out of coding, why not get started and see if it’s for you! I recommend you start learning with Codecademy.

7. Make something

If you are good with crafts and like to make things with your hands, how about you make a hobby out of it? You could try knitting, crocheting, or making jewelry or Christmas cards.

Over time you might get really good at it and you could even start selling your products for some extra cash. Or maybe it could even become your job!

8. Cooking new recipes

Most people don’t have a problem with cooking some basic dishes and maybe a few favorites of theirs, but it never hurts to learn more.

By learning new recipes, you can make your diet healthier and more interesting. If you for example think that you should eat more vegetables, just look for delicious vegetable recipes. It’s easier to eat healthy when you know how to make healthy food taste good. BBC Good Food has thousands of great recipes for you to try.

9. Photography

Photography can be a super useful skill, especially if you want to work in social media or content creation. Good photography skills can also help you build a profitable side hustle.

To get started, all you really need is a camera. You can make progress even in a small amount of time, but to really stick out from the ground typically takes years. That’s why you need to get started right away if you want to be one of the best. But keep in mind that learning even a few new tricks is always useful!

10. Leading a group

Leadership skills can definitely take your career to a new level. But where can you get them? Perhaps you have had the same hobby since you were a kid and can now coach others. Or you could look for volunteering groups in different organizations that have chairpersons, secretaries, and other roles.

After working for the organization for a few months, you might have already proved yourself good enough to be the next chairperson. They might also need leaders in smaller roles. Your best bet is a relatively small group, where there isn’t much competition.

11. Chatting with people online

This sounds easy and fun, right? That’s exactly what it is. But the goal here is to meet new people that are in the same field as you or who you’d like to be friends with. I know many adults wish they had more friends, but not that many are willing to actually make the effort to go and get to know people.

If you want to make new best friends you can make some unforgettable memories with or you want to make some professional connections, start sending those messages. You never know, you might meet your new best friend before you know it.

12. Grow herbs and vegetables

Do you have a green thumb? Even if you don’t, growing a couple of herbs in your kitchen isn’t too hard. It’s fun to see things grow though and you can easily make your food a bit healthier.

If you have more space available than just one windowsill, you could even grow vegetables. This way you can get better food and maybe even save some money. Taking care of plants teaches you to be consistent and responsible and it doesn’t take too much of your time.

Conclusion

Which one of these hobbies are you planning to try? Do you already have a productive hobby? I’d love to know!

If you are serious about taking your life to the next level, there are probably quite a few things in your life that you need to get sorted. I have a simple 30-day challenge that will help you do just that. You can get the challenge right away in your inbox by signing up for my newsletter below!

The newsletter itself is all about productivity tips and building your motivation. And you’re always welcome to send me a message and ask me anything about productivity or leveling up your life!