Top Hobbies to Keep You Busy in Autumn

As the nights draw in and the temperatures drop, you’ll be looking for a whole new set of hobbies to keep you occupied throughout Autumn. While the summer sun may be perfect for outdoor adventures, the variable weather in upcoming months might put a dampener on your plans.

However, you won’t have a chance to get bored if you have a whole host of pastimes to fall back on. If you want to stay occupied and entertained from now until Christmas, take a look at these top hobbies now:

1. Cinema and Theatre

Now that leisure venues, like cinemas and theatres, are starting to re-open, you can make the most of live entertainment opportunities. Season passes and discounts can make regular visits affordable, so look out for special offers and promo codes.

If your nearest cinema is sold out or there’s nothing on the schedule that takes your fancy, don’t forget you have a whole host of at-home entertainment options too. With a set-top box and Freeview accessories, you can choose from more than 20,000 hours of TV and films. No matter what your tastes, you’re sure to find something you love.

2. Fitness and Exercise

Keeping fit is fantastic for your physical and mental wellbeing, but it’s also a great boredom buster. If you don’t mind the cold, you’ll find that many personal trainers are hosting socially distanced group workouts outdoors this season. Alternatively, many gyms and fitness studios are re-opening after lockdown. Whether you’re a fan of the gym or a complete beginner, you’ll find a range of workouts, classes and social events on offer.

Of course, you don’t have to hit the gym or join a club in order to stay fit. During lockdown, many people focused on their fitness at home with virtual workouts and online instruction. From yoga and Pilates to high-intensity interval training and weightlifting, there are endless routines that can be adapted to suit your home studio (or living room!).

3. Brain Training and Puzzles

Playing word games, solving maths problems and dissecting riddles are great workouts for your brain. When you make puzzles about your hobby, you’ll be reducing your risk of memory loss and cognitive decline, so there are plenty of health benefits associated with this pastime.

What’s more – you can get puzzling in any location, so it’s a hobby you can do at home, on the road or at work. Choose a puzzle book, download puzzle apps, or take a look at the puzzle section in your daily newspaper to keep yourself busy.

4. Volunteering

If you want to embark on a new hobby and help others at the same time, volunteering could be exactly what you’re looking for. There are numerous charitable organisations looking for support, so you can put your talents to good use by providing help to those in need. From administrative tasks to hands-on caring roles, there are a wide variety of volunteering opportunities.

Remember – you don’t need to be able to volunteer face-to-face in order to help out. There are many home-based volunteering roles that involve using the telephone or connecting with people online. This enables you to fit volunteering into your existing schedule and makes it easy to donate your time for a cause that’s close to your heart.

5. Get Creative

Choosing a creative hobby gives you the freedom to develop new skills and unearth talents you didn’t know you had. From drawing and colouring to sculpting and painting, there are many artistic activities you can pursue. Alternatively, knitting, cross-stitch, flower arranging, and even cookery are all hobbies that require a creative flair. 

Creative hobbies can be done alone or with others, so you have the potential to turn your favourite pastime into a social occasion if you choose to. Join a local group, take a class, or sign up to online communities in order to share your passions with others.

What are the Benefits of Having a Hobby?

Having a hobby is beneficial in many ways, regardless of what it is. The right hobby will help you to de-stress and promote relaxation, so it’s a great way to reset your mind and take a break from the day-to-day stresses of life.

In addition to this, hobbies give you the opportunity to connect with other people, in whatever way you’re comfortable with. By alleviating loneliness and isolation, hobbies bring people together and enable them to forge strong social bonds.

Whether you’re a gym fanatic, a budding painter, or an eager volunteer, you’ll find that having a hobby will enrich your life in a myriad of ways.