Can Moms Have Hobbies? 10 Reasons To Find The Fun.

Moving to Sydney in my late twenties, I remember the awkward conversations while making new friends.

Where are you from? What do you do? And what do you like to do in your free time? At the time I loved trying any new hobby. Spanish classes, French pâtisserie baking, sketching workshops.

Imagine being in a room full of mothers and asking, “what do you do in your spare time?”. Either silence or laughter would greet you.

It’s a no-go for moms and hobbies, right?

Nope. Hobbies and mothers are a beautiful combination. A little like summer strawberries and ice-cream. Let me explain.

Motherhood, with its whirlwind of responsibilities and endless to-do lists, often leaves little room for self-indulgence. Even with a supportive family member, there is little time left for us.

Mother’s struggle to find time for work, sleep, doctor appointments, exercise or even just a shower. So where would you fit in a hobby, just for fun? You’ve never had less time is your life.

Whether you are a working mom, stay-at-home mom, homeschooling parent or anywhere in between, I have 10 big reasons a new hobby should be on your to-do list, plus a list of great hobby ideas to try out.

The perfect hobby for you to try is coming up, keep reading.

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Why Mothers Should Have Hobbies

1. Self-Care and Well-being: Motherhood demands immense emotional and physical energy, often leading to neglect your own needs. This is especially true when you are a parent to small kids. Engaging in hobbies offers a precious opportunity for self-care, allowing you to recharge and nurture your well-being.
2. Fulfillment and happiness: Hobbies provide a sense of personal fulfillment and satisfaction, which nurtures mental health and overall happiness. Taking time for yourself through hobbies is a powerful act of self-love and honours your own skills and unique talents.
3. Personal Identity and Growth: Motherhood can sometimes overshadow a woman’s individuality as you dedicate yourself to your family. Hobbies serve as a reminder of the person behind the mother label. They are a great way to maintain your sense of self, explore your passions, and encourage personal growth.
4. Living in balance: Engaging in hobbies allows mothers to pursue interests outside of parenting. There is no such thing as perfect balance when you become a mom, but you can find a new sense of balance when you carve out precious time for yourself.
5. Creative outlet: Everyone needs creativity in their lives. Mothers are the ultimate creative beings. We literally create life. You don’t need to be an artist to be creative. Find something that excites and inspires you and spend a little time working on that, just for fun. It does not need to take up a lot of time. Learn the piano, grow a medicinal herb garden, try a clay modelling class, learn some new recipes. There’s no end of choices to let your creativity flow.
6. Being a role model: Don’t tell, show. This is one of the best ways to be a role model to your kids. By pursuing your own hobby, you teach your kids to pursue what they love. When you have hobbies, you teach your kids to express themselves, work hard, and have fun doing what they love.
7. Mental and physical wellbeing: Motherhood can be overwhelming and stressful, making it hard to take care of yourself. I know from experience what happens if you don’t take care of your mental health. Put on your own oxygen mask first. You cannot be the mother you dream of being if you don’t look after yourself. Hobbies can help you de-stress, boost your mental wellbeing, and make you more resilient when needed.
8. Social connections: Hobbies are a great way to meet people with similar interests. Joining hobby-based groups allows you to forge new friendships when your old friendships might have changed. Finding your tribe as a new mother can be daunting, having a shared interest is a stepping stone into a new network of friends and support. That’s why it’s important to leave enough time for a hobby.
9. Future possibilities: When you become a parent, your priorities change. The old career you had before having your baby might no longer serve you. What do you do? Your hobby or new skill might just have the possibility to become a future business or career. I started this blog whilst recovering from mental health breakdown as a hobby. Now it’s the basis of my business and my source of income. Don’t overlook the future possibility of your hobby.
10. Fun, fun, fun: Joy is underrated in our busy mom lives. I’m a big believer in doing something just for fun. There shouldn’t be a limit on how much joy you allow yourself to feel. And that joy does not have to be all about your kids. I love to run, garden, take adventures in the camper and grow plants on every windowsill in my house. If you can’t remember what you like to do for fun, try out a few things. Journal or free write about when you have felt free and joyful in your life. You’ll soon find some clues.

20 Fun hobby ideas for moms.

A hobby should be something you enjoy and you are happy to do on a regular basis. Have a think about your personal interests, your favorite pastime before having children and what you want from your hobby.

1. Reading or Book Club: Immerse yourself in the captivating world of literature by joining a book club or dedicating time to reading a good book. This hobby offers intellectual stimulation, relaxation, and a chance to explore good books.
2. Gardening: Cultivate a green thumb and create a beautiful oasis in your own backyard. Gardening provides a therapeutic escape, promotes outdoor activity, and allows you to nurture and witness the growth of plants and flowers.
3. Yoga or Meditation: Engage in practices that promote mindfulness and inner peace. Yoga and meditation offer great exercise and mental well-being, helping you find balance amidst the demands of motherhood.
4. Crafting or DIY Projects: Unleash your creativity through various crafts such as painting, knitting, scrapbooking, or upcycling. These activities provide an outlet for self-expression and allow you to create unique and personalized items.
5. Cooking or Baking: Explore the culinary arts by trying new recipes, experimenting with flavors, and expanding your cooking skills. Cooking and baking can be both therapeutic and rewarding, and you can share your delicious creations with family and friends.
6. Photography: Capture precious moments and explore the world through the lens of a camera. Photography is a mindful hobby, as a mother, you should grab any chance to be mindful. Plus you can create gorgeous photos for future presents to grandparents.
7. Fitness or Dancing: Engage in physical activities that promote fitness and well-being, such as jogging, cycling, or joining a dance class. These hobbies provide an outlet for exercise, boost energy levels, and are a lot of fun.
8. Writing or Journaling: Discover the power of words by writing stories, poems, or even maintaining a journal. Writing allows you to express your thoughts, reflect on your experiences, and nurture your creativity. You can find all of my journal prompt posts here.
9. Volunteering: Give back to the community and make a positive impact by engaging in volunteer work. Find a cause or charity that resonates with you and dedicate some time and skills to make a difference.
10. Learning a Musical Instrument: Free your inner musician by learning to play a musical instrument. Whether it’s the guitar, piano, or any other instrument that captures your interest, playing music can be both therapeutic and fun.
11. Learn a new language: Expand your horizons and learn a new language. Who knows where it could take you on your next family trip?
12. Take an online course: Learn a new skill, brush up old skills or learn about something you have always been interested in. Finding time for a course is easier when it’s online, as you can work at your own pace.
13. Painting or Drawing: Tap into your artistic side by exploring painting or drawing. Whether it’s with watercolors, acrylics, or pencils, creating visual art offers a therapeutic and expressive outlet. Even if you are not artistic (me) it is still a lot of fun to get something down on paper.
14. Calligraphy or Hand Lettering: Discover the art of beautiful handwriting by practicing calligraphy or hand lettering. This creative hobby allows you to create stunning designs and is another mindful hobby.
15. Pottery or Ceramics: Try your hand at pottery or ceramics. Sculpting clay into unique shapes and creating functional or decorative pieces can be a fulfilling and tactile hobby.
16. DIY Furniture Restoration: Transform old or discarded furniture into beautiful and unique pieces through DIY furniture restoration. Learn techniques like painting, distressing, or reupholstering to give new life to old items.
17. Storytelling or Podcasting: Use your creativity to share stories and experiences by starting a storytelling podcast or YouTube channel. Share parenting tips, personal anecdotes, or explore other areas of interest in an audio or YouTube videos.
18. Writing a blog: If you’ve always loved the idea of writing but you’ve been stopped by the i can’t do that voice, then this is your invitation to create that blog. My first blog was pretty awful but such a fun journey into writing for me, something I have always wanted to do. Say goodbye to imposter syndrome and hello to the next mom blogger.
19. Indoor Vertical Farming: Take gardening to new heights by setting up an indoor vertical farm. Grow herbs, micro greens, and vegetables in a vertical hydroponic or aquaponic system right in your home.
20. Geocaching and hiking: Join the global treasure hunt by participating in geocaching. With a GPS or smartphone, you can search for hidden caches in various locations, combining outdoor adventure with the thrill of discovery.

Can moms have hobbies?

Now you have 10 reasons why you can have a hobby and 20 ideas for that new fun filled activity for you.

Still think you don’t have enough time to have a hobby?

Here are 5 hobbies when you don’t have much time. Just 15 minutes needed, once or twice a week.

Here are five best hobbies when you are short on time:

1. Online exercise: I am in love with the Yoga with Adrienne channel. As a homeschooling mother, I cannot attend regular classes, but I can watch Yoga with Adrienne videos on YouTube for 15 minutes while my kids are busy with Lego. This is a healthy, fun hobby to try out.

Here’s a 10 minute morning yoga class from Adrienne to show you how easy it can be.

2. Coloring or Doodling: Engage in a short coloring session or doodle on a sketchbook. Coloring books for adults or intricate doodling patterns can provide relaxation and a brief escape from daily routines. The best thing about this hobby is it can take only a few moments, a little bit less time on Facebook and you can fit this in.
3. Scrapbooking: My friend loves to scrapbook. She creates beautiful yearly photo albums of their homeschool year and mother’s day memories. The beauty of scrapbooking is you can pick it up and just spend a few moments when the time presents.
4. Puzzle Solving: Challenge yourself with a quick puzzle-solving session. This could be a crossword puzzle, sudoku, jigsaw puzzle, or any other brain-teasing activity that can be completed in a short timeframe.
5. Mindful Breathing or Meditation: Find a quiet spot, close your eyes, and practice mindful breathing or a short meditation. Focus on your breath and allow yourself to be present in the moment, promoting relaxation and mental clarity.

These ten-minute hobbies offer a brief respite in a busy day and can be easily incorporated into your routine, allowing you to recharge and enjoy moments of personal engagement and relaxation.

So are you ready to engage in a new hobby and try some new things?

Please let me know what your favorite hobbies and fun things are and why you believe hobbies are important to mothers. I am really interested in your thoughts on this one, especially if you are one of the new moms visiting here for the first time.

One last thing.

There’s no room for mom guilt here.

You are allowed to take time out from your role as a mother. At the end of the day it might even make you a calmer parent, so it’s good for your family too.

Your kids don’t need you to be the best mom. They want a present happy mother and taking time for your self care might help you achieve that.

I’m off to plant some more greens for summer as my local caterpillars ate the last batch. That’s obviously their current hobby.

Here with you.

Amanda x

More posts I know you will love:

Manifesting Self-Love In 9 Simple Steps

7 Things Moms Should Do Daily If Burnout Is Creeping in

70 Inspirational Mom Self-Care Quotes For Awesome Moms