The 35 Best Hobbies For Men In Their 30s

You might have heard people say that the 30s are the new 20s. That’s nonsense. Your 30s are your 30s, and they might just be the best years of your life so far. Most of us spend our 20s fumbling around for purpose, meaning, and stability. By the time we enter our fourth decade, we start to finally feel like we know ourselves. 

Granted, the way you experience your 30s might be completely different. But I’ve never met any well-adjusted 30-something who thought their 20s were better. 

In any case, we’re here to talk about hobbies. Your 30s are the perfect time to take up something new. You’re a little older now – let’s say more mature, more seasoned – but really, you’re still young. You need activities that will stimulate your mind, spark your creativity, and keep your body engaged. 

A lot of the best hobbies for men in their 30s are good hobbies at any age. But we might approach them a little differently. Perhaps a bit more intentionally, and with a bit more care and focus. 

The best hobbies are activities that you can enjoy for the sheer fun and pleasure they bring, but that also enrich your life in some way. Just because you’re having a good time doesn’t mean you can’t expand your mind, strengthen your body or nurture your spiritual being at the same time. With that in mind, these are the 35 hobbies that any man in his 30s should consider. 

1. Film Photography

Photography is a great creative outlet for anyone, any age. But hopefully, by the time you’ve reached your 30s, you’re a little more financially stable than you were a decade ago. If so, then you can finally afford a real camera. 

Whether your interests lie in landscapes, portraits, wildlife, or something a little more risqué, film photography offers a world of possibilities. It requires a sharp eye, patience, attention to detail, and lightning-quick reflexes. But the satisfaction you can get and the artistic expression you can unleash is incalculable.

2. Beer Brewing

It takes some of us a while to truly appreciate the whole world that beer has to offer. First, you discover craft beer and are no longer satisfied with mass-produced corporate watered-down swill. Then you discover home brewing and realize any beer you can dream up, you can create.

Brewing your own beer is a pursuit that people all over the world have been doing for centuries. But only in recent decades has it really taken off as a hobby. These days, a simple starter beer brewing kit is pretty easy to come by, and it can set you down the strange and adventurous path of creating your own home brews. 

3. Wood Working

Have you ever looked at an old antique armoire or chest of drawers and marveled that a person actually made it with their own two hands? It used to be a much more common skill than it is today, which is part of the reason why woodworking is such a deeply satisfying hobby. 

Working with wood is a craft and art that creates a tangible connection between you and the wood. It’s also a great way to hone your hand/eye co-ordination and is even quite meditative in its own way. 

4. Jogging

Remember when you were in your 20s and you could pretty much eat whatever you wanted, get minimal exercise, and there would be zero consequences? Not anymore! You’re in your 30s now, buddy. 

In all seriousness, our bodies change. Aging is a privilege, and the older you get, the more you need to think about taking care of yourself. Jogging is a great place to start on your fitness journey, and it will propel you well into your 40s and beyond. 

5. Reading

There’s nothing like kicking back with a good book. Reading invites you into a different world and engages your mind in a way that no other media does. Whether you’re interested in great literature, sci-fi, fantasy, or nonfiction, it’s always a good time to start reading more.

What keeps a lot of us from reading is the idea that we think we don’t have time to read. But for most of us, the reality is that if we put down our phones and turned off the TV for an hour or two each day, we could easily take up reading as a hobby. 

6. Home Renovation

If you’re in your 30s, there’s a good chance that you either own your first home or are thinking about it. Either way, learning some basic DIY skills will make homeownership a lot easier and more enjoyable. As if that weren’t enough, you get to start buying tools! You can never have too many tools. 

7. Poker

Sure, poker is a fun card game, but why take it on as a hobby? I’m glad you asked! Aside from the fact that you’ll stop losing money every time you play poker with your friends, poker teaches you skills that are useful throughout your life. 

Strategy. Timing. Instinct. Reading your opponent. Keeping your cool. This is all good stuff that has a lot of applications well beyond the poker table. 

8. Camping

As kids, camping is an exciting adventure. By the time we reach our 30s, we start to appreciate the quiet moments a little bit more, like staring up at the stars through an open tent or sitting around the campfire with close friends. Maybe you even have kids of your own and want to share the same experience you had when you were their age. 

9. Scotch

Scotch can be a little intimidating. For one thing, it’s expensive. For another, the folks who really get into it seem to know something the rest of us don’t. Just what is it that makes this particularly smoky, amber-colored spirit so beguiling? 

The deeper you get into scotch appreciation, the more it reveals itself to you. The complexity of the flavor profiles, the unique ways climate and geography play into how scotch attains its true form. Plus, you look a lot more sophisticated swirling a glass of scotch than sipping a Jack and Coke. 

10. Beekeeping

I know what you’re thinking: “If I want honey, I’ll just go to the store and buy honey!” Look, I get it. Honey isn’t that hard to come by. But beekeeping isn’t just about the free honey. 

Ask any beekeeper and they’ll tell you that there’s an unexplainable connection that forms between you and the hive. It really teaches you to care about another living thing (thousands of them, really). Plus, beekeeping is great for the planet, and you can do it in just about any urban or rural backyard.

11. Chess

There are a lot of ways you can enjoy chess. Whether you play online, one-on-one with an opponent, or as part of a chess group or club, it’s an engaging game with a lot of real benefits. It’s a great way to get better at critical thinking and strategizing. It can also be an exciting game, in a slow-burn kind of way. 

12. Cigars

Cigars are an acquired taste, but like any acquired taste, you’ll start to appreciate it more as you learn more about it. You’ll develop a knack for it as you go, like picking up on the differences between various types of cigars. Of course, you’ll want to make sure you’re enjoying cigars only occasionally as a hobby, not constantly as a habit. 

Cigar appreciation is also an affordable hobby to get started in. Granted, if you end up investing in a humidor and start collecting high-end stogies, things can start to get real pricey real fast. But the basics are well within reach.

13. Fishing

Few hobbies offer relaxation as well as excitement, meditation as well as intense focus. But fishing does, and not only that, but you get to spend time outdoors. Bonus!

People have been enjoying fishing for thousands of years. Today, most of us don’t need to fish for food, but we still enjoy it because it connects us with nature in a deep way, and provides an opportunity to unplug and get away from it all. If you’re lucky, you might even catch some fish. 

14. Watch Collecting

A lot of people who have gotten deep into watch collecting will tell you it’s a slippery slope. It can become an obsession and an expensive one at that. It’s hard to explain what makes watches so captivating, but they undoubtedly are. 

Watches are technological marvels, works of art and fashion statements all rolled into one. Getting your first watch doesn’t have to break the bank either; there are some great, affordable watches to start your collection with.

15. Drawing

Drawing is a great hobby because you can do it anywhere, any time. All you need is paper and a pencil. It’s an excellent way to exercise your creativity and improve your ability to look at things in a different way. 

You don’t even have to be good at it. But if you start carrying a sketchbook and sketching whenever you see something that catches your eye, chances are you’ll start to get good at it before too long. 

16. Genealogy

Sometimes the only way to move forward is by looking back. Questions about our family history start to become more enticing the older we get. Tracing your lineage back through the generations can be illuminating, fascinating, even shocking at times; but it’s almost always enriching.

17. Gardening

Man, it feels good to get your hands dirty. Gardening is a great way to spend time outdoors and put in some good old-fashioned work that leads to very rewarding results. 

Ultimately, gardening can be whatever you need it to be. You can cultivate an epic flower bed or spend the warmer months harvesting produce from your own vegetable patch. If you don’t have the space, a mini container garden on your porch, patio, or fire escape can be just as fulfilling. 

18. Flying

It’s something we’ve all fantasized about at some point in our lives. Learning to fly a plane or helicopter is a thrilling hobby that truly gives you a new perspective. Granted, it takes a lot of work and training, but it’s something that can give you a lifetime of amazing experiences. 

19. Golf

A lot of young men avoid golf, and that’s understandable. It doesn’t quite have the cachet it used to, and it might kind of feel like a “dad sport.” But don’t write off golf! It’s challenging, relaxing, and a great way to mentally focus or blow off some steam. It’s a hobby you can pursue by yourself, with friends, or with business associates should the need arise. 

20. Playing an Instrument

Slap a little bass. Toot on a saxophone. Tickle the ol’ ivories. There are countless instruments in the world… why not spend some time playing one? 

Playing an instrument is a hobby that gives you a chance to unwind after a long day and flex your creative muscles. Of course, the process of actually learning to play an instrument can be rather challenging, but it’s also been shown to have some very real mental benefits. 

21. Landscaping

Landscaping is kind of like gardening, but it’s definitely on another level. Planting trees, building walkways, and caring for grass are all just tools to create a giant work of art on a grand scale. It’s also a great skill to have if you are (or are planning to become) a homeowner. 

22. Vinyl Record Collecting

As we get a little older, we don’t always connect to music as fervently as we did in our impressionable youth. But if you’re someone who still values music in a deep way, collecting records might be your perfect hobby (and possible future obsession). 

Whether or not you believe that vinyl records sound better – and for the record, they totally do – they still create a more intentional listening experience. They also feel great in your hands and look great on a shelf, which are two things mp3s will never do. 

23. Cooking

Alright bud, time for some real talk. If you’re a man in your 30s, you need to be able to cook. You don’t have to become a chef, but you definitely need to be able to prepare a proper meal using fresh ingredients that don’t come in a box. 

All that aside, cooking is also a thoroughly enjoyable pastime. It’s creative too, and deeply satisfying. Learning how to be a better cook is also a great card you can pull out of your sleeve for home date nights. 

24. Rock Climbing

There are a lot of rock sports out there that make great hobbies. From top-roping to bouldering, you have a lot of exciting options, but traditional rock climbing, either in an indoor or an outdoor setting, remains one of the most accessible and enjoyable for relative newbies. 

Plus, there are indoor rock climbing gyms in just about every major city these days. That makes it easy to learn in a safe, supportive environment. It’s a great social hobby too! 

25. Writing

Just about any type of person can benefit from writing. It’s a hobby that strengthens your discipline and work ethic, sparks your creativity, and gives you a chance for quiet and solitude when those things are hard to find. 

For a lot of people, it can also be therapeutic. Ultimately, writing for your own enjoyment isn’t necessarily about becoming the next Hemingway. It’s about finding a way to express yourself and create your own world. 

26. Biking

Bicycling is an awesome way to get in shape or stay in shape. Any chance you get to enjoy some exercise in the great outdoors, that can’t be a bad thing! Whether it’s mountain biking or road cycling that catches your interest, it’s a hobby that will stick with you throughout the rest of your life. 

27. Skiing and Snowboarding

Staying active and engaged in the wintertime isn’t easy. But skiing and snowboarding are two perfect activities that – despite how challenging they may look – are perfectly accessible for anyone to get started in. 

If you’re new to skiing, consider taking a few skiing lessons to start out. That will give you the confidence to hit a few beginner slopes, and you can eventually move on to more challenging mountains.

28. Engine Repair

Once you start learning the basics of small engine repair, you’ll never look back. It opens the doorway to the fascinating inner workings of everything from cars and lawnmowers to chainsaws and golf carts.

Not only will you be able to fix all of the above, but you’ll be the go-to guy in your friend group when somebody needs something fixed. Come to think of it, that might be a bit of a double-edged sword. 

29. Sculpting

Any hobby that lets you express your creative side is a good hobby. Sculpturing is especially compelling because it gives you an opportunity to bring your vision to life in three dimensions. It’s also one of the world’s oldest art forms, going back thousands of years. 

30. Weightlifting

It’s never too late to get in shape, and to have fun doing it. Weightlifting is more than a hobby for those who are passionate about it, and it’s an activity that allows you to see real results, which is always rewarding. Taking up weightlifting in your 30s may be a bit more challenging than in your 20s, but with work and discipline, you can absolutely get started at any age. 

31. Hiking

The great outdoors beckons to us all in one way or another. For some, hiking is a group activity best enjoyed with friends. For others, it’s the quiet and solitude of the woods that really make it an enjoyable hobby. 

In either case, it’s an excellent exercise and provides endless opportunities to connect with the landscape around you in a deep way. Some would even call hiking a form of therapy, and they wouldn’t be wrong. 

32. BBQ

Becoming a grill master might unlock your passion for good food. It might also be a great way to spend time outdoors, to enjoy the company of friends and family, or to simply kick back with a cold beer and listen to the coals sizzle. It could be all of the above. 

Start by getting down the basics, like grilling a steak just right, before moving on to bigger projects. Before you know it, you’ll be smoking meat, concocting your own homemade sauces and rubs, and espousing the superiority of charcoal over gas grilling to anyone who will listen. 

33. Astronomy

The night sky is a realm of endless fascination. If you’ve ever been out in the desert or any area with minimal light pollution, you’ve no doubt found yourself transfixed by the vastness of the stars. 

It’s not hard to see why astronomy and stargazing are such engrossing hobbies. But you might be surprised to learn that a decent beginners’ telescope doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. 

34. Mixology

The perfect cocktail is a work of art, and you, my friend, can be a Rembrandt among drink makers. Of course, unlike most forms of art, you can actually taste the results and maybe get a nice little buzz on. 

If you’re interested in becoming a master mixologist, start by getting a good book on the subject for beginners. And if you have a favorite bartender, don’t be shy about chatting them up to learn a few tricks of the trade. 

35. Canoeing and Kayaking

Water holds a special fascination for many of us. That fascination is the reason we build fountains, go swimming for the fun of it, and yearn to live close to the ocean. Canoeing and kayaking are two activities that create a much more intimate connection with the water.

Canoeing and kayaking also happen to be thoroughly enjoyable activities that also provide great exercise and an opportunity to get out in the sun and soak up some vitamin D. Whether you chose to paddle solo or with friends, no lake, river, ocean or sea is off-limits. 

The post The 35 Best Hobbies For Men In Their 30s appeared first on Next Luxury.