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Here are 11 unusual hobbies you might try, to relieve stress and maybe even make some money. I will leave paragliding to the extreme thrill seekers. Hopefully the eleven I have here are stimulating enough to exercise your mind and body.
Let’s start with…
1. Urban Exploration.
I can remember wagging school and spending the day (more than one day actually), exploring around our little town.
Some people never grow up I guess, and continued this into adulthood.
It is more than the thrill of adventure as keen “Urbexers” as they are now called, record important passages of historical importance as well finding hidden treasures such as old coins, newspapers, and other artifacts from the past.
Urbexers generally concentrate on the manmade structures of our past. Many of which are out of sight of the general public.
These will have been designed to a particular time architectural period or style.
Other items include old advertising signs furniture, anything old really.
Obviously photography plays a big role in Urban Exploration.
One thing to be aware of is making sure you are not trespassing and take nothing but photos.
Stealing is an offence anywhere, and there can be serious consequences.
To read more on Urban Exploring click here.
2. Cosplay:
This is a different take on the much older masquerade or fancy dress parties of earlier centuries.
It involves creating and wearing costumes of characters from popular culture, such as anime, video games, and movies.
It is a significant aspect of Japanese culture and has grown in popularity across the western world since the 1990s.
As well as social media, Cosplayers are popular in festival parades, some are hired as promotional props, outside video game stores.
Some just show up to what looks to be a good opportunity. Like when a Meteorite lands on earth. https://fb.watch/jU8PS3cxLk/
If you need more ideas the best Cosplay blogs can be seen here
3. Geocaching.
With about 3,500,000 “Geocachers” around the world geocaching is a fun treasure hunt/detective type activity that can be enjoyed by everyone.
It is easy to become involved, simply sign up to Geocaching.com, download the app to your phone and you’re good to go.
It is also great for physical exercise, and getting to know your environment.
Learning how to pick locks without the use of a key may not sound like an honest hobby, but it is legal, so long as you don’t use the skills for illegal purposes.
4 Lock Picking.
You can purchase lock picking tools on Amazon.
As a hobby, It does have some invaluable lifesaving skills. Escaping a burning building could be one.
Video also on Medium.
5. Falconry.
Commonly associated with rich people who live in castles.
In 2010 UNESCO added this than 4,000 year old art to its list of “Intangible Cultural Heritages of Humanity”
If you like the power and beauty of birds of prey, such as falcons, hawks, and eagles, then training and hunting with these birds of prey could be a hobby for you, if you are prepared to undertake a two year apprenticeship, and devote another 5 years to becoming a Master Falconer.
Falconry is definitely not a hobby for anyone. But then again most hobbies aren’t!
You can read more on Falconry here
6. Metal Detecting.
You would think this is for those who like to get off the beaten track, but many “prospectors” operate in an urban environment.
It is not uncommon to see prospectors scanning the sand of popular beaches early in the mornings in the hope of finding lost jewelry, coins or other objects.
The costs vary greatly depending on what you intend to do with this hobby for some the costs go way above the detector which can cost up $6,000.
Add the costs for a 4WD and Caravan, and you had better hope for good finds.
But, some say it is like fishing. A good day out and if you catch something then it is a bonus.
7. Soap Making.
Want to get involved in creating your own handmade soaps, bath bombs, moisturizers, even candles, for your own use or to sell to friends.
First you will need to understand the difference between the Cold process, Hot process, Liquid soapmaking, and melt and pour.
That’s the thing with hobbies there is always something to learn.
Some of it you may know, and you just need to learn the finer points, but I don’t think soap making is as intense as Falconry, or Bee-Keeping, and certainly not as expensive.
Although you could be a busy little bee, making soaps, bath teas additives and soaks, spa products, butters, balms, lotions and creams… Perhaps even make some money by selling them.
8. Genealogy.
It doesn’t sound like a unusual hobby because everyone… well nearly everyone… is interested in Genealogy.
Some refuse to become involved because they are afraid of what they uncover.
Others love the idea of being a sleuth, like in the T.V. series Columbo.
Maybe you don’t remember. But as he was about to leave a room after questioning a suspect, he would turn and say, “Just one more thing.”
If you like to explore, and uncover hidden secrets or connections between ancestors, potentially solving mysteries, or filling in missing gaps in knowledge.
Then you could be a candidate to join a Genealogy club.
Like all the other hobbies they is a learning curve, but it should be interesting.
You can read more on Genealogy here.
9. Mushroom Hunting.
From Siberia and Europe to Australia. From India and parts of the Middle East to the more temperate parts of Canada and the USA, people go mushroom hunting or Foraging.
Before you start, it is best to know what you are looking for if you intend to go mushroom hunting, because some poisonous mushrooms look exactly like their culinary cousins.
Mushroom hunting and foraging for herbs, berries, and other natural foods should only be done in the company of expert foragers.
The simple reason being, every year thousands become ill and some even die.
But don’t be deterred. There are lots of good mushrooms that are easily identified with only a little experience.
But you will need to do some in-depth study to pick the very best mushrooms suitable to be served to a King or an Emperor.
Then again, If you don’t like the King what do you serve him?
10. Beekeeping (Apiculture).
This is a sweet outdoor activity.
The great thing about hobbies is not only keeping you mind active, but many also help you to stay physically active.
Bee pollination is ecologically important as well as commercially important, and over the past couple of decades there has been a decline in both native and commercial bees.
There are numerous varieties of bees that beekeepers can “keep“.
My preference is the native varieties, but I also had some commercial type bees as well.
Many native bees are stingless, but if they are crawling on your hands and arms they can leave a resin which becomes irritating.
You will need some carpentry skills to make hives, or you can buy them in premade packs, and just put them together like you would if you had bought something from Ikea.
As someone said, “The best way to make money from a goldmine is to sell shovels and picks”. hint… hint…
Again, there is a learning curve involved, and doing helps the learning process.
With the commercial varieties, there are pests that can infest hives, so the best way of learning is to spend some time with an experienced beekeeper.
Looking after native bees is a whole different story.
They require little intervention from humans for pest control, and they only produce small amounts of extractable honey. But, it is highly valued.
11 Blacksmithing.
It was once a highly valued trade which included farrier work, and wheel wright skills as well.
Now there are only farrier’s.
The knights of old had all their armour, swords, knives and lances made by a blacksmith.
You probably saw him in a movie.
A big, muscular dark-haired guy wearing a leather apron, and holding a red hot piece of metal with a pair of pliers on an anvil, while belting the crap out of it with a huge hammer.
Probably if it weren’t for the imagination and skill of blacksmiths we would not be where we are today.
The blacksmith did it all.
From making shields, nails, door hinges, fences, and wagon wheels, to making the important parts for trains and ships.
There are still places in the world where the trade is still taught, but those skills are slowly disappearing, or being absorbed into other trades such as boilermaking or metal fabrication.
The good news is many artists are forging metal into artistic patterns, and some people have set up small workshops at the homes to make things and train others who may be interested.
You can read more on this here.
That is all. Thank you for reading.
