65 Indoor Hobbies for Winter or Inclement Weather

Winter is quickly approaching, and your options for getting outdoors might be limited because of the dark, dreary weather.

Having a hobby will benefit you as it will allow you to have an outlet for your stress and bring a little more joy into your life this winter.

Spending time doing something that you enjoy that isn’t related to work or other commitments will boost your sense of satisfaction with life and give you the chance to engage in an activity that’s relaxing and rewarding. 

In this article, we will look at 65 examples of hobbies you can do indoors during the cold or inclement weather. These are great ideas to have in your back pocket when facing the long upcoming season.

Let's get to it.

65 Indoor Hobbies for Winter or Inclement Weather

1. Cooking

Cooking is a useful hobby that will benefit you and your family as they get to enjoy your creations. Learning to love the process of making meals will teach you a skill that will be helpful for life and it will offer you a creative outlet while still allowing you to do something that’s practical.

Following cooking blogs and relevant YouTube channels is a great way to get started with learning how to cook. You can have fun experimenting with different cultures’ traditional dishes and put some new twists on some of your old favorites. 

You will uncover tricks and techniques along the way that you can begin to master. Plus, as long as you’re enjoying it, you can be as messy or precise as you want!

Finally, cooking at home this winter instead of ordering delivery will help you save money and eat healthy, so your budget and body will thank you, too!

Resource: Start with these quick and easy meals for two that can be on the table in under an hour.

2. Writing

One of the worst things about inclement weather is that it often becomes lonely while you’re waiting for it to pass. Writing is a great way to spend this alone time because you can express your thoughts while also having an opportunity to get your creative juices flowing.

There are so many different outlets that you can use to write, such as:

Writing as a hobby doesn’t put any pressure on you that you may feel when you’re writing for other people. Getting your thoughts on paper can be relaxing, whether you write about things that are happening in your life or you write an allegory that reflects your feelings. The process of writing when you’re doing it on your own terms can be very cathartic, no matter what the context of your writing is.

Resource: This post will help you create a daily writing habit.

3. Create Vision Boards

Making and keeping up with your vision boards is a great thing to do when you’re stuck in the house, and it will benefit you in all areas of your life. Your vision board will act as a daily reminder of your long term goals and give you an easily accessible source of motivation to help you work toward them.

Here is a checklist of supplies you should have on hand when making a vision board. Of course you can add any type of material to your vision board that you want–make it unique!

Once you’ve mastered your own vision board, you can throw a vision board party to get all of your friends on board as well.

Resources: If you’ve never made a vision board before, here are instructions on how to create one, and here are some templates you can use to help you map out your goals.

4. Couponing

While you may not be headed out to shop, you can do some work ahead of time by finding and organizing your coupons. Couponing is a fun hobby that can save you a lot of money if you know what you’re doing. If you love the thrill of finding great deals, couponing may be a great hobby for you.

Once you get really comfortable with couponing, this practice will become second nature because you will start to notice how much an item typically costs, who offers the best deals, and when to stock up on necessities.

Resource: Here is a video on extreme couponing for beginners.

5. Create an Organizing Routine

Look out, Marie Kondo, if you’re ready to get organized, you can make your own system for getting rid of clutter and maintaining a clean house. Create a process that makes sense to you to help you organize any belongings that you have that don’t have their own place to be put away. 

There are plenty of supplies you can buy to help you declutter your living space. After doing so, you will feel less stressed and overwhelmed because when your living and working space are both organized, you will find it much easier to be productive throughout the day.

Resource: Take these steps to start decluttering your personal space.

6. Study Philosophy

If you’ve ever wondered what the purpose is of human life or why you are where you are right now, studying philosophy may be a good hobby for you to adopt. Studying philosophy allows you to use your logic and reasoning skills to try to understand the various perceptions that people have about life, the world, and its origins. Reading the theories that other philosophers have come up with can help you decide what you believe is the truth.

Learning about philosophy will offer you some insight into your life’s purpose, and it is a subject that will always be both useful and interesting. Once you get into a little philosophy, it’s easy to get lost in it as one unanswered question leads you to the next.

Resource: Here are six tips for teaching yourself philosophy.

7. Play Video Games

Playing video games all day doesn’t have to mean that you’ve wasted all of your time. Playing video games has some educational benefits and some cognitive benefits for both adults and children such as:

Plus, studies have shown that even if playing video games just makes you feel happier, this is a benefit that’s important to take into consideration when determining how you’re going to spend your down time. 

Resource: Here is a list of the 50 best video games of the 21st century. 

8. Make Bread

A lot of people have taken up bread making as a hobby during the covid pandemic, and this is the perfect hobby to carry you through the winter as well. Having fresh, homemade bread right out of the oven is extremely comforting, and much healthier than the processed bread you would buy from the grocery store.

You can experiment with various types of breadmaking if you pick this up as a hobby, and then use the bread you make for other things like French toast and croutons. You can incorporate your homemade bread into just about any meal you have!

Resource: Here is a video that will walk you through making bread.

9. Make a YouTube Channel

I’m sure you know of some famous YouTubers, and you could try to become one yourself! Take whatever skill you have and record it on video, whether that’s cooking, fixing appliances, or even just reading children’s stories out loud, and share it with the world through YouTube. 

Resource: Here is how you can create your own YouTube channel.

10. Interior Design

If you have a great sense of style and enjoy matching furniture with wall colors and decor, you can make a hobby out of interior design. And, while you’re stuck inside, start with your own living space! 

Redecorate some rooms in your house, then open an Instagram page or other online platform to show your work off to your friends.

Resource: This online interior design class will help you get started.

11. Take a Class Online

Learning outside of the classroom has always been possible, but in our age of the internet, you can have a formal, structured learning experience in the comfort of your own home. There are a lot of platforms for online learning, many of which are offered at no charge. 

Taking classes online is convenient, and while it once seemed a bit questionable in terms of its legitimacy, an online education is now valued just as much as one that you receive in-person. Plus, there is an online class for pretty much anything you may be interested in. Another benefit of online learning is that you can do additional research if a certain topic really piques your interest or you’re having a hard time grasping a concept and you want to try to learn about it from a different perspective. 

Using websites such as Coursera, Skillshare, and Udemy can be especially helpful because you can choose from thousands of courses and have an instructor available who can help clarify things for you if you have any questions. 

Finally, online courses typically offer supplemental resources such as guides and PDFs that can’t be accessed by the public. Having up-to-date materials such as these will help you stay on top of emerging professional trends. 

Whether you want to learn about a subject that you just find to be personally interesting or you’re trying to stay ahead of the game in your field, this lifelong learning tool is a very practical hobby that can benefit you in many regards. 

Resources: These are great options if you want to learn a new language, here are 37 free Udemy courses for personal development, or, if you want to learn from a celebrity, you can try Masterclass.

12. Learn How to Play Chess

You don’t need a chess board to play this classic game anymore, as it is readily available online and through apps, so you can play any time, even if you’re home alone! You will be having fun strategizing as you give your brain a good workout while playing chess–whether you do it virtually or in-person. 

The challenge involved with playing this game never ends because there are unlimited strategies to learn to beat your opponent. Playing chess will help keep your mind active and improve your cognitive function in the areas of your brain that help improve your focus, problem-solving skills, analytical thinking, memory, and ability to make decisions, so this is a very beneficial hobby to have!

Resource: This video will help you get started learning this game if you are a beginner. 

13. Yoga

I’m sure you’ve heard about the health benefits of yoga, and you may have already gotten into it a little bit. But, as with any other healthy habit, you need to practice yoga on a regular basis in order to reap its benefits. Practicing yoga offers time for self-reflection while also incorporating physical movement, which means it’s a great thing to practice on those days when it’s too yucky outside to leave the house. 

One thing we may all have to deal with this winter is symptoms of depression. Well, the good thing about practicing yoga is that it can benefit both your current and future mental health. Yoga will not only help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, studies have shown that engaging in this practice can also protect your brain from losing gray matter with age. The study showed that seniors who practice yoga had the same amount of gray matter as the younger population. This means doing yoga could prevent your brain from shrinking as you age.

Yoga also offers physical benefits. The more you practice yoga, the more flexible and physically stable you will become. Your blood pressure, cholesterol, and risk of heart disease will all decrease–typically as much as they would if you were engaging in conventional cardio exercise. Finally, if you’re suffering from chronic pain, fatigue, or asthma, practicing yoga can help mitigate these issues.  

Resource: Here is a 20 minute video of yoga you can practice at home if you’re a beginner. 

14. Do Puzzles

Solving puzzles is a fun and challenging hobby that you can do indoors alone or with your family. And, even with the omnipresence of smartphones, playing real, tangible puzzles is still a common pastime for people of all ages.

The act of putting puzzle pieces together is a great cognitive exercise for your continued brain development. This hobby helps train your brain to look at the bigger picture, engage in visual-spatial reasoning, and improve your processing speed and short-term memory.  

Puzzles will also help you with your problem-solving abilities because they require the use of trial and error skills.  Being a good critical thinker and having the ability to see things from various perspectives are both important traits to have, and when you solve puzzles, you’re able to refine these skills.  

Resource: This site offers thousands of free puzzles you can do at home. 

15. Upcycle

Upcycling helps reduce the amount of trash we put back into land and you get to use your creativity to make something new out of something old. This means that in addition to minimizing landfill waste, you’re reducing production needs in factories for new products, which helps reduce pollution, CO2 emissions, etc.)

Upcycling old furniture or decor around the house can also help you make some money on the side. Refinishing old furniture is a common way to add a unique twist to your home decor, so many people shop for upcycled items in places like Facebook Marketplace and farmer’s markets. Every upcycled product is unique and special because it’s made with a homemade level of craftsmanship that isn’t as common as it once was. We’re so used to mass-produced items that fit into a cookie cutter mold, so seeing things that have been made by hand encourages a sense of creativity that helps our environment and our society.

Resource: Here are 38 upcycling ideas to get you started.

16. Start a Blog

Speaking of having an extra source of income, is there something that you consider yourself to be an expert in or something you’re really passionate about? If so, you can share your opinions, knowledge, and experience with other people by creating a blog.

Whether you’re writing about your upcycled furniture or you write a lifestyle blog about parenting, interacting with other people online through your blog is a great way to get new conversations started and create a platform for yourself where you can be heard.

If you allow companies to advertise on your blog and you start to generate some online traffic, you can earn a decent amount of money with this hobby. Plus, since you will be writing about something that interests you, this is a hobby that will help you be a lifelong learner through an enjoyable process. 

Resource: This site will walk you through starting a blog.

17. Learn About Investing

This is a great hobby because it will help you understand and take control of your finances. Learning about investing will greatly benefit you if you’re able to turn it into an enjoyable hobby.

By learning about smart ways to invest or save your money, you will be setting yourself up for financial success. And, while this topic may sound dull or confusing at first, once you start to learn the basics about investing, you will likely find that you enjoy the challenge that comes along with it and the sense of satisfaction you get when you make a good financial decision. 

Resource: There are plenty of podcasts about personal finance that you can listen to in order to get started with this hobby.

18. Watch Documentaries

Sometimes, documentaries are even more engaging than high-dollar blockbuster films, and getting lost in a documentary when it’s cold outside never feels like a waste of time. There are so many options for great documentaries streaming on Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, etc that are educational, interesting, and thought-provoking. I always find that I’m able to take a look at something from a new perspective after watching a documentary.

Do some research on documentaries that cover your favorite topics (true crime? history? health?) and make a list of the ones that interest you. This could just end up being a hobby that you end up doing even when it isn’t cold outside!

Resource: Here is a list of some of the best documentaries of all time, and here are some free documentaries you can watch on Youtube.

19. Study Your Genealogy

Tracing your roots back to where your family originated is a satisfying hobby that can benefit you and other members of your family. In fact, this hobby can help serve future generations as well–for many years to come.

Many people research their genealogy as a hobby for practical reasons, such as:

All you need is your research skills to learn about your genealogy. From there, you will just need to organize the information that you find and maintain the curiosity to learn about your family’s history to keep you motivated. This hobby will help you understand where you came from a bit better.  

Resource: Here is how you can get started with studying your genealogy.

20. Practice Doing Stand-Up Comedy

Doing stand-up comedy allows you to engage in positive and happy communication with others while ultimately hoping that they end up getting a good laugh.

If you’re interested in performing stand-up comedy, it’s important to practice. Just as any other type of performer practices before hitting the stage, comedy is no exception. You can even use your knowledge of comedy that you learn and practice at home as you’re interacting with others on an everyday basis.

So, use your living room as your stage and start practicing some jokes that you would like to perform in front of a live audience one day.

Resource: Here is an online class you can take on performing stand-up comedy. 

21. Learn a New Language

Learning a new language might sound really tough, but there are a lot of benefits to taking up this hobby. Living in the globally fluid world that we do, it will give you a competitive edge in your professional life to be able to communicate with people from other countries. 

There are also cognitive benefits to learning a new language. Research shows that people who speak two or more languages have a better memory, improved problem-solving and analytical skills, and can focus better than those who speak only one language. There is also evidence that suggests people who are bilingual tend to be more creative than those who aren’t.

Finally, being able to access information and media in foreign languages that you would otherwise not be able to will also help broaden your worldliness and give you an opportunity to listen to what’s going on in other parts of the world first-hand. 

Resource: Here are seven of the best resources for learning a new language. 

22. Read

Reading is a very personal hobby, but it will benefit anyone who does it on a regular basis. Reading is a great escape from the real world, and regardless of what genres you choose, reading will exercise your brain, build your vocabulary, help you learn, and reduce stress. If you really want to relax, sit back and listen to an audiobook, allowing someone else to read to you. 

Reading before you go to sleep can even help you sleep better by putting your real-life worries aside, disconnecting from technology, and giving you something relaxing to do. But it’s also a good idea to keep your book on you during the day so if you get some free time, you can pull out your book for some mid-day relief. 

Resource: This post will help you read more books and retain the information.

23. Listen to Podcasts

There’s a podcast out there for everyone, no matter what your other hobbies or interests are. Whether you’re a history buff or you want to keep up on the latest celebrity gossip, it’s easy to find and listen to a ton of podcasts on any topic that you’re interested in. What’s more, you can listen to most podcasts for free, so once you find one that you enjoy, you won’t have to spend a lot of money to keep engaging with it.

Listening to podcasts will give you a great escape from your routine, and you can switch it up depending on your mood by listening to a funny podcast, an educational one, a murder mystery…whatever you feel like at the time. Podcasts are also great to listen to in the background while you’re cleaning or doing a mindless task. Once you find your favorite podcasts, listening to them can help make the time fly by.

Resource: These productivity podcasts and these motivational podcasts will help you feel productive, even on the laziest of days. 

24. Purge

Whether your closet is so full of junk that you really have no idea what’s way back there, or you’ve been having a hard time closing your desk drawers lately, it’s always relieving to do a good purge and get rid of things you don’t use or need anymore.

First, take everything out. Everything.

Make three piles. One is to keep, one is to trash, and the other is to donate. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re separating your items:

And yes, it can be difficult to let go of sentimental things that are somehow connected with a positive memory or important person. But it’s important to realize that we outgrow times in our lives just as we outgrow styles of clothes.

Resource: This video addresses how to purge your space, especially if you’re dealing with some sentimental items.

25. Make a Scrapbook

So, about those last few items that you just could not get rid of? Put them in a scrapbook. Take all of your old pictures and movie ticket stubs from first dates and get creative by making a scrapbook for your memories. Scrapbooking can help you preserve these things without creating clutter and in a way that will prevent them from getting damaged in the back of your desk drawer.

Scrapbooking is also a fun hobby because you get to use your creativity as you’re walking down memory lane and the final result is a practical keepsake. Plus, you don’t have to finish this project all in one sitting–you can work on it for a few hours, put it aside, and continue adding to it for years to come.

You can get fancy with decorations, or you can keep it relatively simple by essentially creating a timeline of memories. Either way, scrapbooking will help you purge your drawers while you reminisce about old times.

Resource: Here is a “how-to” video for making a scrapbook.

26. Keep a Journal

Keeping a journal gives you a place to collect your thoughts and feelings on a regular basis so you can analyze and understand them better. Keeping up with your journal will help you notice  patterns in your feelings and potentially identify triggers that make you feel or behave in a negative way, thereby helping you avoid those triggers moving forward.

Journaling can provide you with an outlet to help you manage your feelings and prioritize your busy life. That said, there are a wide variety of topics that you can write about in your journal. For example:

Choose whatever structure you want for your journal and make it into your own personal space. In addition to setting aside some time to write in your journal each day, make this practice easy by keeping your journal within reach throughout the day until you start to get into the habit of writing in it on a regular basis.

Resource: If you’re not sure what to write about, here are 59 ideas to help get you started.

27. Teach a Class Online

Is there something that you consider yourself to be an expert in that you want to pass on to other people? Or is there something that you love to talk about and want to spark curiosity in other people’s minds? Or maybe you just want to help kids in another country learn how to speak English.

There are many platforms online where you can sign up to teach a class just as easily as you can sign up to learn from an online class. Many everyday people are picking up part-time teaching jobs online through sites like VIPKid, Teachable, and Chegg.

Resource: Check out these important skills that are necessary to be a successful freelance virtual teacher.

28. Get a Pet

Because people often get lonely during the winter months, having a new pet around is a great way to feel a sense of love and companionship. While this hobby comes along with a big responsibility, caring for a pet can help you maintain structure on those days when you’re mainly stuck inside.

Plus, having a pet will encourage you to get outdoors on days where you would otherwise not get a breath of fresh air–even if just for just a few minutes while you let your pet out.

Resource: Here is the process you can expect when adopting a dog.

29. Preserve Snowflakes

Snowflakes don’t have to be something that’s gone in an instant. Using just regular microscope slides and some hairspray, you can preserve fresh snowflakes as small, natural works of art.

Just apply hairspray to a glass slide that has been chilled in the freezer. Then, the next time it snows, take the slide outside and allow a snowflake (or two) to stick to the hairspray on the slide.

Keep the slide out in the cold (preferably protected in an unheated garage) while you wait for the spray to dry. Once it’s all set, you will see your snowflake imprint perfectly preserved on the slide.

Resource: Here is a step-by-step process to preserving snowflakes.

30. Practice Feng Shui

This 4,000-year-old Chinese practice will help you create a living environment that supports your mind, body, and spirit, and enhances your life. While Feng Shui might seem complicated, it’s actually pretty simple and consists of common sense practices that you may already be doing.

The practices of Feng Shui involve:

Resource: This guide will help you make your house more Fung Shui-friendly.

31. Watch TED Talks

Watching TED talks can teach you about new concepts while providing you with entertainment. At just about 15 minutes a piece, these videos are short enough to keep your attention, but long enough to teach you something valuable.

TED talks feature thought leaders, trailblazers, doctors, philosophers, business-owners, among many others, and span topics from psychology and social issues to medical mysteries. There's a TED talk out there on almost anything you want to learn about, with more being added to the queue all the time. These inspiring videos will keep you thinking for long after they’re over.

Resource: Here is a list of the most popular TED talks of all time. We also have our favorite TED talks on mindfulness, stress management, and conquering procrastination.

32. Create a New Workout Plan

“Summer bodies are made in the winter.”

This saying can be easy to forget during the holiday season as families and friends frequently gather for parties full of treats and cuddle up at home with snacks and hot chocolate. But don’t forget the summer season is always around the corner, so it’s important to keep up a healthy workout plan–and you don’t have to step outside to do so!

Just get some free weights and some space where you can move around. You will quickly see that you don’t need an expensive gym membership to get fit!

Resource: Check out these free online workouts that you can do at home.  

33. Play Board Games

There are plenty of board games out there for adults that are so engaging that they can make a day fly by. Plus, think of all the oldies but goodies that you can get out that you loved playing when you were a kid. Spending time with your family having some friendly competition will let you bond with loved ones while stimulating your brain with some lighthearted fun.

Pick out some board games and grab your partner, children, or friends, and make a day out of it. You can even grab some winter-themed board games to suit the season.

Resource: This site reveals the best board games that are on the market today.

34. Make Some Crafts

Winter and bad weather often exacerbate the “winter blues” that many people experience. Seasonal affective disorder is a real form of depression that can drain your energy and deplete your motivation. To combat this disorder during the winter when you’re stuck inside, try your hand at some art therapy, which psychologists claim can be as calming as doing meditation. Use your creativity to do some knitting, painting, or model-building–or any other type of craft.

Crafting hobbies such as painting are often used as tools for patients in therapy to help work on their recovery. Working with different colors and using your imagination to produce an end product can help boost your mood, build self-esteem, and reduce anxiety.

Resource: Here are 33 easy winter crafts to help get you started.

35. Learn to Play Guitar

I think that it looks pretty difficult to learn how to play the guitar–but apparently, it’s not as hard as one may assume. Sure, it takes time and dedication, but once you get the basic chords down, the learning process gets much easier.

Plus, what really makes learning guitar easier now than ever before is the unlimited resources online that are available to novice guitarists that were not accessible to musicians of the past. And, once you learn to play, both you and your friends and family will benefit from the memories that you will create while you’re all sitting around listening to some homegrown music.

Resource: Here is an overview of guitar lessons you can find online.

36. Rebound

Rebounding is a fun form of exercise that you can do inside that will not only give you an intense workout, but will also help bring out your inner child. A rebounder is a mini trampoline that can easily fit in your house so you can benefit from the exercise that it offers without having to go too far.

A rebounder isn’t exactly the same as a regular outdoor trampoline, it’s smaller and more appropriate for getting a good workout. Rebounders are more firm than an outdoor trampoline, which offers a safer bounce with a decreased potential for injury to your hips, ankles, and knees.

Rebounding surged in popularity after NASA studied it as being one of the best ways for astronauts to regain their bone and muscle mass after being in space. Since then, they have also discovered the benefits of rebounding on one’s heart and bone health.

Resource: Here is a list of the top 5 rebounders on the market.

37. Become a Connoisseur

Whether it’s wine, tea, juice, coffee, or beer, becoming an expert in choosing, matching, and recognizing flavors is an immersive hobby that’s fun to explore. Sometimes, being a know-it-all about something always feels rewarding because you can be the source of information for your friends.

The art of being a connoisseur deserves devoted time and thought as you exercise and activate all of your senses. You can then work on pairing your favorite drink with foods and learn about tastes that compliment each other.

Resource: Here is how you can become a wine connoisseur.

38. Update Your Space

Adding a fresh coat of paint, swapping out the pictures in your picture frames, and putting some fresh flowers in the house every now and then can help you feel like you’re keeping an updated space. You can also consider swapping out hardware, adding accent colors into plain rooms, or rearrange your shelves.

This is a good hobby to have for days that you’re stuck in the home, you just need to keep some fresh paint and paint brushes on hand in addition to some vases and other things you can use to update your space.

Resource: Here are some ideas to help you update your space.

39. Video Editing

If you have a knack for photography, you will love this indoor hobby. With pictures and videos being primarily in digital format these days, you have endless options for editing this type of media.

Many people opt to use Photoshop for video editing, because while this software was designed to help retouch and edit images, you can also create new images with this program. Once you know how to edit digital photos or videos, it will be easy to learn and understand how to create your own virtual art from scratch.

Due to the vast options and continuous development in editing virtual media, this is a hobby that can fill your time for many years to come.

Resource: Here is a good tutorial for using Photoshop.

40. Automate Your Home

Now is the time to make your home a smart home. If you’re constantly wishing your home life could be more efficient, home automation is a great place to start. Once you’re all set up, you can use voice commands or apps on your phone to complete routine tasks. Smart homes can benefit you in four ways:

You may have already started automating your home with something like a smart speaker, but you can also get smart light bulbs, smart outlets, sprinklers, thermostats, doorbells, locks, cameras, and other things that you can easily control from your phone both when you’re home and when you’re out.

Resource: Here is a room-by-room guide to home automation.

41. Become a Wikipedia Editor

If you have a particular subject that you know a lot about or you’re interested in, doing Wikipedia projects can be fun and informational. Wikipedia offers pages where you can interact with others who have similar interests as you and discuss the writing process. These pages also offer “Wikiprojects” so you can see what subjects you could potentially contribute to.

You can start slowly by adding a reference to an existing article–Wikipedia is a great place where people go to learn about all types of subjects, so if you own some factual niche books, sort through them to find an interesting fact that you can add to a page and then insert your reference.

Most people who use Wikipedia never edit it, and probably don’t consider how much effort is put into creating the pages. Adding to this wealth of knowledge yourself is a constructive way to learn how knowledge is spread and structured, in addition to the hurdles we face in creating and sharing accurate and impartial information.

Resource: Here is how you can get started with creating content for Wikipedia.

42. Learn 3D Printing

Not so long ago, the idea of printing 3D objects at home probably sounded impossible. But in recent years, 3D printing has soared in popularity, moving away from a technology only done in niche businesses to something that you can do as a hobby at home.

3D printing allows you to design and create products in innovative and eco-friendly ways because you’re able to reduce the amount of material waste that you have leftover. These printers work in similar ways as a regular ink printer–but rather than depositing dots of ink to create an image, a 3D printer layers a thin deposit of materials (which can be plastics, metal powders, or special types of glue) to create whatever digital file you’ve chosen. 

3D printers are relatively inexpensive and it’s pretty easy to learn the basics of the craft. Plus, once you get the hang of it, you can start printing things at home that you would otherwise have to go out and buy. Plus, playing around with it can help you continue to develop your tech skills and keep up with your creative side as you make things like fidget spinners, legos, cups, game pieces, etc.

Resource: Here is a beginner’s guide to 3D printing at home.

43. Browse TikTok

TikTok is a video-sharing social networking app that hosts a variety of short videos uploaded by users in genres like music, dance, humor, and education. The videos range from 15 seconds to three minutes in length, allowing you to quickly move through information that doesn’t interest you and learn about the things that you do like in a short amount of time.

I know, another social media app that may seem like a waste of time–but you can get some good information from TikTok if you subscribe to the right topics. This app was created around niches where passionate users can explore new ideas and engage with others who share their interests, whether that’s sports, crafts, cooking/baking, DIY, music, or anything else.

While you certainly can get lost in this app and spend more time than necessary, it’s a great hobby to have if you like exploring new things and you can set some boundaries on how frequently you use it.

Resource: Here is a link to TikTok.

44. Calligraphy

As technology continues to advance, people are rediscovering and enjoying the therapeutic effect of physically writing. This upsurge in popularity has boosted the sales of notebooks and planners in addition to the practice of calligraphy.

Handwriting and calligraphy aren’t a part of a basic education anymore, but that doesn’t mean that these things are not important. Humans have been writing for hundreds of thousands of years, and this art still offers benefits such as:

Resource: Here is a step-by-step tutorial on learning calligraphy.

45. Compose Music

If you love music, there is a lot you can do with it even if you don’t have access to fancy tools or instruments. All you need is the internet to compose music online, work together to create music with other people who share this hobby, promote your original music, and even write your own sheet music.

You can find a site for just about anything when it comes to music online–many of which won’t cost you a thing. Like other industries, the music industry has largely turned to the digital platform, which gives you easy access to engaging in this hobby, whether you’re a beginner or an expert. 

Resource: Check out these music-writing software programs.

46. Relax with Knitting 

Why not do a classic hobby when the weather turns cold? Knitting isn’t just for grannies and elderly ladies. 

Considering that you can knit scarves, hats, beanies, dishcloths, potholders, gloves, blankets, and so much more, you’ll never get bored. Plus, you can make gifts for your family and friends or sell your items at a local market. 

There are also plenty of patterns to learn and try out, and you can have fun with colors and different types of yarn and wool. 

Get your knit on while you watch your favorite shows, or listen to music or podcasts, or warm up by the fireplace.      

Resource: New to knitting? Use this how to knit for beginners guide to get you started. 

47. Volunteer Online  

Volunteering in adverse weather isn’t always fun, and if you are snowed in, you won’t be able to help your local community. A great option when it’s cold outside or there’s a storm is to volunteer online. This ensures you can still make an impact and pay it forward, all from the comfort and warmth of your home. 

Virtual volunteer opportunities are great for your self-development, self-confidence, and self-esteem. Plus, they can help you land that promotion you are gunning for or even just teach you a new skill. 

Choose a cause you believe in and find a matching online volunteer position.  

Resource: Here’s 22 virtual volunteer opportunities so you can see what your options are. 

48. Start an Indoor Herb Garden 

You can still garden and enjoy what nature has to offer when the weather doesn’t play along. Simply move your gardening efforts indoors. 

A great winter hobby is to start an indoor herb garden. While you ensure your herbs thrive, you can also use the herbs when you cook and bake to add a fresh herby taste.   

Some herbs that do really well indoors during the cooler months are chives, oregano, thyme, sage, and parsley. Get seeds and grow the herbs from scratch for a fulfilling experience. 

Take the hobby further and dry and preserve the herbs so you have your own array of bottled flavors any time of the year. 

Resource: Use this how to grow herbs indoors in winter guide if you’re unsure where to begin. 

49. Learn to Code 

Coding isn’t just for geniuses. These days, anyone can learn to code. 

When you learn to code, you challenge yourself, learn about how digital things work, improve your analytical thinking abilities and problem-solving skills, and automate boring tasks. You may also realize that you love it so much that you want to switch careers or start a side hustle. 

You can also build your own website or app to promote unique skills and share it with the world.  

Resource: Join Codecademy to start coding today.

Know how to master a new skill? The trick is to use a strategy called just in time learning. To know more about this strategy, check out this video:

50. Woodworking  

Anyone can learn woodworking or whittling. You need some basic tools and a space where you can set up your workbench. 

You can start small and make spoons and figurines. The more you learn, the more you can challenge yourself by making furniture, canoes, magazine racks, wagons, planter boxes, and more. 

Creativity knows no bounds for your woodworking projects. You can play around with pyrography (when you burn designs into wood) for your finished projects to make it truly unique.      

Resource: Up your game with these 56 woodworking tips for beginners. 

51. Stone Carving 

An interesting hobby you can take up during cold or inclement weather is stone carving. When you get into the motion of using a chisel and dummy (stonemason’s hammer), you’ll find that you’ll relax and simply enjoy chipping away at the stone. 

Later on, you can experiment with letter cutting, stand blasting, flaming, and water jet cutting. 

Make stone sculptures for your garden or small keepsake figures for your home. Or give the sculptures as gifts to loved ones.  

Resource: Check out this tutorial on how to carve stone. 

52. Learn to Meditate 

You can meditate anywhere, but it’s particularly useful when the weather’s bad and you’re stuck indoors and the winter blues set in. Meditation helps you destress, decrease negative emotions, and improve your creativity, focus, self-awareness, sleep, and mindfulness. 

Meditate on your bed, the couch, or even in front of the fireplace. 

Sign up for an app like Balance, Headspace, or Calm, and learn how to meditate. Or you can find YouTube videos to help you focus, breathe, and meditate. 

You can meditate as a family too.     

Resource: Here’s a comprehensive guide on meditation so you can start today and reap the benefits.

53. Doodling 

Another excellent hobby for winter and inclement weather is doodling. Sure, you probably doodle when you’re bored at work meetings but take your doodling a few steps further. 

This hobby helps you to be mindful, unwind, and feel better overall. It also improves creativity and concentration, and you can even sell your doodles if you’re good at it. Or make new artwork for your study or your kids’ rooms. 

It’s a cheap hobby too since you only need a pen and paper. And if you’re into journaling, you can add doodles to your pages or make beautiful monthly doodles. 

Resource: Ready to start doodling for real? Use this step-by-step guide with 11 simple doodles. 

54. Start a Book Club 

Like reading? Why don’t you start a book club? 

It can be for your family, so you each choose a book to read per week or month, and then you get together to discuss it after a few chapters or at the end of the book. You can also invite friends and neighbors to join your book club, or if the weather is really bad, host an online book club. 

Decide on themes, discussion topics and questions, and who gets to choose the books. 

It can also be an informal club where kindred spirits can mingle, blow off some steam, and talk about their passion – reading.   

Resource: Check out this Penguin Random House’s guide to start a book club. 

55. Build a Ham Radio 

Ham radios, or amateur radios, are often used for emergency communication during a fire, flood, tornado, hurricane, or other natural disaster. 

You can become a ham (amateur radio operator) once you’ve built a ham radio (you do need a license, though), so make this the next hobby on your list. 

While you can build a ham radio from scratch, you can also buy a ham radio kit to get you started.  

Resource: Ready for a challenge? Here’s a guide for building ham radio equipment from scratch. 

56. Make Scented Candles 

Candles can be decorative and functional. They help you relax, create an inviting atmosphere, and improve your mood. Scented candles also smell great (if you find the right combination, that is). Buying all the yummy smelling candles can be pricey, so why don’t you make your own? 

You can be as creative as you’d like to be with colors, shapes, sizes, and aromas. Decide on an aroma for each room in your house and make a few candles that fit in with the decor. 

Give candles as gifts made with love to your friends and family or sell them at a market.  

Resource: This guide to making scented candles is easy to follow. 

57. Enjoy VR Fun 

Virtual reality (VR) takes you into a whole new world, and that’s the perfect escape when the weather isn’t cooperating. You can dive into VR all year around and even have VR fun outside during the warmer months. 

You can enjoy virtual reality games, meditate, play instruments, watch TV shows or movies with loved ones, attend concerts, and work out.

Get yourself a virtual reality headset or VR goggles and enjoy!  

Resource: Read this New York Times article on how to get started with VR if you are a newbie. 

58. LEGO Building 

No one would blame you if you thought that LEGOs were for kids. They also wouldn’t blame you if you were envious of said kids that can play with LEGOs. 

Many adults have fun with LEGOs, and you can join them. You’ll be an AFOL – adult fan of LEGO! 

Buy a LEGO set (some are even exclusively designed for adults) and build one of the Seven Wonders of the World, a pop culture icon, an architectural masterpiece, or a space exploration. 

Resource: Get creative and relax as you play with LEGOs. Here are 20 of the best LEGO sets for adults so you don’t have to hide your inner child. 

59. Camp in Your Living Room 

Camping outside in the winter months or inclement weather is possible, but it’s pricey as you need a special tent and other equipment. Rather camp in your living room and make it an adventure no one will forget. 

You can set up a tent and other camping gear like chairs and sleeping bags. Decorate your living room with fairy lights and lanterns to really set the mood. Your fireplace can double as a campfire, making s’mores a possibility. 

You can also make the experience a bit more authentic and camp in your backyard – if you dare to brave the weather. 

Resource: Use this how-to guide to set up the best-ever living room campsite for an adventure your family won’t forget. 

60. Learn Angel Numbers or Read Tarot Cards 

Dive into numerology and something different when you take up a hobby to read angel numbers and tarot cards. 

Angel numbers are a sign from the Universe or Divine, and when you start spotting them, you know you are on the right path. The numbers can also give you direction and insight into your life. 

The same can be said for tarot cards, which don’t predict the future. Instead, these cards empower you about your present reality, and you can use the information to guide you.   

Resource: Learn about both hobbies with this guide on angel numbers and a beginner’s guide to tarot cards. 

61. Create a Bucket List 

A fun activity for you (and the whole family) is to work on a bucket list. It can be a bucket list of things you want to do or accomplish for the month, season, or whole year. You can also have plenty of fun ticking off all the items on the list. 

Make the hobby more meaningful by sharing memories, thoughts, and ideas after you’ve ticked off an item. 

If you are looking for more ideas, consider creating an anti-bucket list too – a list of things you never want to do. Be as serious or as silly as you’d like to be.

Resource: Need inspiration? Here’s 550+ ideas for your bucket list. 

Want to create the perfect bucket list for this year? Then check out this video:

62. Adult Coloring 

There are many benefits to coloring, and this is a must-do hobby during winter and inclement weather. It helps calm your mind, allowing stress, negativity, and anxiety to drain away. You also improve your creative abilities and how well you sleep. 

Start with coloring pages on your smart device, print some coloring pages for adults (or kids – no one’s judging), or buy a coloring book. You can also explore with your choice of coloring medium – color with pencils, markers, pastels, crayons, or charcoal.   

Resource: Relax with these 39 best adult coloring books. 

63. Model Building  

Model building is a fun hobby you can practice by yourself. But you can also get your partner and the kids involved. 

Choose between building models from scratch or buy a kit if you are a complete newbie. 

Build planes, ships, buildings, or cars, or put your designs together and create an apocalyptic or alternate reality.  

Resource: To help you get started, check out this beginner’s how-to guide to plastic modeling. 

64. Latte Art 

Some baristas make beautiful and intricate designs on your latte. You can enjoy a fancy latte at home when you learn how to do latte art, so make this your newest hobby. 

You need a few things before you can start practicing. Get an espresso machine, milk jug, and a few consumables like espresso and milk. Then learn the proper pouring techniques to create a rosetta, a heart, and other cool designs.    

Resource: Follow this how to make latte art at home guide from Starbucks so you can enjoy delicious and fancy coffee from now on. 

65. Table Tennis  

Set up a table and net, get a ball and rackets, and you can start getting your table tennis (ping pong) game on. It’s a fun hobby that’ll entertain you for hours when the weather keeps you indoors. 

You can play against yourself (lift the one side of the table to create a “wall” for the ball to bounce against) or invite your family or friends for a few games of friendly competition. 

This hobby doesn't have any age or fitness restrictions, and if you have a table, can set up a net, and buy a table tennis racket and ball, you can start playing today.    

Resource: If you’re not sure where to begin, use this beginner’s guide to table tennis to get you sorted.

Final Thoughts on Indoor Hobbies

This winter may be long, but with these hobby ideas in your back pocket, you will have a ton of stuff to keep you busy. Pick one or two options and start getting the feel for them now before the cold weather really hits us!

If you want additional indoor hobbies, then check out this post where we detail 101 skills you can learn in your spare time.

And if you want more resources about hobbies, be sure to check out these blog posts:

• 55 Hobbies for Men of All Ages
• 55 Hobbies For Teens That Are Fun and Motivating
• 25 Outdoor Hobbies to Have Fun Adventures Outside
• 15 Productive Hobbies to Make You a Successful Person
• 83 Fun Hobbies for Couples That Will Strengthen Your Relationship

Finally, if you want to level up your productivity and time management skills, then watch this free video about the 9 productivity habits you can build at work.