22 Hobbies For Introverts

If you are primarily introverted, as I am, then when you are looking for ways to enjoy your non-work time, you may have discovered that many hobbies involve or even require the presence of other people.

Such hobbies might include:

• Going out for a drink, either to be with friends, or perhaps to make new ones
• Dancing
• Sports activities, many of which are team-based
• Amateur dramatics

But what if those don’t interest you because you prefer to spend time alone?

Well, the good news is that there are plenty of hobbies and pastimes that are ideal for us introverts, and that’s what this article is all about.

Let’s get started!

Art

I’m including this any form of art, including cartooning, drawing, painting, sculpture, sketching, and more.

Collecting

Although you may have to go out in public (e.g. to antique stores, auctions, flea markets) to find whatever it is you’re collecting, the Internet has made it easier to track down items online.

Even back in the 1990s and early 2000s, before the Internet was anything like it is today, and when I was still an active arctophile, some of the teddy bears we collected were bought online (and shipped to the UK from the USA in some cases).

Cooking

We all have to eat anyway, but why not make something special out of it?

Just because you live alone doesn’t mean you need to live off fast food and freezer meals.

I get it can be a shock if you suddenly find yourself alone and have never cooked before, but it’s easy to learn these days, with all of the resources available via the Internet.

When my wife died, I was fortunate that I’d been the one who made all the meals anyway, so it wasn’t a massive change for me in that respect.

And while most of the time I make food that is easy and expedient, I do occasionally go wild and make something new, from scratch, just because I feel like treating myself to something a bit special, or trying something new (such as the pretzels I baked a while ago).

Crafts

These would include options such as calligraphy, carpentry, crochet, découpage, embroidery, knitting, macramé, origami, pottery, sewing, but there are almost endless choices here.

Cycling

As long as you have your bicycle, you can go anywhere – all by yourself. And, of course, it’s great exercise.

This might involve cycling on public roads, or something a bit more taxing such as mountain biking.

Gaming

Ever since the world was introduced to games such as Pong, decades ago, video games have become ubiquitous, and while the old-school arcade machines are still available, increasingly realistic games can now be played on computers and smartphones too.

The advantage here is that you can choose to play single-player games (e.g. against the computer) – backgammon and cribbage are my two go-tos – or you can play against others, but still sitting by yourself at home. That way, you can play against other people, but without necessarily having to interact with them.

And while this type of interactive online game typically brings to mind action / shoot ’em up / role-playing games, you could choose to play other games such as chess online.

Gardening

Although there is the old saying that many hands make light work, gardening is something you can easily do by yourself.

Not only do you end up with something beautiful to look at (or eat), but it gets you outdoors where you can get some good old sunshine-created vitamin D and some exercise.

Golf

This is, perhaps, the perfect sport for one, because although you might be playing with and/or against other people, it’s really all about you – what other players do does not affect your game at all.

And while it may be difficult to play a round of golf at the local club by yourself, because of demand, there are other options, even if it’s only a driving range.

Hiking

This is another activity that can be done alone, although if you do this, it’s always best to let somebody know where you’re going, and when you expect to be back, just in case.

Learning

I touch on this elsewhere in this article, but there are online courses for almost anything these days.

You can always look on YouTube, but then there are companies who specialize in delivering courses online, such as Udemy, which is the one I tend to use.

Options are endless here – a new language, household or car maintenance, arts and crafts, writing, music, communication skills, and so on.

Meditation

Whether you think of meditation as a hobby or as a lifestyle and health choice, it is another activity (if that’s the correct word for meditating) that can easily be done by yourself – and in fact, maybe it’s better if you do.

Movies

These can easily be enjoyed by yourself, and can often be better appreciated that way – especially if the people you do see are the type to talk through films, or ask stupid questions (as my first wife’s mother used to do).

And, of course, there is no argument about what to watch, because it’s just you!

Music

There are two aspects to this – listening and playing.

Listening to music is a great way to enhance or change your mood, depending on your choice and needs.

It also fills the void after you are widowed, as was the case with me nearly two years ago. I have music playing most of the day, when I’m working, to avoid that total silence – even though I accept that sometimes silence is a good thing.

And as with movies, what you listen to is entirely your choice if you’re by yourself – no having to compromise or listen using headphones so as not to annoy or disturb anybody else.

Then there is the other side – playing a musical instrument.

I have a friend who plays the piano purely for his own enjoyment, both in terms of learning to master the instrument and for the music he plays.

People Watching

Just because we introverts don’t always want to engage with other people does not mean we don’t find their behaviour fascinating.

In my younger days (before I became reclusive), I spent many a happy hour just sitting somewhere and watching the world go by, wondering why people are doing what they’re doing, what makes them smile, the way they interact with others, etc..

Photography

While you will see people taking photos everywhere these days, true photographers, as opposed to the point and click people (and, yes, I was one of those) can often be found by themselves, out in the middle of nowhere, taking their time to compose and take beautiful photographs of landscapes and nature.

They may spend hours, days, or in extreme cases, even years, waiting for what they consider to be the perfect shot.

Many also find this hobby therapeutic – almost like a form of meditation.

Puzzles

I have long enjoyed puzzles – jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, Sudoku, logic problems, and more, because they are great to pass the time and to challenge your mental skills – observation in the case of jigsaws, and critical thinking / logic in the case of others.

And you can do many of these anywhere – even jigsaw puzzles (because there are websites available where you can do these online).

Reading

I know that not everybody would consider this to be a hobby, but it’s definitely a pastime (i.e. it passes the time), but I’ve been an avid reader almost my entire life, largely, I think, thanks to my mum who taught me to read early on (before I reached primary school age) and who read to me all the time.

The thing is, there is so much to choose from – non-fiction on all manner of subjects, as well as so many different genres of fiction.

And I have a very wide taste in reading, often buying a book based on nothing more than an intriguing title.

While it’s the perfect activity to indulge yourself in at home, on the sofa, in bed, or out in the garden, it’s also something you can do when surrounded by others, because once you are engrossed in a book, it’s like you’re in your own little world.

The only problem with this is that some people assume you’re reading because you have nobody to talk to – whereas the truth is, you’re reading because you don’t want to talk to other people.

Running

This is another of those active sports that can be enjoyed alone if you prefer, whether you’re going for a jog around the block or practising for a marathon.

Singing

Although I’ve never been one to sing (I was told to mime the words at school), not even in the proverbial bath or shower, it is an option for those who are by themselves.

And the good news is, there is nobody there so it doesn’t matter how bad (or good) you are.

Travel

There is no reason why you have to travel, whether it’s a short weekend break or a two-week vacation, with anybody else.

Some say having somebody with you to share the experience enhances it, but I know plenty of people who have travelled alone and enjoyed it.

Writing

The flip side of reading is, of course, writing.

Again, you can do this entirely by yourself, and, with modern technology
(e.g. laptops, tablets, even phones), you can write pretty much anywhere – not only can you craft your story or article on these devices, but you have the entire Internet at your disposal for research purposes, so you don’t need to bother anybody else.

I write both non-fiction (mainly for this site), and fiction (mainly haiku at the moment, but I have dabbled in novels, flash fiction, erotica, and more traditional poetry), but as with reading, there are so many genres to choose from.

You can also post what you create on websites such as Medium, which is where I publish most of my haiku.

But the good news is, you don’t have to show anybody what you write if you don’t want to – it’s not like turning in homework at school.

Because, sometimes, just the act of writing is both enjoyable and therapeutic, which is why I have plenty of articles that may never see the light of day.

Yoga

Although yoga clubs have become popular, this is, of course, an activity you can do at home.

And if you are a complete beginner, there are plenty of resources available to help you to learn – books, videos, online courses.

Conclusion

While the above can be done by yourself, many of those can also be enjoyed with others, should you choose.

For example, you could join a club – cycling clubs, hiking clubs, book clubs, etc. – for when you feel ready for the company of other humans.

Finally, it seems to me that, in general (because there are usually exceptions), introverts tend not to be the ones who get bored – they love their own company, and often have a wide range of interests that keeps them busy.

Extraverts, on the other hand, with their desire (or need?) for external stimulation, may be the ones who get bored when they are left to their own devices.

Just a thought, of course!