109. Fun Hobbies and Ideas that are Great for Busy Moms

Are you an exhausted burnt-out mama? Hobbies are a great way to ignite some joy and self-fulfillment! Learn more about how hobbies for moms can help you regain some self-identity and benefit your quality of life!

It’s wild to think how motherhood is the best thing in the world while simultaneously being the single most challenging. I couldn’t comprehend how one could experience such polar opposite emotions until I was blessed with becoming a mama.

I struggle with motherhood daily, constantly second-guessing and admittingly having no idea what I’m doing. It’s been tough living overseas away from family without the support. 

Because we are stationed in Germany, I’ve taken a backseat to my career as a nurse practitioner. This has also provided me with the incredible opportunity and blessing of staying at home and raising my two beautiful kids. However, what I have realized with being a stay-at-home mom is that my self-identity has become more and more hazy. I am doing less and less for myself and more for my small children

Who am I? And how can I muster up the time and energy to find myself again? To do something for me?

Ask yourself these important questions:

• Are you permitting yourself to be involved in a hobby?
• Did you have a favorite hobby before having kids?
• Are you interested in picking up a new hobby?

As a busy mom, it’s easy to get burnt out and not prioritize your needs or desires. Mama’s self-care is often not prioritized.

We can devise any excuse under the sun as to why we aren’t pursuing mom hobbies, doing something for us. 

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Self- inflicted Lies that prevent us from having mom hobbies

I don’t have time

This one is a doozie. As a mom of two, every day feels like there are not enough hours. With a baby and a toddler, I’m always doing something, yet I feel like there is nothing to show for it.

Prioritizing time for yourself takes conscious effort. 

Here are some tips to help you make time for picking up hobbies for busy moms.

Develop a maintainable routine
Having a sustainable routine will give you the opportunity to schedule some of those mom hobbies!

Write out your goals

Visualizing your goals will help provide motivation and encouragement to take some time to prioritize yourself

Get creative with your time

Multitasking is nothing new to mamas. Truthfully, there isn’t a lot of spare time with mom life. Look for opportunities to tie in some easy hobbies for moms into your daily routine. Take advantage of your small children’s nap time. 

Listen to a podcast while in the car 

Have your little one help you in the kitchen; they may just share your love for baking!

Go on a family bike ride

Hobbies for stay-at- home moms are too expensive 

Hobbies can get expensive; however, there are so many inexpensive hobbies for stay at home moms you can easily do at home! In fact, some require very little equipment.

I don’t have any hobbies

Instead of feeling discouraged by the lack of mom hobbies, be excited! Consider this an excellent opportunity to dabble in some mom hobbies. You may just discover a new love!

I am too old to start a hobby

This couldn’t be farther from the truth. I have found myself asking- Is it too late to start a hobby in your 30s?

I firmly believe that no age is too late to pick up a new skill, especially considering many people will pick up new hobbies after retirement.

I can’t pick up hobbies for working moms because it excludes time with my spouse or family

Prioritizing hobbies for working moms can easily result in mom guilt, especially when working outside the house. But this type of thinking is SO negative because giving yourself mom hobbies will actually make you a better mom!

I suggest having a date night with your spouse. Sit down and talk about your desire for a hobby. Do you and your spouse share similar interests? This is a great opportunity to discuss hobby ideas for moms that the entire family will enjoy! Consider this a fantastic opportunity to have some quality family fun!

As a military spouse, it is hard to keep mom hobbies

The disruption and uncertainty of military life can wreak havoc on routines, hobbies… and, well, let’s be honest, life itself.

Consider having different mom hobbies for the different phases:

Deployment hobbies and non-deployment hobbies

The benefits of having mom hobbies

Achieve personal growth

One of my main obstacles to adjusting from a working mom to a stay-at-home mom was the feelings of inadequate personal growth. Personal growth is essential as individuals; finding new ways to explore learning opportunities and self-growth in hobbies can be so much fun! You may even surprise yourself!

Starting this blog was my hobby and outlet to achieve personal growth, and one I was surprised to enjoy.

Regain self-identity

After our OCONUS move to Germany, I felt like I was slowly losing myself as I dove headfirst into the mommy and wife role. 

With all the demands of motherhood, finding yourself can almost feel impossible when you are in the thick of it. 

Hobbies for busy moms at home are a gift for YOU. It is an opportunity for you to regain some of yourself back.

An opportunity for quality time

There are so many easy hobbies for moms that can encourage quality time with your kids and spouse.

Finding some easy hobbies your kids will enjoy can create an incredible bonding experience and boost creativity!

Some examples are:

Visiting local parks on a regular basis

Playing musical instruments

What I find even more special is sharing some of your favorite hobbies with your spouse! It can be so hard to prioritize each other and the marriage when you have little kids. Sharing hobbies can be a fantastic way to rekindle that spark! 

• Check out this post: Tips to help you prioritize your marriage!

Improve mental health

Motherhood can take a toll on mental health for both seasoned and new mothers. Self-care is often put on the back burner.

Hobbies for new moms are especially important as they navigate and adjust to this new role.

Check out this study by Utah State on the benefits of hobbies on mental health. 

Improve physical health

There are so many mom hobbies that can get you outside and move; these can actually be some of the best hobbies for busy moms!

Get outside and move your body. Consider fitting in weekly hikes or bike rides with the kids!

Reduce stress and improve patience

Being a mother can be extraordinarily stressful. It is critical to have an outlet for your own health; having this outlet will help you be a more patient mom. There are so many hobbies for moms to choose from that you can easily find the right ones for you!

Make new friends

Join an art class or take a course. This is an excellent opportunity to meet others! I have always loved being part of a running community! Making friends with similar interests can blossom into life-long friendships.

I think it’s so important for military spouses to pick up hobbies. The military life can get quite lonely.

• Related Post: Making friends while living abroad

Hobbies are Fun

What every burnt-out and exhausted mom needs in her life is more fun!

The kids will benefit with having hobbies

If you prioritize hobbies for moms at home, your children will grow up with the understanding that hobbies are a normal and healthy part of life. 

Sharing mom hobbies with your children can help with:

• Problem- solving skills
• Develop personal interests
• Promote a sense of self identity
• Offer a creative outlet
• Be great exercise
• Help them gain an understanding of responsibility

These mom hobbies can provide bonding opportunities and growth with your children. With different hobbies, your small children can continue these hobbies to high school and even adulthood. Picking up hobbies can make your children well-rounded individuals!

I have searched the internet and consulted many of my mama friends to provide you with the ultimate list of hobbies, from creative hobbies to fun hobbies! With all these different hobbies, hopefully, you can find the right one for you!

Make money with your hobbies

This is an additional benefit to finding the perfect hobby that you can make into a side hustle! It’s especially a good idea for stay-at-home moms who want to make some extra cash. Think of the many tutorial videos on social media!

The ultimate hobbies list for moms

10. Leisure outdoor hobbies

1. Walking
2. Bird watching
3. Animal photography
4. Floral photography 
5. Gardening
6. Composting
7. Honey beekeeping
8. Golf
9. Camping
10. Fishing

9. Indoor hobbies

1. Crossword puzzles
2. Sudoku 
3. Working out in the gym
4. Shopping at thrift stores for profit
5. Antique shopping
6. Pilates
7. Barre
8. Zumba
9. House plants

8. Kitchen and food hobbies

1. Pasta making
2. Cake decorating
3. Making jams
4. Cookie decorating
5. Bread making
6. Baking
7. Grilling
8. Candy and chocolate truffle making

• Check out this post on making truffles at the Lint Chocolate Factory

11. Hobbies for moms with toddlers

1. Finger painting
2. Learning a musical instrument
3. Soap making
4. Puppetry
5. Paint by numbers
6. Origami
7. Weekly visits to the public library for group reading
8. Apple picking
9. Strawberry picking
10. Cooking together
11. Paper mache

16. Crafty hobbies

1. Sewing outfits
2. Crocheting 
3. Knitting
4. Calligraphy
5. Engraving
6. Flower arrangements
7. Quilting
8. Jewelry making
9. Candle making
10. Interior design
11. Building model boats and trains
12. Scrapbooking
13. Embroidery 
14. Woodworking
15. Basket weaving
16. Watercolor

11. Family time hobbies to enjoy with your spouse and/ or kids

1. Traveling
2. Riding bikes
3. Playing cards
4. Playing board games
5. Jigsaw puzzles
6. Video games
7. Fostering animals
8. Refurbishing classic cars
9. Dancing
10. Escape rooms
11. Sauna (Nude German sauna)

12. Self-growth hobbies 

1. Learning a new language
2. Journaling
3. Blogging
4. Reading a good book
5. Listening to podcasts
6. Taking 
7. Volunteering
8. Learning a new skill
9. Writing
10. Meditation
11. Yoga
12. Acting

10. Unique hobbies

1. Wine making
2. Brewing your own beer
3. Brewing kombucha
4. Belly dancing
5. Event and party planning
6. Astrology reading
7. Flipping furniture
8. Stamp and coin collecting
9. Raising animals
10. Hair and makeup

22. Physical outdoor hobbies

1. Hiking
2. Running
3. Triathlon
4. Snorkeling
5. Scuba diving
6. Swimming
7. Horseback riding 
8. Ice skating
9. Skiing
10. Snowboarding
11. Cross country skiing
12. Tennis
13. Karate 
14. Baseball
15. Horseback riding
16. Basketball
17. Intramural sports
18. Martial arts
19. Tai chi
20. Rock climbing
21. Kayaking
22. Hunting

Final thoughts on having hobbies for moms

The wonderful thing about mom hobbies is that you can try out different types of hobbies until you find your personal favorite! Whether you try to squeeze that perfect hobby in during nap time or have some spare time during the weekend, be sure to carve out the time. You will be so happy you did!

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