Remember when you were a kid and, when people asked you what you liked to do for fun, you could rattle off a list a mile long?

Ahhh, what we wouldn’t give to have the combined luxuries of lots of free time and no responsibilities. When you’re stressed out and time-pressed, though, it’s hard enough remembering what we used to like to do, much less what we enjoy doing presently ‘for fun.’ But finding something new that you like to do can be an invigorating experience, giving you something you can become passionate about and can always look forward to doing. Unearthing what exactly that new hobby is can prove to be a tricky endeavor in itself, though, so we’re going to walk you though not only how to find that new activity, but what to do with it once you’ve found it.

Alicia on ‘Starting From Scratch”

‘When thinking about getting involved in a new hobby, some people have lingering thoughts of something they’ve always wanted to do, while others (me included!!) really have no clue what they want to do. We just want to do something! Well, one thing I did was to dredge my brain and try to remember all the things I thought were ‘Things I wish I could do’ throughout the years. They ranged from grade school, when I wished I could do macramé (it was the 70’s!) to more recently, when I wished I knew the difference between a Pinot Noir and a Pinot Grigio. After determining the usefulness of all the things on my list, I went with some wine tasting classes and books.’

Sarah on ‘Sharing Your Hobby’

‘Last year, a friend of my husband’s decided that, at age 46, he wanted to learn how to play guitar. Growing up, he’d always watched his dad play his favorite songs around a campfire during their summers at the beach, and, now that he had kids, he wanted to be able to do the same. The problem was, he worked a fairly demanding job, and valued all the time he had with his kids at night and on weekends. Fortunately, he found another person who wanted to learn the guitar who could help him with his other problem at the same time: his son. For the next few months, they went to lessons together, practiced together, and, come summertime, debuted their new skills around the campfire. It just goes to show you that the things that may seem to stand in the way of starting a new hobby may end up being the key to their success.’

A few tips on getting, and implementing, that new hobby.

#1. Getting Hobby Suggestions
Are you still having a hard time finding the hobby that’s best for you? One suggestion is to ask your friends what they would want to do. You may find that you have a shared interest that you could start learning together. Or ask your family members, which may lead to an ongoing fun family experience. Another way to discover a hobby: www.discoverahobby.com. You’ll find a list of different ideas, from jewelry-making, to stand-up comedy, to poker. If anything, it will inspire you to see how limitless your choices are.

#2 Indoor/Outdoor Hobbies
It’s great to have a new hobby that gets you outdoors. Not only do you get some much-needed fresh air, you’re most likely getting some good exercise as well. But try and be sure your hobby isn’t so outdoorsy that it ends up sidelined for extended period of time when the weather turns sour. For every hobby like hiking, try and start something like photography or scrapbooking. You’ll have something fun to do no matter the forecast.

#3 Set Aside Time
Since we’re still fresh from setting our New Year’s Resolutions, we’re well versed in the ways of keeping our promises. One thing that’s clear is the need to set aside time for your hobby in advance so it doesn’t fall to the wayside like so many of our well-intended resolutions. Just because it may sound like something that can be overlooked, doesn’t mean it should be.