10 Fun, Quarantine-Friendly Hobbies to Try Right Now

Knit or crochet

If you have some yarn on hand, let YouTube videos (or a family member who already knows how) teach you to knit or crochet. In need of supplies? Check out the beginner kits at We Are Knitters and Wool and the Gang, which can be delivered right to your door.

Try watercolor painting

If you have an old set of watercolors hiding in a craft bin or storage box somewhere in your house, it's time to break it out. The process of painting can be very soothing, even if the finished result isn't a masterpiece.

To turn painting into a social event, host a "paint and sip" night, either with your immediate family or roommates, or with friends near and far over Zoom or Google Hangouts.

Pick up calligraphy or hand-lettering

Whether you already own a calligraphy pen, or just some felt-tip pens or gel pens, you can still try your hand at calligraphy or hand-lettering. YouTube has tons of hand-lettering tutorials to choose from, no matter if you're using a brush marker or some colored pencils borrowed from your kids.

Practice yoga

Unroll that yoga mat that's been collecting dust in the corner of your room. Because yoga combines mindful movement with breathwork and meditation, it's the ultimate de-stressing hobby. If you're a beginner, start out slow and don't overdo it. Check out the popular YouTube channel Yoga with Adriene, and try yoga for complete beginners or yoga for anxiety. And if you don't have the most ergonomic work-from-home setup, you'll be thankful for the yoga for back pain video.

Learn a new dance

Trying to convince your family (and yourself) to get up off the couch? Put on some music for motivation. Join all of TikTok in attempting the Renegade dance, or brush up on the cha-cha, tango, or waltz. You'll be ready to hit the dance floor once all of those postponed weddings are rescheduled.

Start a garden

Whether you have an entire backyard to dedicate to a vegetable garden, or a small windowsill to cultivate an herb garden, digging in dirt and growing something can be very therapeutic.

RELATED: How to Create a Sun Garden—No Shade Necessary

Learn a magic trick or two

As long as you have a pack of cards or a quarter (bonus points for a scarf or a flock of doves), you can learn some simple magic tricks. Follow along with video tutorials on YouTube, or there's even a MasterClass you can take on the art of magic.

Build your own sourdough starter

On my last venture out to the grocery store, I was disappointed to see that dry active yeast was completely out of stock. I thought my bread-making plans were foiled, until I realized you can make your own sourdough starter using just flour and water. The process takes about a week, but hey, we have the time, right? Follow the directions online at King Arthur Flour.

Sourdough starter is a fun science experiment as much as it is a baking challenge, so if you have kids at home, it's a great project to get them involved with.

Make a family scrapbook

If you're spending quarantine going through old family photos anyway, why not turn them into a family scrapbook, complete with detailed captions and decorative borders? You'll be glad you did when you get to look back on your creation years from now.

Embroider something

Grab an old T-shirt or tablecloth and give it a hand-embroidered upgrade. If you have embroidery floss and a needle, you have everything you'll need for this project. Start by learning the basics—running stitch, satin stitch, and French knot—then repeat those stitches again and again to create your work of art.