Entertaining Hobbies for Men to do at Home!

As a man, it can be difficult to decide the right way to spend your downtime without leaving the house. Do you want something practical, creative, or are you just looking to have some fun as an escape? In this article, we’ll recommend a variety of entertaining hobbies that range from hands-on to brainy to relaxing.

1. Hands-On Hobbies for Men Who Like to Build or Tinker

In the next section, we’ll highlight a few hobbies that appeal to the DIY-ers, problem-solvers, or men who enjoy creating something with their hands

Woodworking

Spanning a huge variety of options from simple projects to complex furniture, woodworking is a particularly satisfying hobby where you’ll be able to make something tangible. And you can easily get started with Birdhouse kits from Etsy, pre-cut projects on Kreg, or through YouTube tutorials.

Home Brewing

For a more science-based project, you can try home brewing beer or a non-alcoholic option like kombucha by fermenting in a garage or kitchen. You can buy no-fuss beginner kits starting at around $50 at Mr. Beer or look into more involved places like Beer Craftr for even more in-depth processes. There are also YouTube communities that can help you create the perfect beverage.

Model Building (Cars, Planes, Miniatures)

For another hands-on hobby that emphasizes focus and precision, building models like cars, planes, and miniatures can be a satisfying way to spend the night and feel nostalgic. They’re particularly appropriate for quiet evenings or nights where you have a podcast on in the background. Model building can quickly become complicated, but you can start with snap-together kits or painting miniatures before moving up to models with thousands of pieces and heavy-duty glue.

Electronics or Raspberry Pi Projects

If you like tinkering with things, it might be worth looking into working with electronics as a hobby, whether it be putting together smart home devices or game emulators like the Raspberry Pi. There are many starter kits out there, including installable light switches and alarm systems, as well as alternative emulators to the Raspberry Pi. And for extra assistance, there are YouTube videos that will take you step-by-step through programming these devices.

Knife Sharpening or Maintenance

For those who prefer more analog work, knife sharpening or maintenance can be a surprisingly meditative and skill-based hobby. It’s especially useful to learn how to properly sharpen kitchen or pocket knives, which require specific techniques that you can practice and work to master. Just make sure that you’re always safe and follow the safety guidelines of the American Knife & Tool Institute.

2. Brainy and Strategic Hobbies for Mental Stimulation

In the next section, we’ll highlight a few hobbies for the kind of guy who likes solving puzzles, mastering strategies, or sharpening their focus.

Playing Online Solitaire

For the man who wants a free, mentally stimulating way to unwind online, the games at 247 Solitaire are great options that can support your memory function, boost concentration skills, and hone your strategic abilities. If you want an easy-to-navigate online platform for Solitaire with multiple difficulty levels, seasonal decks, and stat tracking, check out 247 Solitaire.

Chess or Online Strategy Games

If you want to hone your strategic skills in other games, you can also try Chess online or other turn-based games at places like Armor Games. Whether you’re playing Chess or other turn-based games, they are all great exercises in logic and patience. And they can be a hobby that you try to master for your whole life.

Learning Card Tricks or Sleight of Hand

For the person who’s into spectacle, learning card tricks or sleight of hand tricks is a fun hobby that’s part dexterity and part performance. Start with some beginner videos on YouTube before moving on to some of the many card magic books out there. As a tip, card and sleight of hand tricks are especially useful to learn for dads or uncles who want to impress kids. Nothing like a coin from an ear trick.

Crossword Puzzles or Brain Teasers

If you prefer a low-pressure, solo-friendly hobby, crossword puzzles or brain teasers are widely available and can improve your memory and sharpen your cognitive skills. You can find puzzle books wherever books are sold, or try apps like NYT Crosswords and Lumosity for portable brain teasers.

Fantasy Sports Management or Sports Simulation Games

For the sports lover who wants to go deeper than merely watching the games, fantasy sports management and sports simulation games are great ideas for hobbies. They’re the best way to actively engage with the sports you watch and your teams. There are various options, including online leagues at places like ESPN, retro-style manager games like Retro Football Management, and mobile apps like ESPN Fantasy and Fantrax.

3. Creative Hobbies for Self-Expression and Focus

In the next section, we’ll highlight a few hobbies that can help men channel creative energy and relieve stress through creative expression.

Drawing or Digital Art

Drawing or digital art can seem intimidating if you don’t feel like you’re “good," but the important part of these two hobbies is that they allow you to express yourself. Look into sketch apps like Procreate or just grab a pencil and sketchbook. And if you want to classically learn, you can watch tutorials from users like Art of Wei to improve your skills.

Playing a Musical Instrument

Another great creative hobby is playing a musical instrument. Whether you want to play guitar, keyboard, or use digital tools like MIDI keyboards, playing an instrument can be a very creative and mentally engaging activity. Pick your favorite instrument and then spend time with YouTube tutorials, take online lessons at places like Lessonface, and hone your skills with apps like Yousican.

Creative Writing or Journaling

When you’re feeling introspective or imaginative, a great option is creative writing or journaling. It’s a screen-free way to relax and reflect, and it can help you learn things about yourself that you didn’t even realize. You don’t need to write about anything in particular. You can write about your day, your current feelings, sketch out a fiction idea in your head, or you can try to complete one of the many prompt options from sites like Wit & Delight.

DIY Leatherworking or Whittling

For a hobby that requires minimal tools and space, DIY leatherworking or whittling are two small-scale crafting activities that can be satisfying and meditative. You can find full beginner kits for leatherworking on Etsy and whittling sets on Amazon.

Photography (Phone or DSLR)

If you’re a man who likes visual storytelling or wants to document projects, photography is a great hobby to try, whether it’s on a phone or a DSLR camera. To get started, you should learn about the basics of framing, lighting, and editing through YouTube tutorials and try to apply those ideas to how you take photos. After you take photos you’re happy with, hop into free editing apps like Snapseed to polish your pictures.

4. Relaxing, Low-Key Hobbies for Unwinding

In the next section, we’ll recommend hobbies perfect for after-work evenings or lazy weekends.

Reading (Fiction, Biographies, Graphic Novels)

If you want a relaxing and enriching hobby that can last a lifetime, reading is an evergreen option. Whether you like fiction, biographies, or graphic novels, there are so many different things and ways to read. To find the best balance, try mixing lighter reads with deeper, immersive ones, so as not to burn yourself out. And if you prefer not to read physical books, you can find e-books on Kindle and audiobooks on places like Audible.

Cooking or Grilling

For men who want to exercise their culinary creativity and gain the satisfaction of feeding themselves or others, cooking or grilling are great hobbies that can be done either solo or socially. To get started, find a copy of some of the most beloved books about grilling. You can also try meal kit subscriptions like Hello Fresh or Home Chef, which will offer you numerous opportunities to become better at cooking and grilling all kinds of ingredients.

Watching Classic Films or Starting a Movie Series

For the man who wants to become more well-versed in movies, you can make watching movies into its own purposeful hobby. You can go in a lot of directions, whether you want to catch up on a particular era, director (like Martin Scorsese), genre, or systematically go through lists like the AFI Top 100, IMDB top 250, or Sight & Sound’s list of the 250 best films of all time. To make it even more meaningful, track your progress in a journal or write your thoughts about the journey on an app like Letterboxd.

Houseplant Care or Indoor Gardening

If you’re feeling too stressed, caring for plants and gardening is a proven way to alleviate anxiety. As a low-maintenance entry into gardening, look into beginner plants like pothos, snake plants, or herbs. These all require minimal care and are more about finding the proper placement than following a rigorous schedule.

Organizing or Collecting

For men who are nostalgic or detail-oriented, creating a collection of things is a hobby that can be satisfying, and allows you to organize or research the history or value of collected items. You can collect anything from coins to cards to records to tools. Anything is fine as long as it offers you a project.

Start simple with a game of Solitaire!

Every man needs to carve out a little time for themselves, and home is the perfect place to start. Whether you want to learn, build, relax, or challenge your mind, there’s a hobby for that. Start small with a quick game of Solitaire or a crossword puzzle and build it into a lifelong hobby.

DISCLAIMER: The games on this website are using PLAY (fake) money. No payouts will be awarded, there are no "winnings", as all games represented by 247 Games LLC are free to play. Play strictly for fun.