Man fly-fishing in idyllic scenery

Deisy Suarez-Giles has been in the beauty and wellness industry for over 16 years. For more ideas on how to look and feel your best, be sure to check out her blog.

It’s never too late to learn a new hobby. A new hobby can improve your mental and physical abilities and can help you through rough patches in life. Hobbies are nice because you don’t need to be the best at them. You can just enjoy them as they are. If you’re in the market for a new hobby, here are some underrated hobbies anyone can enjoy.

1. Learning an instrument

According to NPR, many music instructors emphasize that anyone can learn to play an instrument. It’s usually more a matter of attitude and patience than intrinsic skill or experience. Learning a new instrument is a great way for you to learn how to completely focus on the task at hand. You’ll learn patience with yourself, as well as rhythm and a greater tonal ability.

2. Dancing

Dancing is a high-calorie-burning way to socialize with and meet other people. It also has been shown to have a tremendous effect at boosting mood and assisting in mental health. It’s got benefits for seniors in addiction recovery, given its abilities to help people learn new skills and rewire their brains.

3. Fishing

Fishing demands that you focus on one primary activity, which is one part of practicing mindfulness. Fishing is a great way to control stress and promote overall health. When you start picking up fishing, try to find some courses online that will help you learn the basics. You can also go to your local recreation outlet to find some fishing gear and befriend the salespeople there, who will have a good idea on how to get started.

4. Learn stargazing

Many of us have looked up at the night sky, awestruck and wondered about the movements of stars and planets. Why not learn about what you’re looking at? Getting into stargazing is simple. It initially requires a couple of websites or some books that introduce and explain what you’re seeing. Once you get a little more into it, there are cool opportunities to travel to special areas that you can view the sky best.

5. Woodworking

Getting into woodworking is something that just about anyone can get into. It’s just a matter of being willing to realize that there isn’t just one right way to make a product. Perfection shouldn’t be your ideal—creation should be. Try to find local classes or online courses to help you channel your inner craftsman. The more you work at it, the better you’ll get.

6. The Rewarding Field of IT

Information technology is a rewarding field with top earning potential. If you have a penchant for computers and networking, this could be the perfect career for you. An IT degree will help prepare you for this highly-skilled field, and an online degree program like the ones from WGU will give you the ultimate flexibility to learn at your own pace. This allows you to balance current full- or part-time work, family life or other pursuits while making progress toward your future career.

7. Improv

Improv heightens the enjoyment of social experiences, teaches patient listening, and is a natural way to fight anxiety head-on. You might feel shy and uncomfortable with it at first, but that’s natural. Improv teaches you to embrace your inner silliness, and you’ll find a supportive group that’s willing to say “yes, and” to whatever you suggest.

8. Start a book club

An article from the Harvard Business Review mentions that book clubs are a great way to strengthen social bonds. They require focused reading and are a great way to develop good reading habits. You probably already have a set of people that would be interested in starting a book group, but you just don’t know it yet. Talk with friends, family, co-workers, acquaintances, or just check social media. It’s more than likely that you’ll be able to find a group of people that you can discuss books with. From musical and artistic pursuits to more recreational ones, there are always plenty of hobbies that you can be interested in. Hobbies can make you smarter and active. It’s an excellent way to meet new people or strengthen current relationships. A hobby is good for your mental health. All it takes is just getting into one you’re happy with.