Hobbies are a pressure-free way to relax, wind down, and enjoy yourself. Pursuing a hobby is not about being the best (or even good) at something. Rather, it’s about finding joy outside of your daily routine to reconnect with yourself and do something you love. Beyond just being enjoyable, hobbies can have many benefits and be great for your overall well-being. I know what you’re thinking: How am I supposed to find a hobby that I love and will actually stick with? The answer: There are many different types of hobbies out there, and it’s important to find something that feels easy and natural to you.
One way to get inspired? Looking to your Enneagram. Since the Enneagram reveals nine types of personalities, it can be an insightful way to gauge which hobby benefits your deeper sense of self and plays to your strengths (if you don’t know your type, take an online quiz here). Read on to find the hobby that correlates best with your Enneagram type below, and remember that experimenting with new things is part of the process.
Volunteering
Ones are improvement-oriented and want to make the world a better place. A hobby that supports their passion for activism makes volunteering a wonderful way to give back and use their incredible organizational skills. There are multiple ways to volunteer, whether it’s at an animal shelter, tutoring, or raising funds for an organization you care about. Pick something you’re passionate about to spark meaning and purpose.
Cooking
Twos are highly relational and love to make the people they love happy. Cooking is a wonderful way to stay connected with the ones they love through hosting dinner parties or trying out new recipes with friends. At the same time, it allows them to be mindful about the food they put into their body. Twos often want to take care of everybody else, so nourishing their own body with healthy foods and savoring delicious flavors serve as a reminder to care for themselves. The best part? There are lots of fun recipes to try at any skill level. Pick something that sounds delicious and then share the love with others.
Painting
Threes value hard work and recognition, always striving to be the best. While their competitive side scores them many promotions and opportunities, a good hobby helps disengage from their constant hustling and desire to be in the spotlight. Painting can be extremely meditative and doesn’t require being an artist to enjoy it. Roll up your sleeves and splash some colors on a canvas or try a paint-by-numbers kit to experiment with various styles. Take it slow and enjoy the process without rushing through it. Eventually, you’ll find your flow and have a ton of fun with it. Feeling more productive than artistic? Painting furniture for your home counts too.
Upcycling
Fours want to be the most authentic version of themselves. What better way to do that than to update furniture or clothes to make them more personal and meaningful? Fours are true idealists, often longing for things they don’t have, so upcycling is not only a fun way to tap into their creativity and make something unique, but it also helps them find new appreciation for the things they do have. Anything is possible with a little imagination, and Fours will love using their aesthetic gifts to recreate objects that play to their vibrant personality. Looking for some inspiration? Here are a few upcycling ideas to get started.
Amateur Astronomy
As the observers and knowledge-seekers of the Enneagram, Fives will take an acute interest in astronomy—no fancy telescope needed. You can learn a lot by simply observing the night sky and getting curious about what you’re seeing. Hit some books or use an app on your phone like NASA that provides more insight into the planets and constellations you’re looking at. Fives crave alone time to recharge their batteries, so anything that allows them to spend some time alone and learn something new is the perfect hobby. Astronomy will speak to their innate curiosity about the world, but researching a historical event or other part of the world might be exciting and interesting too.
Journaling
Sixes always have a million thoughts running around in their heads. Journaling makes for a great stress-relieving hobby because it gets all those thoughts out on paper. Since they’re prone to worrying about the future, journaling can help Sixes process fears and put things into perspective. There are lots of different styles of journaling you can experiment with. For example, there’s stream of consciousness journaling, where you write down anything that comes to mind for a certain amount of time. You can also try bullet journaling to stay on top of all those ambitious plans you have or get creative with pre-written prompts. Once you find your groove, you may even discover a lot about yourself in the process.
Yoga
As the enthusiasts of the Enneagram, Sevens are constantly in motion, dreaming up new ideas and making exciting plans for the future. A mindful hobby like yoga allows them to slow down and reconnect with themselves. Sevens hate feeling trapped or limited in any way, so they’ll love the free-flowing movements of yoga. Plus, Sevens will enjoy finding their own flow and pace. Whether you take a class, find a video, or practice your own poses, you’ll feel more balanced and grounded after a few sun salutations.
Start a club
Strong and self-assured, Eights are born leaders. They love having the people they care about all together, especially when they share a common belief, mission, or passion. Starting a book club or other organization nurtures an Eight’s ability to lead, inspire, and listen to others. Plus, let’s be honest, Eights love getting into heated debates and challenging others’ opinions (in the most loving way, of course). To Eights, that’s quality bonding time, so starting a club will allow them to share and discuss the things they’re passionate about while spending time with people they care about.
Gardening
What’s more zen for The Peacemaker than a slow, meditative hobby like gardening? Nines value harmony within themselves and their environment, and plants are a natural way to bring tranquility into any space. If you don’t have a backyard or it’s too cold where you are to get outside, trusty houseplants or an indoor herb garden can do the trick. Gardening is not only relaxing and therapeutic for a Nine, but it can also be metaphoric for tending to themselves too. Nines often push aside their own needs to please others and keep the peace. However, when they “water” and nurture themselves, they can grow in incredible ways.
