45 Best Hobbies for Stay-at-Home Moms

Why Should Stay-at-Home Moms Have Hobbies?

Why should a busy mom invest time in hobbies? Aren't we busy enough?

When you become a mom, regardless of whether you stay at home or work, there is a considerable shift in your life. You are suddenly responsible for little lives and running a household.

How Hobbies Enhance Well-Being

Let’s be real: hobbies aren’t just about passing the time. They add something extra to your day, giving you a sense of accomplishment and a break from the usual routine. Sometimes, that’s exactly what you need to recharge.

Even a simple activity can help you shake off a tough mood or feel more like yourself again. I’ve noticed that when I squeeze in a bit of creative time, I handle the rest of the day’s chaos a little better. Isn’t it funny how a few minutes to yourself can make such a big difference?

New Hobbies Build Confidence

Picking up new hobbies can really show you what you're capable of. Maybe you whip up a new recipe, finish a tricky knitting project, or finally sort out that photo album you’ve been meaning to tackle—suddenly, you realize you’re more capable than you thought.

When you pull off something small, like baking bread that doesn’t flop or painting something you actually want to hang up, you get this satisfying little rush. Those moments start to add up, and before you know it, you’re walking around with a bit more confidence in your step. Funny how that works, right?

Hobbies let you actually see your progress. You remember making that scrapbook cover look awesome, or finally reaching a fitness milestone you doubted you’d hit. The skills and creativity you pick up from your hobbies don’t just stay there—they sneak into other parts of your life, making everyday challenges feel a bit less daunting.

New Hobbies Create a Sense of Purpose

Having a personal project can give your days a bit more direction. If you’re a stay-at-home mom, sometimes life feels like a loop, but working toward something breaks up that sameness.

When you carve out time for a hobby, you’re giving yourself a goal. Whether you’re finishing a puzzle, learning a new song on piano, or coaxing a flower to bloom in your garden, suddenly your days have this undercurrent of possibility. It’s kind of exciting, honestly.

Purpose doesn’t have to be some grand, world-changing thing. Just making, learning, or even just showing up for your hobby can bring a surprising amount of satisfaction. It’s something to look forward to, and that anticipation can turn an otherwise ordinary day into something you actually enjoy.

45 Best Hobbies for Stay at Home Moms

Let’s check out the 45 best hobbies for stay-at-home-moms, broken into fun categories.

Zen-ish Hobbies – For Spiritual Stay-at-Home Moms

1. Zentangle Art

Do you love to doodle? I do! There’s something therapeutic about putting pen to paper, emptying your mind, and seeing where the moment takes you. Zentangle art is going to rock your doodling world.

Create abstract art by drawing different patterns, joining lines, and shading open spaces. The beauty of Zentangle art is that it's done in the spur of the moment with no planning. Take your doodling to new heights, and check out this awesome video for some inspiration.

2. Create a Zen Garden

As a stay-at-home mom, life can get overwhelmingly busy, and you find yourself running on a hamster wheel. In these moments, you need to find your center and feel grounded.

Raking patterns into soft sand while Zen gardening is the perfect way to unwind and take pleasure in doing something slowly (for a change).

Decorate your Zen garden with moss, pebbles, or even little statues. You can make a mini version if you don't have the space for a full-size Zen garden.

3. Cross Stitch

Cross stitch is back, baby, and it's even better than before. If you're picturing ladies sitting in rocking chairs decorating tablecloths, let me tell you it's evolved a bit since then. Cross stitch is an excellent hobby and a great mindfulness activity.

Let your creativity flow as you destress. You can cross stitch anything, from your fav scene in a book to a welcome home message. Check out this easy tutorial for some inspiration.

4. Annotate Books

Have you ever read a book saying, “OMG, I just love that, and I must remember that?” Well, then, you need to annotate your books. This basically means you add your personal comments on the pages of the book or highlight sections you love.

If you don't like writing in books, you can write on transparent sticky notes (which come in the most gorgeous colors). By annotating your books, you feel closer to the text, and it's a fabulous way to zone out and fully enjoy your reading experience.

This TikTok video sums it up quite nicely.

5. Watercolor Designs

You'll adore watercolor designs if you get impatient with acrylic or oil paints due to the drying time. The colors are vibrant and have a translucent look, allowing you to bleed colors into one another easily.

Shading is a breeze with a set of watercolors, and the whole water coloring process awakens your artistic side. Here's a bonus that stay-at-home moms will love: It has a simple setup and a super quick clean-up time. Perfect for those precious moments you have to yourself.

This step-by-step guide to painting watercolor flowers is an absolute must.

6. Join BookTok

When the kids are at school, and you're done with all the household work, treat yourself to a binge session on BookTok (trust me, this hobby is addictive). Create a TikTok profile and search under the #BookTok tag.

You can search different genres and enjoy book reviews and recommendations. Creating your own BookTok and posting content will motivate you to read more and boost your confidence.

Here's a detailed guide on everything BookTok.

7. Make Polymer Clay Earrings

Don't you hate it when you have the perfect outfit but you don't have the earrings to go with it? So, make your own. Besides, making beautiful things with your own two hands is so satisfying and rewarding.

Making Polymer earrings is an excellent way to play with new techniques and show off your beautiful designs; plus, they make awesome gifts. You don't need much to make polymer earrings, and it forces you to sit still and concentrate for a short amount of time.

8. Contour Drawing

Another doodle-like hobby to look into is contour drawing. All you need is a piece of paper and a pen. Study the contour of an object (figures and faces work well) and let your pen move across the paper without lifting it off the paper. Voilà! Step aside, Picasso, mama’s got skills.

This form of drawing is very freeing, and you need to trust the process. These simple drawings make stunning wall hangings. Here's a neat video to get you started.

Hobbies to Get You Moving

9. Popping Dance Moves

Here's a fun hobby that's going to give you an excellent workout. Popping dance moves first made an appearance in the 1960s and is still popular today. You “hit” to the rhythm of the music, which means you tense and release your muscles.

This dance method is easy to learn, and your kids will marvel at your smooth moves. Mom can be cool too.

10. Jump Rope

Jump rope is one of the best ways to get in shape, and you only need to do it for around 20 minutes daily. This is excellent for stay-at-home moms as it doesn't take up too much time, and you don't need a whole lotta space to do it.

This hobby will get you moving again. It will increase your stamina, tone your body, and give you a healthy dose of endorphins to reduce stress. Part of the fun is learning different tricks and styles.

11. Walk the Weight Off

Okay, so you want a hobby that doesn't involve you actually leaving the house because you have too much to do, and getting out of your PJs isn't your priority right now. I've got you. Ladies, meet Jo – GroWithJo.

Jo has terrific YouTube videos that guide and motivate you to walk 3 miles (or more) in the comfort of your lounge. Her videos are upbeat, fun, and really work up a sweat. You'll feel ready to conquer your day after you've smashed a session with Jo.

12. Tap Dance

Are you looking for a hobby that'll improve your balance and coordination? Something with good music that gets you out of the house? You need to give tap dance a go. Putting on a pair of tap shoes and striking the floor is a wonderful sensation.

Joining a local class will get you out with others and have fun as you pull some Broadway-worthy moves.

13. Aquacise (Water Aerobics)

Submerging yourself in water is a wonderful way to rid your mind of negative thoughts and anxious feelings. It's almost like the water holds space for you as you float and hold your breath.

Aquacise is a gentle exercise that gives you a good body and mind workout.

Most gyms and health and fitness clubs offer aquacise classes.

14. Kangoo Jumps Club

How about trying something out of your comfort zone? If you love running but don't enjoy the impact on your joints, jump into the hobby of Kangoo Jumps. Picture jumping on a portable trampoline along a scenic country road.

Kangoo Jumps are low-impact rebounding boots that reduce the impact on your joints by 80%. There are plenty of clubs where ladies take to the road and jump away their stress (and frustration). Take a look at this awesome video to get you jumping.

15. Wall Pilates

Wall Pilates is exactly what it says. It's Pilates using a wall. This hobby is super easy to do at home; all you need is a mat, a water bottle, and a wall. This new way of doing Pilates has taken the world by storm.

The results are amazing, and the moves feel way more doable. Pilates is great for flexibility and relieving tension. Here's an easy beginner's tutorial you can try.

16. Play Pétanque

Pétanque is a fun and social hobby that encourages teamwork. Pétanque is often compared to lawn boules, but this outdoor game uses weighted metallic boules instead, tossed toward a “but” (a wooden sphere). Whoever gets the closest wins.

The rules are simple, and you don't need excellent ball skills. Take some time out for yourself and enjoy this relaxing game.

Hobbies That Can Make Money For Stay at Home Moms

17. Amigurumi

Doing Amigurumi as a hobby is fun and relaxing and can make you some extra money. Amigurumi is a Japanese style of crocheting cute stuffed yarn characters. You can make any character you like, from Winnie the Pooh to Harry Potter.

Plenty of patterns are available online, and there are step-by-step tutorials on YouTube.

18. Videography

People love having their memories on video (digital) but not everyone has an eye for capturing special moments. Taking up videography as a hobby is a fantastic way to show people how you view things.

There is so much you can do, like creating storylines or using props in the filming. You can also stick to the basics and keep a natural and simple aesthetic. Check out this guide to starting videography.

19. Write a Children's Book

As a stay-at-home mom, there are plenty of precious moments that you get to witness with your kids. Why not take those moments and weave them into a story? You could write a children's book and get your kids to do the illustrations.

This is a great way to allow your imagination to run wild and to share it with others. The Julia Donaldson Writing Children's Picture Books course is the most amazing course where she shares her industry secrets.

20. Become a “Mommy Vlogger”

Did you know that many new moms or moms-to-be flock to YouTube to get advice from other moms who have been there and done that? So, as a stay-at-home mom, why don't you create a YouTube Channel and post about your experiences as a mom?

This will give you a feeling of accomplishment, and you'll be helping another mom out (#ItTakesAVillage) while earning some extra money.

21. Baking

Do you enjoy baking and trying out new frostings and decor ideas? Fantastic. You can turn baking into a lucrative hobby, and your kids will love getting involved. There are always going to be birthdays and celebrations happening throughout the year.

Create a Facebook page and showcase your gorgeous cupcakes and fondant masterpieces. This hobby will keep you inspired and get the creative vibes flowing. Take a look at these handy baking tips.

22. Start a Herb Garden

Nothing is quite as satisfying as heading out into the garden and picking some fresh herbs for your tasty curry. Choose some seeds or seedlings and start an herb garden. Who knows, maybe you have a green thumb and your garden produces more than you can use.

Package your herbs and sell them. What's not to love? Fresh air, enjoying nature, and benefiting from your labor of love.

23. Printed Transfers

Let your artistic flair shine through by designing art for clothing, mugs, notebooks, and school bags. There's definitely a market out there for personalized goodies, and printed transfers make it possible.

You can print on almost anything these days, and who doesn't love a personalized mug or t-shirt?

24. Learn a New Language

Being a stay-at-home mom can sometimes be isolating, so one way to get out and about is to learn a new language. This educational hobby will stimulate your brain, exercise your problem-solving skills, and allow you to meet different people from different cultures.

Once you're fluent in the language, you can offer extra lessons to kids, which will also help you practice.

One of the easiest ways to learn a new langauge is using apps. Babel and Duolingo are generally considered the best language learning apps. Psst, you can also do an online course if it suits you better.

Outdoorsy Stay-at-Home Mom Hobbies

These outdoor hobbies for stay-at-home moms require a little bit of “free” time or the ability to do them in the presence of your child.

25. Trail Running

Trail running is excellent for your mental health. When you hit the trail, it's just you and the sound of your heartbeat. Trail running encourages you to take on different terrain and explore new areas.

You can also join a trail running group that'll motivate you and support you with your hobby.

26. Painting Sunsets

A sunset is something to be appreciated. It's the ending of a day when vibrant colors blend into one another and the blue sky disappears. You can paint a sunset from anywhere: your backyard, a school playground, or from a field on a country road.

Make yourself a flask of chamomile tea and take some time out to appreciate and capture one of nature's most beautiful designs.

27. Gongoozling

Gongoozling is the perfect way to slow down, focus on your breath, and be still for a while. This hobby involves watching and identifying different boats moving across the water. It's very therapeutic and instills a feeling of calm.

Head over to a river or canal, place a blanket on the ground, and enjoy the moment. Fresh air and some quiet time do wonders for the soul. Here's some gongoozler etiquette to help you get started.

28. Twitching

Nope, not the itchy random movement kind of twitching. I'm talking about the birding kind of twitching. If you enjoy bird watching, take your spotting game to the next level by twitching.

Instead of sitting still and studying every bird that passes your way, your goal is to tick off as many as possible from your list.

This is known as chasing or twitching. This is a very rewarding and competitive hobby, and there are even apps you can use.

29. Badminton

Another excellent outdoorsy hobby to pursue is the game of badminton. It's great for losing weight and toning up. You'll be surprised by how many muscles you work in a game. There's running, lunging, and diving involved.

If you aren't too familiar with this game, here's a user-friendly guide to brush up on your knowledge.

30. Picnics

Enjoying a picnic on a beautiful day is a great way to get outdoors, absorb some good ole vitamin D and enjoy the fresh air. You can pack an assortment of snacks and goodies to enjoy while reading a good book, journaling, or just lying on your picnic blanket and cloud gaze.

Going on a solo picnic is the best way to get out of a rut and spoil yourself.

31. Section Hiking

Section hiking is basically hiking without committing to the long haul. You can choose to do an overnight hike or only go 3 miles. It's totally up to you. Whatever you choose, you'll still get out into nature and enjoy some breathtaking scenery.

Here are some helpful tips to get you started.

32. Mountain Biking

I prefer mountain biking to road biking. The adrenaline rush from hitting off-road trails is more appealing and challenging. Mountain biking releases endorphins and serotonin, which are really helpful in lifting your mood.

It’s a great way to exercise and meet other people. Join a mountain biking club near you and enjoy spending some time off the beaten track.

Stay-at-home Mom Hobbies to get Out of Your Comfort Zone

33. Art Journaling

So you've tried bujo, junk, and mindful journaling, but have you tried art journaling? Oh, you're in for a treat. Think of your art journal as your personal canvas where you can express your feelings and memories.

You can use any art medium you please. Spill some coffee on the page and see where it leads you. Art journaling allows you to tap into your creative side.

34. Transcendental Meditation

Transcendental meditation only takes 20 minutes twice a day, leaving you feeling revitalized and calm. It's a simple meditation technique that involves sitting comfortably with your eyes closed and your mind open.

As you sit quietly, you repeat mantras in your mind.

Sometimes stepping out of your comfort zone is the best gift you can give yourself. Why not sign up for an improv class? This hobby will have you laughing, collaborating, and living in the present moment.

36. Go to a Festival

Going to festivals is a great way to shake things up in a positive way. Listening to good music and joining in with the dancing will work miracles on your stress levels and self-esteem.

37. Watch Foreign Films

One of my favorite hobbies for stay-at-home moms is watching foreign films. It opens up a whole new appreciation for foreign films and encourages open-mindedness. After a while, you won't even realize that you're reading subtitles.

38. Public Speaking Club

If you want to work on your critical reasoning skills and self-confidence, taking up public speaking as a hobby will stand you in good stead. You'll develop skills such as mindful listening and how to beat public speaking anxiety.

39. Create a Podcast

Are you passionate about a topic, and do you have a lot to say about it? Consider creating your own podcast. It's a great way to get your opinion out there and engage with other stay-at-home moms.

40. Resin Art

Making resin art is a lot of fun. Resin is mixed with ink or paint to design unique patterns, making the most gorgeous rings and necklaces.

A popular trend at the moment is making resin art with breast milk as a keepsake for mothers.

Random Just-Because Hobbies For the Stay-at-Home Mom

41. Pergamano

This hobby is pretty detail-oriented and a great way to zone in on a task. Pergamano is a technique where you decorate parchment paper by cutting, perforating, and coloring in the paper. It's a very detailed hobby that takes patience and love.

You can turn your designs into gift cards and book covers.

42. Toy Voyaging

Probably one of the most random but exciting hobbies for stay-at-home moms is toy voyaging. This is a great one to do with your kids. You choose a favorite toy and send it off on vacation with an identification card. Track how far your toy has traveled by logging in to the website.

You'll be able to see photos and videos of your toy's fun adventures as they travel the globe.

43. Scutelliphily

Collecting badges and pins (also known as scutelliphily) is another random hobby that's pretty addictive and satisfying. There are so many unique badges out there to collect.

Top Tip: As a mom, you often need to patch your children's clothes, and using one of your badges will make their outfits look super cool.

44. Learn Origami

Origami is the Japanese art of folding paper. This is a peaceful hobby that encourages patience and close attention to detail. There are plenty of step-by-step guides to help you create beautiful paper sculptures.

Your kids will love playing with your paper creations.

45. Thrifting

I've saved the best for last. Thrifting is one of the most practical and useful hobbies for stay-at-home moms. Are you spring-cleaning or cleaning out the kids' cupboards, and you don't know what to do with their old clothes?

Donate them to a thrift shop, and while you're at it, you could do some thrifting and take home some bargains. Check out this guide on how to thrift.

Tips for Embracing Hobbies as a Stay-at-Home Mom

Trying to balance motherhood with personal interests isn’t always simple, but with a little creativity, it’s definitely doable—and honestly, it’s worth it. Some days you’ll get it right, some days you won’t, but a few clever tricks can help you make hobbies a regular, enjoyable part of your life.

If you’re anything like me, you know time is precious and always seems to run out. To fit hobbies into your day, just go ahead and block them off in your calendar like you would any other important thing. Even grabbing 10 or 15 minutes here and there—during naptime, early mornings, or after bedtime—can make a surprising difference.

Honestly, it helps to have a list of simple hobbies that don’t create a mess or take forever to set up. A few that come to mind:

Reading a chapter of a book
Sketching or coloring
Taking a quick walk around the block

If you batch chores like laundry or meal prep, you might find yourself with a bit more free time. And please, don’t feel bad about carving out moments just for you—everyone needs a recharge now and then.

Involving Family Members In Your Hobbies

Bringing your family into your hobbies can turn them into shared adventures. Let your kids help you with crafts, baking, gardening, or even a little exercise. Maybe you set up a weekly “art night” or try learning some easy songs on an instrument together—why not?

If your hobby isn’t exactly kid-friendly, maybe your partner can step in and watch the kids for an hour on the weekend. That way, you get some uninterrupted time for yourself. You could even take turns picking a family hobby—keeps things fresh, and who knows, you might discover something new together.

When you involve your family in your hobbies, you make memories and pick up new skills together. Plus, your kids see that adults need playtime too, which honestly is a lesson worth sharing.

Staying Motivated For Your Hobbies

Honestly, keeping your enthusiasm alive for hobbies as a stay-at-home mom isn’t always a breeze—especially when life gets overwhelming. I like to set clear, bite-sized goals for myself, like baking something new every week or wrapping up a small craft project each month. That way, I don’t feel buried by huge expectations, and it’s easier to squeeze in a little progress when I can.

Sometimes, I’ll jump into local meetups or online groups just to see what others are up to. Sharing wins (and even flops) with people who get it feels surprisingly encouraging. I tend to jot down my improvements in a journal, or snap a quick photo when I finish something, just so I can look back and see how far I’ve come.

When I catch myself getting bored or stuck, I’ll shake things up—maybe try a totally different style, or rope a friend into joining me. Celebrating those tiny victories helps, too. At the end of the day, hobbies are supposed to be fun, right? If they start feeling like work, I know it’s time to switch gears.

If you enjoyed reading this article and are looking for more hobbies, check out my guide on the 75 best hobbies for women to relax and enjoy life. And if you'd like some hobbies for the kids, check out my guide 35 hobbies for kids that are fun and engaging.

And if you're looking for more resources on hobbies, be sure to check out these blog posts: