Behind every great man or woman is a great hobby. Okay, I’m misquoting, but it’s important to never underestimate a good past time to keep us off the streets. There are, of course, a dizzying array hobbies that can keep us busy, but here’s a list of some of the most popular, and unusual hobbies out there.

Gym

The jury is out on whether going to the gym is a hobby. If you’re going purely for reaching a target weight or level of fitness, then it’s definitely more of an activity. If you’re going simply because you enjoy it, then it’s fair to say it’s a hobby. Also, when you think about it, if you’re going for the adrenaline and endorphine rush, it’s probably a sort of addiction.

Model Rockets

Now this is great fun! It combines the elements of model kit building, which we kind of wish we could still do if there was enough time between things in real life, and space adventure! Well, not exactly space, but certainly a chance to fire something a fair distance in the air. Before you know it, you’ll be building your own space program. Amazing.

Cooking

Perhaps one of the most popular hobbies around, and undoubtedly inspired by famous TV chefs, is cooking. Whether you fancy yourself as a science based technician like Heston, a full cream cook like Nigella or you just love a bit of classic Delia, there’s enough to get your teeth into. The great thing is that in this modern age, you’re never far away from a recipe.

Home Brewing

It’s probably the pressures of the recession that’s pushed people to create their own brews, or that fact that there’s a lot of mass produced booze that just doesn’t taste that great. Home brew kits are fairly affordable, and as long as you have a decent space in which to set up (probably in the shed next to your Bright Side Man Tin), you can be all set to experiment with alcohol!

Knitting

Knitting has had something of a resurgence in recent years. The hobby has burst from its stereotyped boundaries of grandmothers knitting booties to young and old engaging in creative ways of using yarn. Of particular note is the phenomenon of yarn bombing, where knitted coverings and adornments appear on landmarks overnight.

Comic Book Collecting

Only a provision of the young in the minds of people who still remember The Beano and The Dandy, the modern comic book is far more geared toward the adult reader. While there are still many superhero hi jinks to be had, comic books cover the length and breadth of all kinds of story telling. The trouble is that it can get too addictive. I’ve seen this happen.

Playing Guitar

Not just playing instruments, but playing the guitar specifically. And, if you’re doing it right, an electric guitar. Remember when you learned those little bits of Smoke On The Water and Stairway To Heaven to impress people at parties? Perhaps it’s time to learn the rest of the tunes now. And with apps like Garage Band, you can record whole songs in your own portable studio!

Article by guitarist Peter Shorney