6 New Hobbies You Should Try in 2017

New year, new you, right? One of the best ways to reinvigorate your routine and shake things up a bit is experience something new. There’s nothing quite like exploring something you haven’t  tried before to get all the cylinders firing and to learn something you didn’t know about yourself… or just to do something cool.

Rock climbing

If Cross Fit wasn’t quite your thing and Soul Cycle seems a little too… peppy, you may consider giving rock climbing a try. Climbing gyms are fast becoming one of the most popular fitness options out there. Additionally, a functional approach to exercise has been proven to yield better and more long lasting results than traditional means. The gyms are set up with climbing routes designed with plastic holds that mimic features you’d find on rocks outside. Some of these require ropes and some do not while also featuring a range of difficulty. Not only is climbing physically challenging, routes require mental acuity and problem-solving skills as well. If you’re bored with your regular workout routine, you may want to consider giving this is try. You may even find it feels more like fun and a lot less like working out.

Bullet journaling

If organization is your thing, than bullet journaling just might be your new favorite pastime. Bullet journaling takes task management, to-dos and efficiency to a whole other level. Better yet, it’s customizable and allows you to combine your unique creativity in a way that works for you. While there is an official Bullet Journal site with purchase options, you can use the system with a journal or approach of your choice. Additionally, bullet journaling has taken such a hold that there are a large number of threads, and idea boards online that offer ideas for different, fun approaches to the method. Go ahead, nerd out. No one’s judging.

Racing drones

Whether snagging an amazing aerial shot or just enjoying the navigation of something through space, drones have quickly shot to the top of the gift list for a wide range of consumers. If you’re looking for something new, racing drones is a popular hobby you may want to check out this year. If you don’t know where to start, there’s plenty of online guides to help you decide what kind of drone to buy and outline features you may be interested in. If happen to have any engineering interests as well, there are kits available that allow you to build and customize your own.

Upcycling

If you’re a bargain hunter or coupon master, you may want to up your game and give upcycling a try. Not only is it good for the environment, it also challenges you to find creative ways to reuse items. You may even surprise yourself and find you have a burgeoning business on your hands. There’s plenty of platforms, such as Etsy that help sellers who specialize in handcrafted and upcycled goods market their products.

Starting a club

Do you love hiking and exploring outdoors? Are you an avid reader who loves to discuss a new favorite author? Perhaps you enjoy gardening. Whatever your passion, consider starting a club with others who share a similar interest. Combining powers can take your hobbies to a whole new level and expose new ways of thinking, doing and seeing that you may not have discovered alone. Check out Meetup.com and make a new group for your community.

Photography 

In a world of iPhone photography and Instagram, nearly everyone has become more or less a “photographer/photojournalist.” If you’re the one known among your friends and family to constantly whip out their phone to snap a photo, consider taking the opportunity to get a real camera… one with a camera body that separates from a lens. Take a photography class or look up a local meetup group and nail down the fundamentals of composition, light and development. While photography is primarily digital these days, you can still get your hands on film cameras and learn how to develop film the old fashioned way.