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Have you been called weird before? Wait till you read this list of 47 weird hobbies as the real deal of unusual activities. And if you’re wondering, a hobby is considered an activity outside someone’s main occupation. Anything we're passionate to do after work is a hobby. And it doesn't really matter if we’re running, knitting, or creating new unique collections, as long as those activities aren't hurting anyone and keep us level-headed.

Unusual hobbies are noticeably different activities that are out-of-the-ordinary ways of having fun or pursuing a passion. If a hobby is unusual, it doesn't happen very often, or at least you don’t hear about it very often. Popular terms to define unusual activities are strange, odd, different, unique, or rare hobbies.

To give you some ideas on how to spend your free time (or simply to amuse you), at Bored Panda, we have collected a list of photos where people showcase their cool hobbies. So continue scrolling, and enjoy. Oh, and upvote your favorite pics. We really want to know which one you like best!

#1

17 Years Old Builds 14.7" F/2.89 Newtonian Reflector Telescope

Boy standing near a big black telescope in room

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Why Should We All Have a Hobby? 

In this day and age, “I’m too busy” has become a badge of honor, a sign of value and importance. We wear it with pride, convincing ourselves we don't have the time to take up a hobby. But we want to believe we can all engage in cool and unique hobbies. And we can get a lot out of it as well.

“Hobbies help you structure your time,” says Jaime Kurtz, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychology at James Madison University in Virginia.

Things take as much time as you have. So, when you have an unscheduled evening with no plans, you might find yourself working on a project or answering work emails in the wee hours. But, if you had a book club meeting that night or other planned activities, you would get those tasks done much more quickly. So, hobbies help you to organize your time by encouraging efficiency. 

Hobbies also promote flow. “Left to our own devices, we often opt for passive leisure—TV and scrolling on social media are at the top of most people’s lists,” Kurtz explains. 

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“Sure, we all need to veg out from time to time. But we feel alive much more by active time-out. If you’ve ever lost yourself in a sport, art project, or other challenging, absorbing activity, you know what we’re talking about. When you get fully immersed in something you’re passionate about, the time just flies. Hobbies, especially those that reveal our skills, help us have more active days .”

Hobbies promote new social connections. Yes, some are solitary activities, but many get us out in our communities, meeting people we otherwise wouldn’t, sharing our passions, and forming new relationships. Kurtz says social connection is a critical component of happiness and a meaningful life. Hobbies help you to create precious new connections.

Hobbies help people cope with stress. “Imagine a rough day at the office, where you were harshly criticized by your boss. Coming home and turning on the TV may provide a brief distraction, but it doesn’t heal your damaged ego. But, if you head out to your soccer league or pottery class instead, those hours will surely help you boost your mood. These activities remind you that there are many aspects to your self-concept.”

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Moreover, these benefits can spill over into other aspects of your life. If you can make an hour a day or even a few hours a week for something you feel truly inspired by, it’s only natural if some of that newfound zest carries over into your work and family life.

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#2

I Started Painting on Strollers on My Friend’s Stroller

Painted kids trolley

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How Do I Get a Cool Hobby?

If you’re on a hobby hunt, these are a few tips to follow in finding your pursuit. The key is to have fun and enjoy exploring new activities that make you happy. 

1. Explore Your Interests

Define what activities or topics genuinely interest you. It could be anything from art and music to outdoor adventures or crafting.

2. Try Something New 

Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Trying new things can lead to discovering surprising passions.

3. Utilize Online Resources

The internet is a treasure trove of hobby ideas. You can find tutorials, forums, and communities dedicated to various interests.

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4. Consider Your Schedule and Budget

Ensure the hobby you choose aligns with your available time and budget. Some hobbies require more time than others. Some activities can be seasonal hobbies like collecting sea shells in the summer. Other activities are for the rich people. There are few typical activities that only wealthy individuals can make happen. Take yacht collecting, for example. It isn't easily doable by anyone. 

5. Visit Local Clubs or Workshops

Joining a local club or workshop related to your interests can be a smart approach to meet like-minded individuals and gain hands-on experience in rare hobbies.

6. Reflect on Childhood Interests

Think back to activities you enjoyed as a child. Sometimes, these early interests can be rekindled and grown into a fulfilling and maybe affordable hobby in your adult life.

7. Combine Interests

Get creative by combining different interests. For example, if you enjoy photography and hiking, consider nature photography.

8. Never Stop Being Curious

Stay curious and open-minded. You never know what new hobby might capture your attention and transform your days. 

Once you find what you want to do in your free time, you can benefit from these activities in many ways. According to research about the connection between leisure and well-being, Matthew J. Zawadzki, an associate professor of health psychology at the University of California, stated: “Some leisure activities may be more prone to providing benefits than others.”

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#3

A Collection of Memes on Paintings

Many meme painting in room

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What Are Extreme Historical Hobbies?

If you think these unique hobbies we’ve listed are new to leisure activities, think again. Weird hobbies date back to the Victorian era, which brought significant changes to people’s lifestyles and their pastime activities. The most important change was stopping blood sports like bear baiting and cockfighting. 

Further, trains made it easier for people to travel, and going to the beach became a favorite activity. Bicycles, in all sorts of shapes, were a new thing on Victorian roads. However, the best development was the trains. They also let local sports teams play against each other. This led to organized games like cricket, football, and rugby with set rules and national contests, like the FA Cup. The Victorian era was also the rise of Lawn Tennis in the 1830s. 

People in this time loved attending brass band music and captivating spectacles, which featured intriguing acts like hypnotism and communication with the deceased through mediums. Circuses and exotic animal displays were also popular. Popular sports included cycling, rowing, and horseracing, drawing large crowds to events like the Henley Regatta and Epsom Derby. 

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Unboxing the New Hobby Box, let’s check some of the world’s rarest, oldest, exotic, and unusual hobbies. Let’s start with 3 weird hobbies: corrosion casting, extreme ironing, and blood painting. In ancient pastimes, coin collecting, hunting, and Backgammon held their crown with a rich heritage. For those with a taste for luxury, yachting, polo, and car collecting are the most prosperous pursuits. On the other hand, exotic, rare hobbies are beetle fighting, Sapito, and stick fighting.

#4

My Grandma is Surprisingly a Great Artist

Colorful paintings

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#5

My Dad Has Cool Hobbies Like Making These Weird Heads From Scratch

Two Creppy heads from Scratch

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#6

Paul Sperber (78 Yo) Has Been Building a Model City Out of Paper for 65 Years

Man holding a lego piece in a lego city

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#7

In My Odd Hobbies I Photoshop My Cat Into Movie Posters and Set Them as My Fiance's Phone Background

Funny movie covers wit cat

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Rainbow Panda
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

‘The mission is a red dot.’ 🔴 Made me laugh when I thought of a laser pointer.

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#8

I Breed Butterflies as Part of My Unusual Hobbies

Various animals and butterflies

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Norma Luce
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is not a butterfly. It is a moth, an Atlas moth if I am not mistaken.

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#9

It Took Me a Year to Do Hundreds of Threads & Knots

Black pirate ship made by Threads & Knots

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David K
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am so happy to see another model ship building enthusiast. This took me 1 year to complete. Around 1000 parts. And yes, the threads and knots are hell. IMG_202003...d7142f.jpg IMG_20200303_113008297-5fdb30cd7142f.jpg

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#10

My Collection of Piercing State Quarters in a Year

Multiple Piercing State Quarters on a desk

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#11

My Mom’s Cool Hobbies Include Making Jello Art

Flower in a jello bubble

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#12

My Mom’s Rare Hobbies Include Collecting Coffee Mugs

Couple arranging a tall mug shelf

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#13

I Like To Build Metal Miniatures

Various metal animals on desk

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#16

My Dad’s Unusual Hobbies Include Making Lamps

Three unusual lamps

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#17

My Rare Hobby Started by Buying a Few Advertising Rulers Here and There

Rulers made into a wall

I started by buying a few advertising rulers here and there; yard sales, eBay, and the occasional antiques store when they weren’t charging $20/stick. I figured that I would use them as wainscoting in a small room once I found my forever home. People would give them to me as gifts around the holidays. Two homes later, there was some very boring pine paneling and needed something. I still have about 100 yardsticks left. Maybe for a vacation house some day

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#18

Loved Miniatures Since Childhood and Now is a Regular Hobby

Miniature in a metal can

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#21

I Build Guitars. Here's My Favorite Masterpiece

Puzzle themed guitar

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#24

Weird Hobbies That Were Helpful During Pandemic

Organized colored pantry

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#26

New Unique Hobbies: Encasing Things in Resin

Encased Things in Resin

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#27

My Unique Hobby Started With a Visit to a Kids’ Store With My Daughter

plasticine made in to a big castle

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#28

Being a Cover Girl is Among the New Odd Hobbies

Woman holding a journal

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#29

I Made a Shark Out of My Shark Tooth Collection

Shark tooth collection in a frame

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Kirsten Kerkhof
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love that antique-looking box and slightly faded fabric. Almost as though it was done by a Victorian collector.

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#30

I Collect Rocks That Look Like Eggs

Multiple rocks that look like eggs

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#31

3d Printing, Painting, and Making Statues

3D printed warrior statue

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Jayne Kyra
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is amazing. The 360° view on reddit (click the reddit link at the bottom left of the picture for source) shows it even better.

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#32

I Collect Sand and Dirt From Every Place I Visit

Different types of sand in jars on a shelf

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#33

My Mom Has Some Strange Hobbies Like Doing Pistachio Art

Pistachios with faces on them

Those are pistachios. I always said she needed a hobby but I did not expect this.

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Billie Templeton
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So.... was your mom an obstetric nurse or doctor? Cause this looks really specific

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#34

It Sounds Weird but I Collect Unusual Matches

Different and unusual matches

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#35

My Mother Has an Entire Collection of Uranium Glass

Uranium green glasses in a glass shelf

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#37

New Hobby of Printing Terrains and Painting Them

Printed colorful different terrains

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#40

I Saw Collecting Cicada Shells to Pose Them in Battle Scenes as a New Hobby of My Facebook Friend

Cicada Shells imitating a battle scene

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#41

"So What Do You Collect?" - "Oh, Just Barf Bags"

Man and his collection of barf bags

Niek Vermeulen (Netherlands) has 6,290 airline sickness bags from 1,191 different airlines from almost 200 countries, as of 28 February 2012, which he has accumulated since the 1970s.

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#42

I Do Woodturning as a Hobby for Almost a Year Now

Woodturning in a glass cage

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#44

My Collection of 4-leaf, 5-leaf, 6-leaf, and 7-leaf Clovers

Collection of different clovers

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David K
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

7 leaf clovers!!! And I never even find a 4 leaf one. You must be living in a country of big luck.

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#45

Swedish Guy Lost His Job. Took Up Snail Painting

Many snails with painted shells

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#46

Combining Strange Hobbies: Transferring Images Through Acrylic Decoupage & Retro Games

Acrylic Decoupage of retro game on a white desk

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#47

My New Hobby - Collecting Whiskey Jugs

Various whiskey jugs

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