Searching for the perfect top 10 hobbies for women to start in your empty nest season? Does the quiet in your house feel a little too loud now?
If you’re in your empty nest season, you know the mix of pride and sudden space all too well. I remember staring at my own quiet living room, my purpose feeling shifted, wondering, What now?
That search for what’s next is exactly why I created this list. At FemmeHobbies, we have seen how the right hobby isn’t just a pastime—it’s a powerful tool for rediscovery. These top 10 hobbies for women aren’t just our ideas; they’re curated from the real joy and transformation we’ve seen in our community. They are pathways to new skills, new friends, and a renewed sense of self.
Short Summary:
- This article supports women transitioning into the empty nest phase by highlighting meaningful and enjoyable hobbies.
- It features top 10 hobbies like knitting, painting, sewing, cozy gaming, and gardening that promote self-expression, relaxation, and community.
- Creative hobbies like jewelry making, scrapbooking, and makeup artistry allow women to explore their talents and even start small businesses.
- The guide also emphasizes mental well-being through reading, journaling, and peaceful activities such as baking and nature-based hobbies.
- Whether seeking creativity, social bonding, or stress relief, these hobbies help women embrace this new chapter with confidence and joy.
Creative Hobbies: Top 10 Hobbies for Women
Knitting and Crochet
There is a reason knitting and crochet have been cherished for generations. It’s not just about the final scarf or blanket; it’s the rhythmic, almost meditative motion of the needles or hook that truly calms the mind. I always recommend this for women who need something to do with their hands while watching TV—it turns passive time into productive creation.
A Tip from Our Community: Don’t start with a complex sweater! Begin with a simple, chunky yarn blanket. The stitches are easy to see, and you get a satisfying result quickly, which is a huge motivation boost.
Drawing and Painting
Engaging in creative hobbies, Drawing and painting are fundamental forms of visual art, each offering unique creative expression. While drawing focuses on lines, shading, and texture using tools like pencils, charcoal, or ink, painting brings images to life with vibrant colors and brushstrokes on canvas. Both mediums allow artists to explore creativity in distinct yet complementary ways.
Painting, on the other hand, uses color with brushes or knives on exterior like fabric or wood, permitting for bright colors and several textures through methods like mixing and layering. This is why the top 10 hobbies for females at home often include artistic activities like these.
Sewing and Quilting
Sewing and quilting are methods of making different things from fiber. In sewing, cloth is stitched and cloth is joined with another cloth to make clothes and outfits, whereas in quilting, layers of cloth are stitched together to make a heavy, cushioned fabric, which is used for comforters or fancy items. Sewing is more universal and is used in all kinds of projects, whereas quilting focuses on more complex structures and designs. Both crafts are means of artistic expression and artistry, making them among the top 10 attractive hobbies for females.
Jewelry Making
- 💎 Express Your Creativity – Design unique, handcrafted pieces that reflect your style.
- 🎨 Endless Material Choices – Work with beads, metals, gemstones, and more for stunning creations.
- 💰 Turn Your Hobby into a Business – Sell your handmade jewelry online or at craft fairs.
- 🧘♀️ Relaxing & Therapeutic – A mindful activity that relieves stress and boosts focus.
- 🎁 Personalized Gifts for Loved Ones – Create meaningful, custom jewelry for special occasions.
- ✨ Start your jewelry-making journey today and craft something beautiful! 💍
Jewelry making is a fantastic way to express your personal style that may have been on the back burner for years. The best part? You can create pieces that are truly you.
Based on what our readers tell us, the motivation often falls into two camps:
- The Therapeutic Crafter: I just love the focus of stringing beads. It’s my mindfulness practice.
- The Entrepreneurial Spirit: I started making pieces for friends, and now they’re asking to buy them!
A Simple Starter Project: Instead of investing in expensive tools, begin with a simple stretchy bracelet kit. They are affordable, require no special skills, and you’ll have a wearable piece of art in under an hour.
Fun and Social Hobbies
Cozy Gaming
Cozy gaming is a gaming practice that produces a relaxed environment. There is a craze to play games that are relaxed, slow-paced, and sentiment soothing, such as virtual games, life-simulation, or story-focused games. In Cozy gaming, team members play games at their velocity, without any stress, which includes soothing music, soothing images, and peaceful strategies. This is a method of gaming that is perfect for calm and enjoyment, making it one of the top 10 hobbies women find attractive.
Crafting (e.g., Wreath Making, Scrapbooking)
Crafting is an inspired hobby in which we explore our hidden skills to make different handmade items like bouquet making and scrapbooking. In wreath making, a round decoration is made by using different things like blooms, ribbons, and fancy pieces. In scrapbooking, a unique and customized book is made by organizing pictures, memories, and fancy components into an album cover. Both these hobbies focus more on your imagination and uniqueness and give you an opportunity to uniquely express your sentiments and moments.
Makeup Artistry
Makeup artistry is an expert craft where makeup items are used to change a person’s look. It involves methods like foundation, eyeshadow, lipstick, shading, and highlighting to boost the skin and emphasize facial function. Makeup skills are not just for beauty but also play a vital role in special events, photoshoots, and fashion events. It is a unique and technical sector where creators use their skills and vision to help individuals fulfill their aspirated look. For those interested in beauty, it is one of the top female hobbies to consider.
Relaxing top 10 Hobbies for girls
Baking and Decorating
Explore your kitchen skills and learn new recipes. Baking and decorating bring creativity and skill to the kitchen. Using dry heat, baking transforms simple ingredients into delicious treats like cakes, bread, and pastries. Similarly, decorating adds artistic flair, turning baked goods into visually stunning masterpieces. Furthermore, baking requires essential ingredients such as flour, sugar, eggs, and leavening agents. At the same time, decorating enhances these simple treats, transforming them into visually appealing delights.
Precision in sizing, mixing, and heat control is necessary for effective baking. Decorating focuses on improving the optical appeal of these baked items through methods like icing, tubing, and using consumable decorations. It merges creativity and skill to convert baked goods into visually attractive treats, often using instruments such as piping bags, spoons, and spinners.
Gardening
Gardening is a powerful metaphor for this new season of life: you’re planting seeds for future joy. The act of tending to something and watching it grow is incredibly rewarding. But many beginners get overwhelmed.
My #1 Tip for Beginners: Start with a single, large pot on your patio. Plant a resilient cherry tomato plant or some easy herbs like basil and mint. This small project is manageable, gives you a quick harvest, and helps you learn the basics without the stress of a full garden bed. I learned this the hard way after overwatering my first batch of seedlings!
Why It’s Perfect for Empty Nesters: It gets you outside in the fresh air, provides gentle physical activity, and the literal fruits of your labor are a delicious reward.
Reading and Journaling
Reading and journaling are dynamic practices that enrich both the mind and soul. On one hand, reading opens the door to new worlds, expands knowledge, and broadens perspectives. On the other hand, journaling encourages self-reflection and emotional clarity. Ultimately, these hobbies work together to provide a relaxing escape from daily stresses while fostering personal growth.
Journaling supplements this by offering a space to reveal your thoughts, express feelings, and record your journey. Together, they create strong teamwork: reading sparks motivation and ideas, while writing helps you process and absorb them, encouraging creativity, awareness, and personal growth. These habits not only improve self-awareness but also guide us to a more reflective and fulfilled life.
Covering Up: Embracing Hobbies for a More Fulfilling Life
Remember, the goal isn’t to become a master knitter or a professional gardener overnight. The goal is to find something that brings you a sense of peace and accomplishment. The most common thing we hear at FemmeHobbies is, ‘I wish I had started sooner.’
So, which of these hobbies sparked a little curiosity? Click on one that interests you—we have deeper beginner guides for most of them right here on the site. The perfect time to start is now. Your new favorite pastime is waiting
Leave a Comment: What’s Your Favorite Hobby?
We’d love to know which hobby you enjoy most or are excited to try! Share your thoughts in the comments below and inspire other women to explore something new.
Frequently Asked Questions
These hobbies were chosen specifically for how they fit into women’s lives – they offer flexibility, creative expression, stress relief, and opportunities for social connection. Many can be done at home, fit around busy schedules, and provide that important “me time” women often need.
Based on feedback from our FemmeHobbies community, knitting with chunky yarn or starting a simple container garden are fantastic beginner options. Both have low startup costs and you can see results quickly, which is really motivating!
Several on our list are excellent for mental wellness. Journaling, gardening, and cozy gaming are particularly effective for creating a calm, focused state of mind. The repetitive motions of knitting and crochet are also wonderfully meditative.
Absolutely! Jewelry making, baking, and sewing often turn into successful small businesses. Many women in our community start by selling at local craft fairs or through Etsy. The key is to first enjoy the process – the business potential comes naturally from there.
Focus on hobbies that don’t require big time commitments. Journaling (just 10 minutes daily), cozy gaming (play in short sessions), or reading are perfect. Remember – even 15 minutes of “you time” can make a big difference in your week.
Yes, specifically! Many of these hobbies are ideal for women entering new life chapters. They provide structure, creative outlets, and ways to meet new people – all while being adaptable to your energy levels and schedule.