When you’re a parent, all of your time goes into your family. You spend your free time caring for your little ones and making sure that everyone else is happy, but this often means that you end up failing to make time for yourself. Even when you’re a parent, it’s important that you take some time out for yourself every so often, because when you fail to take your own self-care seriously, you impact the quality of your parenting. That’s why it’s so important that you make time to do the things that you love, and actually take some time away from parenting for your own mental wellness. 

So, we’ve established that taking time out for yourself is important, but what should you do with the time that you take out? What can you do with the time that you take out? How should you spend that time? The truth is that it’s up to you how you spend your free time, however, it’s good to find something to do with that time that you actually enjoy. 

Wondering what it is that you could use your spare time for? The good news is that there are loads of different hobby ideas for you to choose from, it’s just a case of finding the one that’s the best fit for you and your interests. In need of a little hobby inspiration? Below are a few suggestions perfect for busy dads! 

Cooking or grilling 

If you’re someone who enjoys cooking and finds spending time in the kitchen therapeutic, perhaps you could consider taking up cooking or grilling as a hobby. Whether you’re someone who enjoys spending time grilling in the garden and learning new hacks for cooking meats on the barbecue, you could make cooking or grilling your new hobby. What’s great about this kind of hobby is the fact that you can do it from home and there are plenty of online tutorials and webinars that you can use to help you. You could even opt to take a course at your local culinary school, should you want to. 

Have you always been a fan of chemistry? Well, then you might enjoy brewing your own beer - or any other alcohol beverage - as a hobby. Believe it or not, brewing your own beer is far easier than you might think, it’s just a case of knowing the process that you need to take, that’s all. Once you’ve got the process right, you can then start to experiment with all different beer types. To start out, you might find using a beer brewing kit a good idea instead of attempting to brew your first batch of beer completely from scratch. 

Riding a motorbike 

The freedom of hopping onto your very own motorbike and exploring your local area is unmatched. Not only does it give you freedom, but it also provides you with a thrill! When you take the leap to buy a motorbike, the bike itself isn’t the only thing on your shopping list. Once you have set a budget for your bike, you also need to consider what else you might need to buy alongside it. For example, you may need to invest in Durable Fat Bikes tyres for spares, a motorbike helmet and other appropriate clothing for regular rides. Factor all of this into your budget and you will have a clear idea of whether you can afford everything right now. On a similar note, make sure you do your research and figure out what are essential items to buy and what you might be able to purchase further down the line.

Motorcycle riding doesn’t have to be dangerous, it’s just a case of learning to navigate the roads safely and making sure that you have all of the best gear. For instance, you will need to invest in quality motorbike boots and a high-quality motorbike jacket that’s been designed with safety in mind. 

Bodybuilding 

If you are someone who feels the need to get rid of some of their pent up stress and anger, you might find that going to a gym and working out could be a hobby worth considering taking up. The fact is that a lot of men find that working out can help to reduce feelings of stress and boost happiness levels, so if working out is something that you enjoy, then perhaps you could make working out and bodybuilding a hobby? 

Rock climbing 

Are you a bit of an adrenaline junkie? If the answer is yes, then you might find that rock climbing is the perfect hobby for you. It’s fun, safe, and extremely exhilarating, and it’s also really good for building fitness and boosting health. To start out, head to your local rock climbing centre and take part in a few basic classes. Then, once you’ve mastered the basics, perhaps you could look for an outdoor rock climbing group to join? 

When you’re a parent, it’s far too easy to fail to make enough time for yourself. However, if you are going to be the best parent that you can ever be, it’s important that you take the time to make time for yourself and your needs, and starting a hobby is the perfect way to do that.