Three Productive Hobbies for Smart People

The audacity of my title may raise a number of eyebrows, but I’m sure a lot of others may find it relevant. Although some people might agree on what’s on my list, others would probably tend to disagree on some. Well, I’m writing this with a writer’s prerogative – the freedom of expression. And you as the reader have always the prerogative to agree or disagree with the writer.

Anyway, if you’re going to ask what my bases are for this list, and why I consider them fit for smart people, I’d tell you that I really have no specific criteria as to how I came up with this list, except for the following which are purely based on my own personal standards, observations, and experiences of what a good hobby should be, and how smart people should spend their free time.

• The hobby should be productive in any way
• It should make you a little better in any aspect
• It should not cost you more than you could afford
• It should entertain and delight you
• It should not be detrimental to you or to anyone else
• It should not infringe on anybody’s right to privacy, freedom, and good health
• It should have a positive impact on your personal relationships and interactions with other people
• It should help bring out your creativity, resourcefulness, zealousness, self-discipline, and confidence
• It should be healthy for both your mind and body

So what are these hobbies then that would qualify for the set of criteria mentioned above? As per my observation and experience, the following hobbies are suitable for smart people. In fact, most smart people I know engage in such hobbies. What’s best about these hobbies is that most of them can be done alone or with your family and friends. So, engaging in these hobbies can be a form of bonding session with your loved ones as well.

Crafting

There are a lot of crafting activities which you can engage in depending on your gender, preference, interest, and resources. Crafting activities most commonly engaged in by a number of hobby enthusiasts include:

• Needlecraft – This hobby is very popular among women as it comes in various forms such as cross-stitching, crocheting, embroidery, and sewing. Although more common among women, I have seen a number of men who engage in cross-stitching and sewing too. These crafts are very enjoyable, but they require your complete concentration and creativity. The good thing about these crafts is that you can opt to do these for your own personal satisfaction and need or for commercial purposes, which can help augment your financial needs.
• Beading and fashion jewelry making – Another female-dominated crafting activity, this hobby also demands your creativity, detailing skills, resourcefulness, and patience. You can also engage in this hobby to produce fashionable items for your own use or your family’s needs. And like needlecraft, you can turn this into a family home-business as well, especially if you have teenage or adult daughters who can work with you in creating trendy pieces which you can sell to friends and relatives as a start. You might just tap the inner entrepreneur in you by pioneering such products in your area.
• Pottery – This hobby is best for both men and women. However, its intricate process demands great concentration and attention to details. You can mold lots of items made of clay such as pots, vases, jars, and the like. And like other crafts, you can build a business out of it.

Mind exercises

If you love mental exercises that are both fun and challenging, then mind games are for you. Smart people love to use their mental faculties most of the time even when relaxing. That’s why even in the pursuit of a leisurely activity, they generally prefer a hobby that makes use of their mental or intellectual prowess. Common games that require wits include: