18 Hobbies For Teenage Guys That Are Cool & Productive

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In all honesty, being a teenage guy can be tough sometimes. This is coming from, you guessed it, a former teenage guy!

On the one hand, your teenage years are awesome in that you generally don’t have as much responsibility as you have as an adult. Other than your education and a potential part-time job, there’s plenty of leisure time to pick up a new hobby or to see friends.

However, your teenage years are also confusing. You’re discovering more of what interests you, trying new things, meeting new groups of friends…stuff changes!

Now, it doesn’t matter if you’re a concerned parent reading this or a teenage guy yourself, it’s important to remember that time is valuable.

Yes, your teenage years are for leisure. However, there’s nothing wrong with picking up some solid hobbies and skills along the way.

If you’re stuck on how to spend your time or want some ideas on new areas to explore, this list of  18 best hobbies for teenage guys is the perfect read.

Let’s get to the hobbies!

The Best Hobbies For Teenage Guys

For young teenage boys who are learning what it means to be a man, it is especially critical to start productive hobbies that teach new skills and sharpen your mind/sense of self…again, this is why the 8 hours a day of video games, while pleasurable, is not a great idea.

So, with that being said, let’s break down some great hobby ideas for teenage guys.

1. A Solo Sport

It doesn’t matter if the solo sport is running, tennis, boxing, or something else; playing a solo sport is an awesome hobby for any teenage guy.

Solo sports teach self discipline, responsibility, and commitment. Success or failure is completely on the shoulders of the athlete, and this is an important lesson to learn as it applies any independent effort in life.

2. A Team Sport

At the same time, playing a team sport is another excellent hobby for any teenager.

Team sports teach, well, teamwork. They teach young men when and how to depend on people around them, as well as the importance of not letting other people down and playing your role.

I used to hate playing soccer as a kid and teenager.

But, I eventually learned to love the sport and having a team, and soccer games are some of my fondest memories from growing up.

3. Reading

Reading can definitely be considered a hobby, and teenage boys should certainly pick up reading outside of the classroom.

Let me be frank; many schools give out bogus book recommendations these days.

Like, why are young students reading The Kite Runner or other stupid books instead of reading Shakespeare, Dickens, works of philosophy, or just classic authors in general?

reading-hobby

School kills the love of reading for many students. Don’t let this happen to you.

Read classics and modern works, and always have a book on the go. This is one of the best hobbies you can start as a teenager and keep throughout your life.

Extra Reading – 16 Pieces of Advice For Young Men.

4. Fishing

I only went fishing a handful of times as a teenage guy, but from everyone I know who fishes today (as an adult), it’s clear that fishing is a truly incredibly hobby for teenage boys.

Fishing teaches patience, as well as a respect for nature and wildlife.

Fishing also teaches you how to be alone with your thoughts and to enjoy the moment. It’s the perfect way to de-stress, and hey, you can also learn to catch and cook what you fish for!

5. Hiking

Like fishing, getting into hiking teaches you to appreciate nature and to be alone with your thoughts.

Plus, hiking is a killer workout. This teenage hobby might be tough to get into if you don’t live near any good hiking locations, but even getting in the habit of walking through trails or parks is a solid idea.

6. Woodworking

Getting into carpentry or woodworking is another great skill for teenage guys to learn.

Learning how to build or craft something yourself is immensely rewarding; it’s something I wish I had done more of as a teenager honestly.

woodworking

Plus, in the long run, being handy will save you a fortune on future renovation projects. Learn some basic skills as a teenager, and your wallet will thank you down the line.

7. Programming

It goes without saying that programming is going to be a valuable skill for pretty much the foreseeable future.

Learning how to program as a teenager is an amazing use of time. You simultaneously expand your knowledge of computers while learning a new skill that opens up career paths to in-demand, high paying jobs.

There are tonnes of free or affordable programming courses out there, and you can always self-teach as well using the internet.

8. Writing (or Blogging)

I started my first blog back in highschool, and in general, I was always writing something from a young age.

Writing is a great teenage hobby to start because, like programming, it widens your perspective while also making you a better communicator (except instead of learning a new coding language you’re improving the language you already speak).

Plus, you never know, starting a blog or writing a book could always turn out to be more lucrative than you think!

In fact, writing and blogging has turned into my full-time job now that I’m in my mid twenties. But I’ve been learning this skill for more than a decade, which just goes to show you how valuable this hobby for teen boys can be.

9. Learn to Play an Instrument

Learning to play an instrument is another excellent hobby for teen boys.

Music is incredibly challenging. Learning an instrument legitimately changes your brain, and like sport, music teaches practice and patience.

play-an-instrument

Just be sure to pickup an instrument that’s cool or worth learning. I’m not joking.

Learn guitar, piano, violin, or saxophone. For the love of God, don’t learn the piccolo or clarinet or something useless (when’s the last time you saw someone whip out one of these instruments at a campfire or at someone’s house?)

10. Painting

While I’m convinced that artistic ability is something you’re either naturally talented at or not (I am the latter, unfortunately), like anything, practice makes you better.

Learning to paint or draw is an excellent idea for a hobby. Art is beautiful, and art can also be incredibly therapeutic and rewarding.

You might have to take a few courses to slowly improve. However, there are also tonnes of free guides online, as well as some pretty awesome YouTube channels that teach art.

11. Photography & Videography

While this might be an expensive hobby for a teenager to get into, hopefully your school has some sort of photo class or club that makes accessing high quality cameras more feasible.

In any case, learning the basics of photography and videography is a worthwhile endeavor.

You might find you have a passion for this form of creative element, and both skills are in demand in the workforce. Alternatively, you might walk away from this hobby knowing how to take more stunning photos and videos for the rest of your life.

Not a bad scenario either way!

12. Gaming…The Right Way

There’s nothing wrong with playing video games as a teenager. I spent tonnes of time throughout my childhood playing games like Age of Empires or Call of Duty.

age-of-empires-2
Learned a lot about Medieval history from this game.

Honestly, games can be highly educational. They teach history, politics, and even improve motor functioning according to some studies.

However, it’s important to not let this teenage hobby consume you.

Limit yourself or your kid to an hour of screen-time a day, maximum. Additionally, if it’s a nice day outside, maybe spend time outdoors instead and leave the screen for a rainy day.

13. Cooking

Everyone should know how to cook. End of discussion.

Cooking is an excellent hobby for teenage guys for a variety of reasons. Firstly, from a health perspective, it’s just important to know the basics of how to cook healthy meals and not turn to ordering pizza every night the second you move out.

Secondly, it’s a great card to have up your sleeve when it comes to dating. Men should know how to cook for the people they love, and a dinner at home can be a great (and frugal) date idea down the line.

14. Learn a Language

This is honestly something I wish I had done as a teenager since it’s a skill that will serve you for the rest of your life.

Being able to communicate with people from different parts of the world is just awesome. Plus, learning a language keeps your mind sharp, and is frankly pretty impressive.

15. Gardening

Starting your own garden is another amazing hobby to start as a teenage guy.

Gardening teaching patience, nurturing, and is also incredibly frugal and handy. When you own your own place, being able to grow your own food will cut down on grocery costs and also encourage you to eat healthy.

This is an overlooked hobby, but an amazing one to start nevertheless.

16. Start a Side Business

Starting a side hustle or side business as a teenager is an awesome way to develop new skills, practice business, and potentially diversify your income.

You don’t need to reinvent the wheel here either. There are plenty of ways to make money as a teenager, including:

  • Babysitting.
  • Offering landscaping services.
  • Getting into YouTube.
  • Taking care of pets/walking dogs.
  • Flipping items on eBay.

You get the idea. Don’t be afraid to try out something entrepreneurial for your next hobby!

Extra Reading – The Best Side Hustles For Men.

17. Cycling

Like solo sports, biking is another awesome way to teach discipline and athleticism.

However, biking is also a very therapeutic, relaxing hobby. Spending time alone or in a small group biking long distances outdoors is incredibly fun, and it’s also an awesome way to explore more of your surrounding area.

cycling-hobby

My friends and I used to go on plenty of night rides back in high school, and those are also some of the fondest memories I have of back home.

18. Cars

Let me start off by saying there’s a right way and a wrong way to get into cars as a teenage hobby.

Blowing all of your money on pimping out your beat up 2004 Honda Civic so it can blast music and bounce is moronic, as well as a waste of time.

teenager-who-just-wants-a-cool-looking-first-car-starter-2566724
Highly accurate.

Learning how to change the oil in your car or maintain a vehicle, on the other hand, is a much better use of time.

I wish I had learned more about cars as a teenage guy, and my lack of knowledge takes a bite out of my wallet every year now. Don’t make the same mistake!

19. Dancing

When I spent time living in Colombia after graduating college, one thing that amazed me was how good people were at dancing.

And I’m not just talking about women in Colombia; many of the men were also excellent dancers, particularly for salsa and bachata.

Dancing is often thought of in the West as being a more feminine skill. But let me tell you: if you’re a man that can dance, you have a massive advantage on the dating scene. Plus, dancing is also fun and an excellent workout!

So, if you’re still looking for hobbies for teen guys, consider checking out a local dance class or even some tutorials on YouTube.

This might not be for every dude, but hey, I think it’s fun and it’s a skill I wish I had started learning earlier.

20. Yoga

One final hobby for teen boys you can consider is to start practicing yoga.

Yoga has a number of benefits, including increased flexibility and relaxation. And it’s a skill you can improve over time to stay limber and fit.

If you play sports, I also think yoga is an excellent recovery tool. I personally do yoga when I’m sore after soccer matches or the gym, and I’ve found it very useful.

And all you need is a simple yoga matt and some instructional YouTube videos and you’re off to the races.

Extra Reading – The Best Bedroom Essentials For Guys.

What Makes A Good Hobby?

One common mistake I see a lot of parents make, particularly with teenage boys, is that they let them do anything they want because “it makes them happy” or some nonsense like that.

Letting Billy play 8 hours of video games a day or flounder in some useless martial arts class is not a good use of time for anybody. I don’t care how happy it makes the kid.

video-game-hobby
Ah gaming…perhaps the most contentious hobby between parent and kid of them all.

Here are some qualities that make a hobby worthwhile:

  • They teach a new skill.
  • They improve some aspect of one’s mind, body, or soul.
  • They improve self-confidence.
  • They bring joy.

Ideally, you get a mixture of all of these in any hobby.

Final Thoughts

Teenage years should be a time of leisure, growth, and education. Picking up a productive hobby as a teenage guy is, in my opinion, a pretty critical part of the teenage experience.

Don’t be afraid to try new things or to explore. There are so many hobbies and interests you can pick up, many of which will serve you for the rest of your life.

My only caution here is to not let a hobby absolutely consume you.

Addiction is a thing, and you don’t want a hobby to take over your life (even if you are insanely passionate)…that’s how you end up like the kids in anime club who dress like Naruto. Don’t be that guy.

Pick up a productive hobby, cultivate your skills, and you’ll be better off for it. Besides, you might be surprised at how handy a specific skill is down the line!

Do you have a recommended hobby for teenage guys? Let me know what it is in the comments!

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