People who choose these 8 hobbies usually end up more successful in life

If you’ve ever wondered why some people seem to get ahead in life more smoothly than others, you might picture things like ambition, luck, or even privilege.

But there’s another factor that doesn’t get as much credit as it should: the hobbies people choose.

How you spend your free time often says a lot about the skills you’re building behind the scenes.

And while hobbies are supposed to be enjoyable first, certain ones quietly sharpen your discipline, creativity, or resilience in ways that make success more likely down the line.

Here are eight hobbies that show up again and again among people who tend to thrive in their careers, relationships, and personal growth.

1. Reading widely

Pick up a book, and you’re not just killing time—you’re expanding your world.

People who make reading a regular hobby often carry themselves with more confidence in conversation because they’ve absorbed stories, ideas, and perspectives that others haven’t.

I used to commute with a coworker who always had a novel or biography in her bag. By the time we got to the office, she’d already spent an hour absorbing something new.

Over time, it was obvious—she could reference history, pull in analogies from fiction, or explain business concepts with clarity because she had such a wide mental library to draw from.

Reading doesn’t just stockpile information. It strengthens focus, empathy, and imagination, according to research.

Fiction helps you put yourself in other people’s shoes, while nonfiction sharpens your understanding of how the world really works.

In a culture of endless scrolling, making reading your hobby gives you an edge that compounds with every page.

2. Exercising regularly

People who choose physical hobbies—running, yoga, strength training, even dance—tend to radiate energy and self-discipline

. Exercise isn’t just about building a stronger body; it’s about showing up for yourself consistently, even when you don’t feel like it.

That habit of consistency often bleeds into other areas of life.

Psychologists studying self-regulation note that a crucial part of it is willpower—the ability to resist short-term temptations in order to meet long-term goals. 

Exercise is one of the most direct ways to train that “willpower muscle.” Each time you lace up your shoes or roll out your yoga mat, you’re practicing the same discipline you’ll need when pursuing goals or pushing through obstacles.

I learned this lesson when I took up running in my early thirties. At first, I could barely jog a mile without feeling like my lungs were on fire.

But sticking with it taught me more about pacing, resilience, and patience than any career seminar ever did. And strangely enough, once I built that discipline physically, I noticed myself tackling work projects with more confidence too.

3. Journaling or writing

Writing as a hobby doesn’t just belong to aspiring novelists or bloggers. Even keeping a simple journal builds self-awareness and clarity.

People who write regularly often end up more successful because they’ve trained themselves to process their thoughts instead of letting them swirl around unchecked.

When you write, you slow down enough to notice patterns—what frustrates you, what excites you, what keeps repeating in your life.

That kind of insight is priceless, especially in a world where so many people move on autopilot. Writing can also sharpen communication skills, making you better at explaining ideas and persuading others.

I’ve kept a journal off and on for years, and I can trace some of my biggest decisions back to those pages.

Reading an old entry where I complained about the same problem for the tenth time was the push I needed to finally change jobs.

Writing makes the invisible visible, and once you see your thoughts laid out, you can’t ignore them anymore.

4. Learning new skills

There’s something powerful about choosing a hobby that forces you to be a beginner again.

Whether it’s cooking, photography, coding, or learning a new language, picking up new skills keeps your brain flexible and your ego humble.

Successful people often stand out because they’re willing to stumble in the early stages of learning. They don’t let the fear of looking clumsy stop them.

Instead, they lean into the discomfort, which builds adaptability. In a world where industries and technologies change constantly, that willingness to start fresh becomes a competitive advantage.

I once took a pottery class just for fun, and I’ll be honest—my first few bowls looked more like wobbly pancakes.

But showing up each week taught me patience and reminded me how energizing it feels to be bad at something before you get better.

That willingness to practice without immediate payoff is the same mindset that leads to breakthroughs in bigger areas of life.

5. Volunteering or community projects

When people spend their free time giving back—whether through mentoring, charity work, or local community projects—they often develop traits that carry them further in life.

Volunteering naturally builds empathy, leadership, and the ability to work with diverse groups of people.

What’s interesting is how many leaders trace their first taste of responsibility to a volunteer project. You’re often thrown into situations where you need to solve problems quickly, manage limited resources, or motivate others.

Those experiences create a sense of agency and perspective that’s hard to replicate elsewhere. Not only that, it truly develops empathy and emotional intelligence. 

Studies show that success, in the deepest sense, comes from having high emotional intelligence. A hobby that strengthens that will almost always pay off in the long run, even if the payoff isn’t immediate or obvious.

6. Meditation or mindfulness practices

Meditation, tai chi, or breathwork may not look like “productive” hobbies at first glance, but they have a profound impact on how people handle stress and make decisions.

By practicing stillness, you’re training your mind to respond rather than react.

Research in cognitive psychology shows that mindfulness improves executive function—the mental skills that help you plan, focus, and regulate emotions.

That’s why so many high achievers cite meditation as a secret weapon. It doesn’t just calm you down; it strengthens the mental wiring that success depends on.

I started experimenting with short daily meditations a few years ago, using a simple app. I was skeptical, but within weeks I noticed I was less reactive at work, especially during high-pressure meetings.

The ability to pause for even a few breaths before responding is one of the most underrated advantages you can have.

7. Playing strategy games

Chess, poker, even certain video games—strategy-based hobbies train your brain to think several steps ahead.

They teach patience, pattern recognition, and calculated risk-taking. These are the same skills that come in handy when negotiating deals, managing projects, or navigating complex relationships.

The beauty of strategy games is that they give you immediate feedback. Make a poor move in chess, and you’ll see the consequences unfold in real time.

That cycle of experimenting, failing, and adjusting builds resilience and foresight in a way that theory alone never could.

People who spend time on these hobbies aren’t just entertaining themselves. They’re honing mental habits that translate into better decision-making in high-stakes situations.

And often, those habits spill over without them even realizing it.

8. Creative arts

Painting, playing music, dancing, or crafting might not scream “success” on the surface, but creative hobbies expand your mind in ways other activities don’t.

They strengthen your ability to make connections, solve problems in unconventional ways, and express yourself authentically.

Creativity isn’t confined to artists—it’s a muscle anyone can build. The more you practice it, the more it shows up in your daily life.

In business, for example, creativity might mean coming up with a fresh marketing idea. In relationships, it could mean finding a playful way to resolve tension.

Creative hobbies add color to life, but they also add unexpected strengths to your toolkit for success.

Final thoughts

Hobbies may seem like side notes to the “real” work of success, but in many ways, they’re the training ground.

The things you choose to do when no one’s watching often shape the skills, habits, and mindset that carry you forward when it counts.

Not every hobby has to be strategic. Joy itself is fuel for success. But when your free time naturally cultivates discipline, creativity, empathy, or resilience, you’re quietly stacking the odds in your favor.

Success, after all, rarely comes from one grand gesture—it’s built in the small, consistent choices we make every day, including how we spend our spare hours.