7 Interesting Student Hobbies That Are on the Rise

Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019, there has been an undeniable shift among young people towards new and alterative lifestyles. Some of the best student hobbies in the 2020s involve blending creativity, nature, and nostalgia as people search for comfort in an ever changing world.

As more students seek balance, identity, and even entrepreneurial opportunity, certain hobbies are gaining traction in unexpected ways. The seven interesting hobbies we’re going to look at today allow students to express identity, community, and curiosity in spades in personally rewarding way.

1. Crochet and Crafts: Untangling a Chaotic Mind.

Craft hobbies are surging among students for the fact they slow time around you and sooth a chaotic mind. Between social media feeds and academic pressure, making something with your hands offers a moment of stillness. Crocheting, knitting, hand embroidery, and origami have all become mini sanctuaries of focus and flow.

Student art groups around the UK are quickly growing in numbers, and not just among traditionally artistic students. For many, craft circles resemble classic book clubs that were all the rage among previous generations (although they’re back in style too).

Plus, hand crafted gifts can double as presents for loved ones or be sold on platforms such as Etsy for a modest profit.

2. Learning New Languages: A Hobby for the World

Whether it’s for travel, heritage, or ambition, language learning has evolved beyond the textbook. Students are utilising apps such as Duolingo like never before.

For many students with international heritage, they’re learning their ancestors native tongue and giving themselves a valuable bridge to their own story.

Language acquisition also fosters empathy, memory retention, and a deeper connecting to global events taking place right now. It also enhances your job prospects in an increasingly multilingual employment market.

3. Hiking and Heritage Exploration: A Step Into the Unknown

Many urban students living in busy city centre’s are rediscovering nature with the simplest form of mental health preservation, walking. This isn’t just aimless wandering though. The number of young people enjoying heritage walks and exploring historic sites across the country are rapidly increasing. Whether it be a Castle in York  or a National Trust Manor near Leicester, there’s so much to explore outside of the city.

4. Trading Cards: Nostalgia Core

We all remember the days when opening a pack of football or Pokémon cards was the most exciting part of your day, well many students are turning to their childhood hobbies for entertainment.

These days, trading cards are more than just collectibles. They’re valuable investments that can gain value over time, particularly in the sports card world. ‘The hobby’ as it is known to many, offers complexity and structure as your search for value and rare pulls. Some even manage side hustles by buying and selling their finds.

If you don’t know where to start, try supporting your local card shop or exploring eBay for some deals.

5. Content Creation: Sharing Stories and Skills

What began as mindless consumption of media has soon become a way of sharing stories and funny moments in an instant. Whether it’s study guides on YouTube or a podcast dedicated to life in your student city, content creation has become an art form of its own in recent years.

A vast amount of young people now manage large Tik Tok accounts with thousands of followers, some are making money from it too.

Content creation teaches narrative flow, editing, audience empathy, and even brand thinking. All while nurturing expressionism and community building.

6. Urban Gardening and Micro Greens

No garden? No problem. Windowsill basil, recycled containers sprouting coriander, hydroponic lettuce under LED lights urban gardening has taken root in student abodes.

In sustainability circles, this hobby links climate consciousness with practical life skills. It’s low cost, beginner friendly, and perfect for busy lifestyles.

It resonates with students at it offers visual progress of their hobby and a gentle sense of control during a busy time.

7. Creative Coding: The New Art Form

For some, coding is a course requirement. For others, it’s a playground. Creative coding (think generative art, interactive fiction, game design) blends logic with imagination.

Students are now using tools like Processing and Twine to tell stories and make visual art through code.

It could be described as painting by numbers in a more logical sense. It appeals to the most deep thinking and computer savvy students in particular, as they strive for mastery of the web.

More Than Just Fun

In a fast paced world, these student hobbies give young people agency. Whether they’re stitching pictures into yarn, or trading foil coated memories, students are building new communities, coping mechanisms, and potentially careers.

The next time someone says hobbies are distractions, consider that many of these things cultivate focus, purpose, and identity. Attributes that formal education alone can’t always provide.

If you’re still searching for a place to call your own, discover more of what you can expect from cities across the UK.

Fun on Your Terms

Balancing any of these student hobbies with your studies shouldn’t be the hardest thing in the world, it’s all about using your free time effectively. So, if you have an hour spare or just need to take a break from your essay writing, try one of them out.

For more student lifestyle tips, explore the Prestige Student Living blog. We’ve got articles covering a wide range of topics that students of all backgrounds can enjoy.