5 types of hobbies that can build self-discipline

When people want to self-improve, they usually try to do it directly, through deliberate habit building.

However, I tend to think the best self-improvement happens indirectly. You pursue something that feels purposeful to you, and self-improvement occurs as a satisfying side effect.

Hobbies are a prime example of how purposeful activities can lead to natural self-improvement. Since better self-discipline is something many people strive for, this article will focus on how hobbies can deliver that.

We’ll unpack five categories of hobbies that can potentially improve your self-discipline, why, and how.

What Makes a Hobby Build Discipline

A hobby that builds self-discipline does so in one or more of these ways.

There are many options that diverge from the stereotype of a self-disciplined person, so there’s no need to try to fit a mold.

1. It Displaces Negative Behaviors

Imagine Rob, who wants to partake in a hobby that happens on Saturdays. Perhaps, it’s rock climbing. A group of buddies all carpool out to a spot that’s a 90-minute drive. They don’t get up super early, but Rob still doesn’t want to feel miserable for the adventure, so he becomes less likely to drink heavily on Friday nights.

The hobby displaces the negative behavior of drinking alcohol excessively.

Another example: an expensive hobby that requires you to be organized with your finances to afford it, so you waste less money.

If you fall in love with a hobby that requires you to be physically, mentally, or financially well-situated, that gives you a reason to take care of yourself. Or, a hobby that requires you to develop social connections can promote that type of personal development.

2. It Creates Better Routines

This point is similar to the last, but a little different.

Any hobby that requires a positive new routine will add structure and organization to your life.

Consider how having a dog can create a daily walking habit. In this context, the key point isn’t anything to do with walking being healthful. It’s that the walking happens at the same time each day. This routine creates a point of organization in your evenings or weekends if you didn’t have one before.

3. It Requires Following Procedures for Safety

Let’s go back to our rock climbing example. Any hobby that relies on you following strict safety procedures to manage risk has the potential for this diligence to transfer over to other areas of your life.

For example, I’ve written several articles recently about how to become more disciplined by thinking like a pilot (here and here). I often hear stories about how the rigor of safety procedures in aviation develops self-discipline in pilots that transfers to many other areas of their lives. Think of how the responsibility of carrying passengers is likely to affect someone. Many people fly as a hobby, so these points don’t only apply to career pilots.

4. It Builds Tolerance for Exertion

When we exercise or play sport at a hard effort, we develop a better intuitive sense of what healthy exertion feels like. We learn to tolerate physical sensations like elevated heart rate without mistaking them for signs something is wrong. (This can be especially helpful for people with anxiety who avoid sensations that remind them of anxiety.)

It’s reasonable to think that becoming more comfortable with exertion will generalize to other areas of life, and there’s some research to support this. For example, a regular exercise program has been shown to correlate with increased discipline in household chores, attending to commitments, and spending and study habits.

5. It Creates a Disciplined Identity

Hobbies can shift your identity. If a hobby shifts your identity toward seeing yourself as more responsible, more capable, or more invested in discipline, you’re more likely to develop those qualities.

Consider hobbies that involve leadership or teamwork. Hobbies that put you in charge of others or make you part of a team shift how you see your role in the world. As discussed, becoming a pilot in command is an example of how a role and identity can shape a person.

Why Starting Hobbies Requires Breathing Room

Work and other responsibilities tend to take over our lives. Have a day a week for relaxation and hobbies, not work or major projects. Don’t expect yourself to start something new when you’re exhausted at the end of the day or feel scattered because you’ve got a long to-do list. Starting a routine is harder than maintaining one, so give yourself extra breathing space to get a new hobby established.

Consider Indirect Paths to Self-Improvement

To improve, you don’t need to force yourself to conform to a stereotype of a self-disciplined person. Nor do you need to habit stack your way there. Better self-discipline can be a byproduct of finding a hobby you love and allowing it to shape you. This is true for self-improvement in general. The indirect path, through something that feels purposeful and enjoyable, is often more effective than forcing yourself to change directly.