8 Best Hobbies for Introverts

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As an introvert myself, I find it challenging to engage in many aspects of life. I'm not one for big gatherings, competitive sports, or taking weekly classes filled with people I don't know. If you're introverted too, or know someone who is, this list of eight hobbies is well worth checking out.

1. Take Up Origami

Origami kits, which include starter paper, can be bought very inexpensively on Amazon or from your local discount bookstore. You can also find thousands of patterns online, and YouTube is filled with instructional videos that take you step-by-step through the process. Put on a little relaxing music (or head-banging rock, if that's your thing), and enjoy a hobby that relieves stress and results in some wonderful paper sculptures.

2. Make YouTube Videos

While being a famous celebrity may not be ideal for an introvert, becoming a YouTube personality might be. These days, all you need is a webcam, some very basic video editing software, and…an original take on an idea! If it becomes big enough, you can do your hobby full time, and make millions. Yes, millions. Here's a list of the biggest YouTube stars, and as you can see, they do pretty well for themselves — and it all started by doing something they love, at home. If you don't like to be on camera, consider unboxing videos, or even gaming videos. Do it well, and you can retire!

3. Learn Magic

You don't have to become a magician to learn magic, and you don't have to go big when you first start out. In fact, all you really need is a deck of cards, and access to YouTube or any other site you find that hosts free magic lessons. Once you master sleight of hand, you can move on to bigger tricks. It can take months, or even years, to get a trick right. But the satisfaction you get when you finally nail that first trick is well worth it. Master a few of these, and you'll always have something to do at parties besides feeling awkward!

4. Play an Instrument

With access to free lessons online, and resources like Craigslist and Facebook for private, one-on-one tutoring, it has never been easier to learn to play an instrument. Your library is also a great resource for these kinds of books and videos, and it's free. If you can't afford to buy the instrument you want immediately (for instance, not many of us have a piano), you can find alternatives. Perhaps start with an inexpensive keyboard (some instruments are even available for rent). And there's always eBay!

5. Write

Some people blog as a hobby, and have thousands of followers. Others write screenplays for TV and the movies (and if you get good at it, it could launch a new career). Stephen King's book On Writing – A Memoir of a Craft is an excellent place to start if you've never written anything before. They also say everyone has one novel in them, so why not try coaxing yours out?

6. Photography

As a professional photographer, you need excellent social and people skills to do your job. But as a hobby, photography is perfect for introverts. These days, everything is digital, and you can find some good quality digital SLR cameras on eBay. If you prefer, you can go the old fashioned route and try film cameras (although getting a hold of film is nowhere near as easy at it used to be). Whichever way you try, keep a blog or online gallery of your favorite photos, and share them with the world.

7. Learn a Language

Or several languages. You can find many of the tuition books and videos you need online for free, or a small price. Rosetta Stone gets rave reviews, but has a higher upfront cost of several hundred dollars. With the Internet, you can also watch foreign language TV and movies, and even engage in chat rooms, anonymously if you wish, to hone your skills.

8. Build Movie Prop Replicas

I've made everything from a Bane vest to an Iron Man arc reactor. My latest two props are from Ghostbusters — a proton pack and a ghost trap. Everything you need to build movie props, like these, can be found in hardware stores, thrift stores, and on eBay. You don't have to spend a lot; for example, all of the parts used in my ghost trap came to less than $40. Instructions for almost any prop you want to build can be downloaded from a fan site. You can use them to Cosplay, to dress up at Halloween, and to decorate your house or office.

Are you an introvert with an interesting or unusual hobby? Tell us more about it.