Indoor Hobbies for Nature Lovers
For anyone who loves nature and the outdoors, there is no real substitute for open landscapes and fresh air. But of course you can’t be outside all the time, and for those of who live in cities far from wild spaces, it can be hard to get your healthy dose of nature on a regular basis. Or perhaps you’re awaiting your next chance to travel for an outdoors trip, but feeling bored at home in the meantime.
Luckily, there are many nature hobbies that don’t require leaving the house. They include creative activities like making art and writing poetry, along with useful projects like growing herbs, plus entertaining games that teach you about new places to explore. All of these hobbies are easy to begin and don’t require a lot of money, just a small investment and a great deal of inspiration from nature. If you love to travel and spend time outside, try bringing bits of the natural world indoors with these relaxing hobbies to do at home.
Practice drawing or painting
As a lover of the outdoors, you have no lack of inspiration from wild landscapes and stunning nature scenes. Why not put those image on paper by learning to draw or paint? You can buy some basic supplies and practice in your spare time, using online tutorials for help if you want.
Personally, I am amazed by the number of my outdoorsy friends who also happen to be really great artists. I think that nature people often have some innate ability to convey the natural beauty we surround ourselves with. Even if you don’t start producing museum-quality pieces right away (and of course you won’t), you can have fun just developing your skills and re-creating some images from the outdoors inside your home.
2. Grow an herb garden
Maybe you already have houseplants to add a touch greenery indoors, but edible plants can provide a stronger connection to nature because you’ll harvest what you grow. A small herb garden needs only the space on a window sill or a well-lit countertop. Terracotta pots, potting soil, and seeds or sprouted herbs are all you need to get started. The plants will require regular care and pruning, but that’s when you’ll get to enjoy your fresh-cut herbs!
3. Learn to identify birds
Birds are the animals that are ubiquitous in nearly every urban environment, and you may be surprised at the variety of species you can see in your own backyard. If you set up bird feeder or plant native flowers, you will attract even more! Watching the birds come and go is entertaining, and you’ll get even more satisfaction by learning to identify the different species and their habits. Several websites and apps can help you learn about birds, but I recommend purchasing a hard-copy field guide. Keep this on hand next to your best bird-watching window, and flip through it to find out who’s who at the feeder.
4. Set up an aquarium
One way to really liven up your home is with an aquarium. Colorful fish and live plants are wonderful to look at, and can be fun to take care of. It’s true that aquariums can become expensive and require a lot of work, but that doesn’t have to be the case. You can research ways to make low-cost and low-maintenance setups. There are even easy ways to feed your fish while on vacation.
If fish just aren’t your thing, you could consider creating a naturalistic aquatic environment with just plants, or you could go for shrimp and snails. These require even less space and less maintenance than fish, but can be equally entertaining. If you still aren’t convinced, just watch this video on how to create a budget-friendly desktop aquarium.
5. Create terrarium art
If an aquarium seems like too much work or too much expense, you might try a terrarium instead. Moss and other plants inside a glass container can look surprisingly cool inside a glass container, especially if you watch them grow and fill the space over time. You can make a thriving terrarium practically for free, just with materials you collect outdoors.
Although it may sound creepy to keep jars full of organisms inside your house, you’ll find that a terrarium can in fact become an attractive showpiece. With careful attention to the selection and arrangement of plants, you can really make a living work of art.
6. Play geography games
If you’re longing for a road trip, or you’re yearning to witness life in a different country—but you’re stuck at home for now—you can still experience some of that thrill by testing and growing your knowledge of geography. There are games that can transport you digitally to a spot on the globe where you have to find your way around. Or there are games that quiz your memory of maps and names of places. Try any of the following websites for geography games that you can play for free:
Sporcle: Quiz games on just about any subject you can imagine, including geography themes along with science and nature.
Geoguessr: In this addicting game, you’ll get dropped at a random spot on the globe via Google Street View, then guess where you are based on clues in the surroundings.
World Geography Games: A variety of click-on-the-map games that are simple and fun to play. These are great for kids, but there’s some tough ones, too.
7. Write poetry or music
A rainy day indoors makes the perfect time to pick up that neglected instrument or dust off a book of poetry. Try revisiting an old poem or song for inspiration, then grab a notebook and try to come up with one of your own. If it’s nature or travel that’s on your mind, let that show in your original words or music. Even if you aren’t musically or poetically inclined, simply journaling your thoughts can provide the same therapeutic outlet for creativity.
8. Read some nonfiction
You can make the most of any amount of downtime at home by learning something new. Pick any subject that interests you, or think of a topic that you have questions about, then research it! Animals, plants, cities of the world, types of clouds… Anything! Or you can look up information to help you plan your next adventure. It doesn’t much matter what you learn, your brain will thank you for it!
Of course you can always find information online, but picking up a book is an especially relaxing way to learn. If you don’t have nonfiction books on hand, try visiting your local library and discovering what subjects they have.
9. Watch a nature documentary
If what your body needs is just to lie down and watch a show, why not make it a nature show? Search Netflix or any streaming service for nature documentaries, and you’re guaranteed to find something amazing. Planet Earth is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the top-quality nature shows available. The Green Planet, Night On Earth, Our Great National Parks, and Fantastic Fungi are just a few other recommendations. Try a new one that you haven’t seen, or re-watch an old favorite to feel mesmerized all over again.
10. Plan your next trip
What better use of downtime at home than to plan your next adventure? All of the above activities can help stoke your creativity or broaden your knowledge, which may help inspire your next trip. You could look up a new park or trail near your home, or you could you start mapping out your next big road trip. Even though it’s possible to get your nature fix indoors with any of these hobbies, everyone needs a real adventure now and then. Take the time you need at home to plan and prepare, then get out there and explore!
