130+ Cottagecore Hobbies (A MASTERLIST!)

In my teens and early adulthood, I struggled to find hobbies I connected with. It seemed like everyone I knew had a particular activity that they were passionate about, had been doing for a long time, and never stopped. I couldn’t relate to that, but I wanted to!

A few years ago, I intentionally started a journey to figure out my passions. I was on a limited budget, so I tried to save money by attending free workshops at university, in libraries, or at community centres (e.g., writing, exercise classes), following tutorials on YouTube, reading books, and buying second-hand equipment.

Starting photography was a significant turning point for me. I had a cheap digital camera that I fell in love with and took everywhere with me. Having something to develop my skills on gave me a tremendous confidence boost and helped me find a sense of purpose again. Gradually, other hobbies started trickling in, and before I realized it, I was doing loads of different activities.

I’ve found that having a diverse range of hobbies to choose from, spanning across categories such as nature, art, music, and sports, keeps me from getting bored with any one thing. So, I’ve chosen to include a range of skills in this list – from canoeing to sewing! This post contains 100+ cottagecore hobbies of all kinds; I hope you find something new to try!

Popular cottagecore hobbies

The cottagecore aesthetic is all about connecting with nature, embracing traditional skills, and living more mindfully. Some hobbies lend themselves beautifully to visual media, so they’re more likely to appear in cottagecore content on Instagram, Pinterest, and Tiktok. Here are some of the most popular cottagecore hobbies you might have come across on social media:

However, cottagecore hobbies aren’t limited to these popular choices! There are lots of other skills you can learn that would fit into the aesthetic. Whether you’re looking for calming evening activity, an adventurous way to stay fit, or a chance to meet likeminded new people, this list should provide you with some ideas to try!

Crafting and art skills

Digital cottagecore hobbies

On the surface, the cottagecore aesthetic encourages people to disconnect from technology and engage in physical hobbies and traditional skills. However, cottagecore as we know it wouldn’t have risen to popularity without the internet and all of the nature-themed visual media posted to social media/ forums. So, although reducing screen time is important, there’s nothing wrong with using technology as a tool for some hobbies! When used intentionally, it can be a great way to relax, connect with others, or get creative.

When using technology, it’s easy to get distracted and lose track of time. You might start off with the intention of doing a specific task like drawing, writing, or video editing, but end up getting sucked into social media or binge-watching. To avoid this, I split my screen-time into two categories: active and passive. For active hobbies, I will use technology with a specific purpose in mind, such as accessing the internet to write on my blog. Passive hobbies, on the other hand, are meant for relaxation. By separating these two types of activities, it’s easier to spot when I’m going off track and spend more time actually creating or winding down.

Active digital hobbies

• Photography
• Videography
• Blogging
• Digital art
• Engaging with cottagecore forums like r/cottagecore
• Posting on social media
• Writing

Relaxed digital hobbies

• Playing video games (such as Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing)
• Watching cottagecore YouTube channels
• Listening to music
• Listening to audiobooks
• Reading e-books
• Reading cottagecore blogs
• Watching cottagecore movies
• Creating Pinterest boards

Cottagecore hobbies in the home

There’s nothing more cottagecore than creating a warm, inviting home and garden. However, this doesn’t mean you need a beautiful country house or a backyard to do homemaking activities that fit the aesthetic. Everyone’s living situation is different – take what resonates with you and leave what doesn’t.

Gardening

I don’t have a garden in my current home, but I’ve found ways to grow plants in a small space. In my flat, I grow basil for cooking and aloe vera to use on my skin in the summer. I also sprout my own seeds to eat in salads. If you’re a beginner, consider starting with succulents like fairy washboard or ladyfinger cacti – they thrive on neglect!

• Growing your own sprouts
• Growing air plants
• Growing windowsill herbs or succulents/ cacti.
• Planting your own flower garden
• Growing a vegetable patch
• Building and caring for a pond
• Planting a bee garden

Food and cooking

• Baking bread, cookies, pastries, cakes, doughnuts, crackers, and pies
• Cultivating sourdough starters
• Fermenting foods
• Pickling and canning foods
• Making homemade jams

Caring for the home

• Cleaning
• Basic home maintenance
• Upcycling and repairing (e.g. touching up paint, refinishing furniture, etc.)
• Decorating

Community-building cottagecore hobbies

Supporting your community

• Volunteering at a national park or historic building
• Supporting your local library
• Volunteering for charity (conservation projects, thrift stores, soup kitchens, etc).
• Attending places of worship or philosophy groups
• Joining women’s/ men’s circles
• Picking up litter or joining a beach clean-up group
• Joining a book club

Personal Wellbeing

How many of these hobbies have you tried? I hope you found this list useful and that you feel inspired to develop a new skill!

This post was all about cottagecore hobbies!