[Hot] I need a hobby to meet people 2026

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Desperately gazing past the staff at the reception desk
my eyes lock onto the sea of chalk-covered hands and limbs swinging between multi-coloured holds – all around five metres (16ft) above crash mats. I am here as part of an experiment for our ongoing BBC series exploring the science – and art – of friendship. Cultivating friendships is key to our wellbeing
and to living a long life.

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As we mature and become more agreeable
it can actually get easier to form and maintain friendships. But where do you start? London is a city of nearly nine million people
but like anywhere
it can still be lonely. And without opportunities to mingle
it can be hard to try out and develop different friendship skills and strategies. Finding a hobby may seem an obvious way to foster social connection – in fact
research suggests that bonding through hobbies is a uniquely human trait. However
given the huge range of potential clubs
classes and activities
which one is actually best for making friends? And is there scientific evidence that some activities have more social potential than others? To find out
I tested three new activities
and one existing hobby for comparison
and also explored the evidence-backed benefits they might offer. I chose a range of activities
from sports to art
across different budgets. For full transparency
I decided to mention the cost of each activity – since choosing a hobby can also be a matter of affordability. Here's what I found: 1. Team sports: £7 ($9) per week. In late 2020
I moved to London from the countryside. Seeking to make friends in my local area as well as shape some kind of exercise routine
I decided to join a recreational netball league
which is perfect for those who may be more interested in the social aspect of a team sport
as opposed to the competitiveness. I soon found a wonderful team and we have now played together for four years. Every Monday evening
rain or shine
we take to the court
but we also meet up outside of the sport – whether that's for a drink after a match or dinner on the weekend. If you are not naturally into ball games
this activity may not feel worth trying out – but research suggests that team sports can have huge benefits for people of all ages and all abilities. Inclusive sports can for example improve the wellbeing of children with disabilities by providing them with the opportunity to "form friendships
express creativity
develop a self-identity and foster a meaning and purpose in life". Javier Hirschfeld. Team sports can not only make exercise feel easier
but can also help us to build social relationships (Credit: Javier Hirschfeld) According to Arran Davis
an expert on social connection and health at the University of Oxford
in the UK
collaborative activities like team sports can not only make exercise feel easier
but can help us build social relationships. "There's a couple of ways that could happen: the first is just doing stuff together. So what psychologists call 'sharing intention'
he says. This term refers to the phenomenon of connecting over or talking about a common goal or action. As Davis puts it, it's the sense of: 'I think about what you're thinking about
you think about what I'm thinking about'." Shared intention "makes us feel a bit closer to one another and that can lead us to view one another as good cooperative partners or people that we feel more similar to"
he says. "And these are the things that build friendships… through coordinating or collaborating
we're able to signal to each other that we're friends
he explains. Davis goes on to explain how endorphins and other natural chemicals released in the body when we do aerobic exercise, for example the feeling of runner's high"
can be enhanced when we're working in a team. "Interestingly
these chemicals are also involved in primate bonding. When primates groom each other
they release endorphins
or when we laugh together
we release endorphins
he says. So this gives us a positive feeling that we then start to associate with the people around us. It can be a way to build connection through sharing a positive psychological state." A 2023 study compared social bonding between humans
and between other primates. It concluded that there may be something unique about the way we as humans bond through shared experiences
whether it's taking a walk together
dancing together
making music together
playing team sports or even just having a conversation. While positive social bonds are generally important for all primates
our special ability as humans to connect through shared
interactive experiences may help us learn more about each other
and ultimately coordinate and maintain larger social networks than other primates
according to the study. Studies on bouldering and mental health suggest that the sport may have a positive effect on symptoms of depression. For adults
team sport participation typically declines in older age
but research suggests it's never too late. One study examined the reasons why a group of adults over the age of 55 engage in team sports and found that community and togetherness were an important motivation
as well as the potential health benefits. From my experience
team sports are fantastic for making friends because not only do you see the same people on a weekly basis
but playing a sport together provides a topic of conversation to discuss and bond over. I have made lifelong friends through netball
and it always brings a burst of joy to my week (even when we lose). Still
I was curious about whether adding other activities could help me widen my social circle further – and reveal insights into our relationship with ourselves
as well as with others. That's how I ended up in the chalk-dusted bouldering gym. 2. Bouldering: ВЈ34 ($40) for a beginners' session. Bouldering is a type of climbing where the route is "short but tricky" and is performed without a harness or ropes. Studies on bouldering and mental health suggest that the sport may have a positive effect on symptoms of depression
more so than home-based exercise
for example. In one study
133 patients with depression were assigned bouldering psychotherapy for ten weeks – the results showed that bouldering alleviated their symptoms. (Of course
depression is a complex condition
and if you are worried about your mental health
you should consult your healthcare provider for advice and support.) As with team sports
the benefits of climbing and bouldering extend across different ages and abilities. Researchers surveying US Veterans and non-Veterans with disabilities found a range of potential therapeutic benefits to adaptive rock and rope climbing
for example
including community connection
confidence-building
and muscle strengthening. I certainly found that bouldering had a positive effect on my mind. When I was climbing
my sole focus was concentrated on my next move: where my feet needed to go
how to swing my hips to reach the next hold and ensuring I kept a steady grip.













i need a hobby to meet people