The perfect travel hobby is something that doesn’t take up much space, and is engaging but at the same time relaxing (to balance out sight-seeing and adventures).

I am an avid collector of hobbies and thankfully some of them transfer well to a life on the road, even living out of a suitcase. Take up one or more of these activities while traveling or add them to your everyday life to extract a little extra joy from idle moments!

1. Reading

Let’s start with one of the classics - we have all had the mental image of heading off on holiday with a good story to read by the pool, or in-flight up-skilling by finally finishing the latest professional read. And there are just so many amazing books out there! You can choose from fantasy, drama, biographies, history; the list of genres is endless. Depending on how long you are traveling for and how much space you have, you can either take a physical book or an e-reader. For me the Kindle is a clear winner, as living out of a suitcase means that space and weight are very important, and for someone who reads at least a book a month I simply can’t bring enough books with me. Second hand book shops and Op Shops are also great ways to find reading material while traveling, then you can simply donate the book again once it has been read.

If you’re into fantasy, my top recommendation is always Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series, and lately I have been reading and loving Will Wight’s Cradle series.

1. Knitting / Crochet

Unlike some other hobbies and pass-times, this one requires some learning! This can mean learning how to knit or crochet during your travels to return with a new skill, or honing your skills first then focusing on a specific project while away. Vacay sweater, anyone?

Knitting joins reading as one of my top in-flight activities. This year I have been making socks, which only use small knitting needles (I use wooden ones to avoid any pesky check-in luggage issues), and can be easily worked on in compact situations like you find yourself in on a flight. They also take many hours to make so you won’t be running out of things to do on long-haul flights!

1. Photography

What better way to immerse yourself in experiences than with photography! You don’t need a professional camera set-up for this, as most people now have a phone in their pocket with a fantastic in-built camera. It is about the intention behind the photos more than the equipment - keep an eye out for buildings and streets that are aesthetically pleasing, quirky signs, unique fashions, or anything that makes you feel inspired and creative. Stopping to take a carefully considered photo when you notice something such as this keeps you in the moment, and gives you a way to relive the memory once your travels are over.

I often take photos with my phone, however I also use a digital Fujifilm camera as I enjoy the process and the look that these photos have. Recently I also purchased a second-hand film camera, adding an extra layer to my search for photos as I only take one image at a time and don’t see them for potentially months as I need to use a roll of film then have it developed. It is like an art project that can be completed while traveling!

1. Writing

Journaling, blogging, story telling, letter writing or even planning. Writing is a hobby that doesn’t require much equipment and can mean different things to different people. To get the most out of writing while traveling, choose a medium that brings you joy and inspiration - do you have a certain pen or notebook that make you happy, or does it feel nice to engage in creative writing on your laptop? You could even find a notebook or nice paper for letter-writing on your travels.

1. Yoga

Where to even begin describing how much yoga has helped me out over the past few years of travel? I love to give my body a simple but thorough stretch-out after flights, workouts, or after long days walking as I explore new places. Creating a quiet space to enjoy my yoga session can also allow my brain to unwind after loud, crowded spaces and the extra mental energy that goes into navigating somewhere new.

All you need to get started is a small patch of carpet, a yoga mat, a towel on the ground in a nice outdoor space, or some floor in a hotel gym, and an internet connection. There are so many great beginner to advanced yoga tutorials online, simply choose how much time you want to spend (usually 30 minutes to an hour) and find a video of this length on YouTube. Sometimes you might try a few before you find an instructor or a sequence that you love, but stick with it and you will find that fitting in yoga sessions while traveling is simple and rewarding.

Relax and reconnect with yourself and your surroundings with these hobbies - you don’t even need to wait until your next holiday or travels, start now!