I have found some of my greatest hobbies completely by accident. I came *this close* to not discovering that I loved traveling the country to see my favorite bands play, collecting rare plants, and caring for community cats.

Not only would my life be less fun and rewarding without these activities, but I'd be missing out on a wide array of health benefits. Research suggests that hobbies lead to better physical health, more sleep, lower stress, greater life satisfaction, a larger social network, and even improved work performance.

But how do you go about finding the hobbies you don't yet know you'd love? I asked a few experts to share their favorite strategies:

• Ask yourself how you want to feel. Mentally engaged? Distracted? Relaxed? Socially connected? It can also be helpful to consider what your life is missing. Maybe you have a demanding job that requires intellectual prowess, but doesn't allow for creativity—making an art class a terrific way to round out your days.
• Take a trip back in time. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? The answer could point you toward an appealing hobby. Plus, childhood delights can easily evolve into adult hobbies—which is why I recently bought a hula hoop.
• Don't worry about being good at it. “Hobbies live in the pleasure world, not necessarily the mastery world,” one expert told me. So if the bowls you make in pottery class are all slightly wonky? It doesn't matter. Achievement and perfection aren't the point.

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