Since hobbies are deeply personal, I tried to find a variety of options here. That way you can choose which ones you’re interested in! I also suggest you try a few different ones out to see what fits.

What Are Intellectual Hobbies?

Intellectual hobbies help you become more intelligent. Not only that, they make you seem more knowledgeable, educated, and interesting. Intellectual hobbies lead to intellectual conversations, and they’ll help you engage with like minded people.

If you’re interested in hanging out with academic-minded people it’s important to spend your time on academic pursuits. Hobbies get you into that world without needing a career in academia.

Can You Tell Someone Is Intellectual Curious if They Pursue a Hobby?

Usually, but it depends on the hobby. Some hobbies are just ways of spending your free time. You could even say they’re a waste of time, depending on how you feel about it.

Regardless, there is definitely a difference between hobbies that intellectually curious people pursue and ones that are mindless. These examples of intellectual hobbies are a start, but they’re definitely not all the intellectually  curious hobbies.

How Can I Tell if I’m Pursuing Intellectual Hobbies?

OK so if this list isn’t exhaustive, how can I tell if I’m pursuing intellectual hobbies? First of all, this kind of thing is highly subjective. Things that I consider to be brain-building might be scoffed as drivel by the next person.

But there are a few things that generally apply when you’re deciding the intellectual value of a hobby.

1. Do you personally consider people who pursue that hobby as intelligent?
2. Are you learning something from it?
3. Will it give you something to talk to other people about that makes for good conversation?
4. Are there professional fields related to the hobby, especially ones that are revered?
5. Is there some kind of cultural value to the hobby?

Hobbies don’t have to be work. You’re allowed to find them relaxing. And you’re also allowed to choose hobbies that you enjoy or come easy to you!

Intellectual Hobby Ideas to Try

These hobbies are in no way intended to shame anyone who enjoys non-academic pursuits in their free time. But if you want to pick up some intellectual hobbies, try these ideas.

Reading

Not all reading is equal when it comes to the knowledge you actually take away from the source, but it is all great for your brain. Reading anything helps you stay sharp. It’s a great habit to get into when you’re younger!

What you read will depend on your goals and interests. Non-fiction is great if you want to learn a lot. Fiction can be helpful as an intellectually stimulating way to wind down.

If books aren’t your thing consider reading magazines. National Geographic, the Economist, and the New Yorker are all great choices. But don’t knock the non-academic ones; you’d be surprised how much you can learn from an art or home magazine too.

Writing

Writing is the other side of the reading coin and it’s also great for intelligence. What you write will depend, again, on your interests. I personally find it stimulating to write a variety of styles including articles, fiction books, and poetry.

This can be a hobby that turns into something productive, but it doesn’t have to be. You’re allowed to just write for yourself or a small circle, or try exercises that help hone your craft.

Journaling

While similar to writing, I think journalling is a hobby and a craft on all on its own. It’s almost always personal, and can be helpful for your mental health and motivation.

Personally, I like to use a nice leather-bound journal and use it to record things that I find interesting. You can also journal in diary form, talking about the day, use one as a planner, habit track, or whatever else you’d like. This website has some great journaling ideas if you’re not sure where to start.

Playing Music, Especially Classical Music & Theory

All music learning is great for your intelligence and brain. Studies have even shown a link between musical ability and IQ. There is almost no downside to learning to play an instrument, regardless of what type or style you enjoy.

That being said, if your goal is to seem like an intellectual to others there are some instruments and styles which give off that air better than others. Piano and Violin, typically, are your best bet. Other “fancy” instruments like the harp or cello, also fit the bill.

Classical music will generally make you seem more intellectual. Being familiar with composers, and even better, able to play their most famous work will make you seem intelligent and studied. There’s a lot of pretentiousness in the classically trained music community, but this will be advantageous to someone who wants to be seen in that light.

Another thing to study alongside learning an instrument is music theory. Having a strong understanding of notation, composition, and all the vocabulary of established music theory is not just practical for your learning, but impressive too.

Language Learning

We’re so fortunate to live in a time where you can learn almost any language with just a computer or smartphone. As someone who can speak more than one language, I know firsthand how useful it can be! Especially if you like to travel; then a second language, or even enough conversation skills to get by, can radically transform the quality of your trip.

If you prefer the old school dark academia vibe you can use books, but don’t be afraid to embrace modern tech and get a free app to start your language learning hobby.

Puzzles

I do a crossword puzzle almost every day. Seriously! The Washington Post has a great interface where you can invite a friend so my partner and I usually co-op them. At the very least, we love doing the Sunday crossword over coffee on the weekend.

You don’t have to do crossword puzzles, or even word puzzles. Try Sudoku, logic puzzles, or even just a plain old jigsaw.

Chess

Chess is one of those classic intellectual hobbies that you can just imagine scholarly types in Victorian times playing either with friends or alone. Take up the old hobby yourself; especially if you don’t already know how to play.

You can usually find chess boards for free or inexpensive, but if you’re able to it’s definitely worth splurging on a high end one for the aesthetic. You might as well enjoy the look of your hobby in the space as much as you like doing it.

Art or Art Critique

If you’re an artist (or aspiring one) art is a great intellectual hobby. There’s so much more to it than just painting or drawing; geometry, colour theory, understanding of perspective, lighting, and so on.

For those who aren’t so artistic (like myself), art critique and appreciation are also wonderful skills to develop. Educate yourself enough to actually appreciate the art you see, especially the classics. As a bonus, visiting art galleries can be fun extension of this hobby that gets you out of the house too.

Wine or Whiskey Tasting

You’ll have to be legal drinking age for this one, but if you want to hang out in intellectual circles wine and whiskey tasting are great hobbies. While drinking doesn’t seem like a smart hobby, in my experience most folks that partake in tastings and vineyard tours tend to be intellectual and educated. Sometimes you don’t even drink the alcohol; you just taste and spit!

To fully appreciate the craft, both wine and whiskey tasting involve learning about a huge variety of very technical processes and information. Apart from that, you also will need to develop a sophisticated sense of taste to be able to properly participate in this hobby.

Cigars also fall into this category but are less popular.

Exotic Collections

I’m saving the best for last here! There’s few dark academia inspired intellectual hobbies that top curating your very own exotic collection. You can either collect things from the natural world like dried exotic flowers or strange bugs, or build a collection of unique antiquities that catch your eye.

The thrill is in the hunt, but the intellectual side lies in the research, understanding, cataloging, and organizing of your collections.

The post 10 Unique Intellectual Hobbies to Try appeared first on Words by Candlelight.

In Dark Academia Aesthetic, people generally follow a theme of being bookish, with a priority for knowledge and literature. Usually those books are classic books, especially leather or cloth bound ones. It combines modern elements with Victorian era style and thoughts.

Dark Academia also has a lot of negative, or dark, words associated with it. These include death, brooding, escapism, and oppressions. Literary tragedies are popular inspirations.

What is Dark Academia and Where did it Come From?

As I said before, it’s an aesthetic. But more than that, it’s kind of a thing primarily because of websites like Tumblr and apps like Tiktok. Dark academia has kind of been this viral sensation, but only if you’re in certain communities.

That’s the thing about algorithms and following people: you only see what is shown to you. You can easily go on Tiktok and never see dark academia content, or go there and see it everywhere.

Here’s a fun compilation video of some dark academia Tiktoks:

Dark Academia Style

Dark Academia style is heavily inspired from the upper-class culture of Europe in the late 19th century. This was the time of great literary thinkers like HG Wells and Charles Dickens, and many classic books like Dracula and The Picture of Dorian Grey came out during this era.

This was a also a time where academics were something to be pursued by those with passion, not an obligation. You could explore and discover so much because there was still so many things to be discovered; but without the pressure that we have today.

For this reason vintage books and other academia-related accessories (globes, skulls, other areas of study) also fit well into the aesthetic.

Furniture

Furniture is typically made of wood, and generally more ornate than what we have in modern times. Bookshelves are free of technology, rooms prioritize fires over televisions, and there isn’t a pressure to keep up with modern trends.

Sculptures are white marble when incorporated into the décor and artwork is usually what’s associated with European civilization, but not necessarily that specific time: Baroque, Renaissance, and Neoclassical, for example.

Clothing

Clothing is generally preppy, this of course being reflective of how those in that era dressed during those times. For men, that means sweaters, jackets, ties, and slacks. Women, on the other hand, tend to dress in modern, mainly twists due to the restrictive nature of 19th century women’s clothing.

Other Themes in Dark Academia

Although it’s often used as an aesthetic, like other types of styles, Dark Academia has a very real subculture too. While it may very well get the namesake from the fact that generally speaking, the aesthetic involves low light, dark coloured clothing, and natural materials like leather and wood that are typically dark, there is also a darker side to Dark Academia.

Academics of the time (again, we’re talking about mid to late 19th century here) were often considered rebels simply because of their desire to learn and research. Books were also powerful, and your written work easily could stir controversy and protest even more then than it can today.

Furthermore, secret societies and underground organizations were aplenty during the Victorian era. To a modern person these can seem appealing, especially the idea of meeting in secret to share ideas.

Finally, although many people who enjoy the aesthetic do not partake in anything illegal, there is something alluring about the criminality that Dark Academia seems to include. At the time, drugs were very commonly used to help promote “thinking”. Murderous conspiracies were also common (think Jack the Ripper), which fit the aesthetic from both the mad murderous professor and brilliant detective points of view.

Who is Dark Academia For?

While it’s generally pretty niche, Dark Academia has been a growing trend lately especially thanks to Tumblr and TikTok. It lends its growing resurgence mainly to gen z and millennials who are drawn to it’s unique qualities and community.

Dark Academia is for anyone who enjoys the aesthetic. It is most commonly used by book lovers, writers, scholars, students, and those who prioritize learning, free thought, and self discovery.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to be a certain MBTI personality type or even an introvert to be a Dark Academic. In fact, many of these people romanticized with the aesthetic enjoyed the company of others – even if it was like-minded people.

Men and women can both partake in this aesthetic, although most of the real-world inspiration comes from males due to their elevated status at the time.

It’s Romantic

A lot of people are drawn to Dark Academia because of how easy it is to romanticize. The time period was simpler, especially if you were someone of a higher social class. There’s less burden of obligations or technology, and more focus on manual hobbies like letter writing or playing chess.

Many people who are drawn to Dark Academia find the idea of getting away from modern society appealing. There is also something alluring in belonging to a secret, or underground, group of like-minded individuals.

Some Things to Consider With Dark Academia

While embracing an aesthetic can be fun and calming, it’s important to keep things in perspective. There are many aspects of Victorian life that we now know aren’t healthy, like the use of drugs, poor sleep schedules, or overworking. Like any hobby or lifestyle, it should be met with balance.

It’s also important to keep in mind when pursuing Dark Academia lifestyles or aesthetic that you keep in mind it’s very broad. This is partially due to the style being perpetuated by relatively young folks and a whole collective of people who are engaging with it.

The era, for example, can range from the 1850s all the way to the 1940s, although most of the architecture used in the aesthetic are older Gothic style buildings.

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