Sitting at your computer for hours and hours without doing anything productive with it is not good. Because of this, we’ve created a detailed list of 13 computer hobbies you can do on a computer plus it is a great way to keep your hands busy.
These hobbies can also be done on a laptop as well even though we will be mentioning computers a lot. And they are effective skills to keep your hands busy.
What You Will Learn
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3D Modeling
3D modeling is like molding with clay but using your computer instead. You can use it to create realistic three-dimensional objects like cars, trains, houses, and any object you can see in the real world.
Here is an example of a 3D Model
How to get started
To get started with 3D Modeling you will need 3D modeling software, understand the basic concepts of 3D modeling, and the willingness to practice consistently.
It will make a great programming hobby and a huge career potential in the future. It can be placed on your resume.
The average yearly salary of a 3D modeler, according to indeed.com is $50,069.
Here is a list of some of the Top YouTube Channels that teach 3D Modeling.
But if you want a more structured learning environment to learn effectively. Use the following educational websites.
Here are some of the best 3D Modeling software on the market, some free others paid.
Paid
- Autodesk Maya.
- Autodesk Mudbox.
- Cinema 4D.
- Autodesk 3Ds Max.
Free
- Blender
- Sketch up
- Wings 3D
- Leopoly
- BlocksCAD
- ZBrushCoreMini
- SculptGL
- Meshmixer
Here are some freelance sites you can offer your services as a 3D Modeler.
- Fiverr
- Upwork
- Flexiple
- PeoplePerHour
Quick Note: 3D Modeling requires a computer with a good processor and decent graphics card to work effectively. Don’t worry I got you sorted.
Here are some of the best PC Setups for 3D Modeling.
- Asus ZenBook Pro Duo
- ABS Legend Gaming PC
- ABS Gladiator Gaming PC
Master Excel and Word
Learning Excel and word is a basic fundamental skill for every individual. Whether you view your self geeky or spend hours in front of a computer screen. Personally, we use excel for most of our projects and keep things neat and tight. Word, on the other hand, seems like a no-brainer because if you already write, you will definitely have come across Microsoft word before. Excel and Word contain a lot of functionalities that can really make your stay with your desktop computer or laptop worthwhile. So, turn them into hobbies and master them. Microsoft Word and Excel can be used freely only online on their website but can be quite expensive if you want to use them offline. If you want to give it a try, there is a cheaper and more robust alternative from MobiSystems, Start learning with a class on the basics of Excel and Word Benefits of having these skills
- They make your life much easier because you finish tasks faster
- These hobbies make you more interesting to HR professionals during job interviews.
- Because you have become efficient at handling and completing tasks, projects are done in less time.
Learn about the Cloud
Data errors are part of using a computer or laptop. This is why cloud computing as a hobby is very important. To many, the idea of cloud computing sounds daunting and is only meant for a selected few. The basic concept is you keep your data in a secure online server called the cloud.
This hobby can really make start earning you some serious money if you study and master it properly. If you want to know more, Edureka, the world’s No. 1 online training platform can help you get started.
Learn Computer Programming
You can use programming to automate the tasks you do every day on your computer. Activities like copying, moving and renaming files. You can use this hobby to become very efficient by letting your computer do most of the heavy lifting for you.
Think of programming as giving written instructions to a subordinate at work. We write those instructions using programming languages.
Here are some of the programming languages to consider.
- Python
- PHP
- C++ / C
- JavaScript
- R
- Golang
When you start programming it is best to go with the basic concepts first before going to more advanced ones.
Below are some good and free resources to help you get started.
Digital editing
Have you ever thought of improving your own audio, photos, and videos without giving them to a professional? That dream can become true if you are willing to learn and put in the work.
Digital editing comes in three major forms. Audio, photo, and video editing
Audio editing means modifying and improving your audio files for a better user experience.
Here are some of the editing software you can use to correct your audio files.
- Audiate
- Audacity
- TwistedWave
- Ocenaudio
Photo editing is also the process of editing your photos to make them look nicer.
You can this free online editing software to edit your photos.
- Adobe online photo editor
- Canva
- Fotor.com
- GIMP
To have advanced features you can use these resources but they are paid after a 7 – 30-day free trial.
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Lightroom
- Affinity Photo
- Skylum Luminar
You can also edit videos of your film from your everyday life and create compilations from them. I recommend you start with the free tools.
This hobby is very good and can make you more creative. If you follow the plan and practice with the tools, you will get very good.
Because of that, you can offer your services on fiverr.com or upwork.com
To get started, watch free tutorials on YouTube.
Digital Painting
If you are someone who paints or draws traditionally, then it’s time to jump into the world of digital painting. Instead of using paintbrushes and oils and watercolors, you use a computer and a graphic tablet for the process.
If you want to take on this computer hobby, I recommend you watch these YouTube tutorials.
Software used for Digital Art Painting
- Adobe Photoshop
- Affinity Photo
- Corel Painter for Windows
- Affinity Designer
- Adobe Illustrator
Start A Blog
If you are a fan of writing, then becoming a blogger is the right choice of hobby you can do on your computer. To start a blog, you will need a domain name and a place to host your blog on the internet.
A domain name is like the name of a business and the hosting is the location you will place your structure for the business.
You can use free third-party platforms to build your blog, but it can be risky as they have control over the platform and can go down at any time.
But you can get a free domain name at Bluehost one of the best hosting sites, and within 15 minutes you will be live on the internet to share your knowledge and passion with the world.
It will only cost you $2.95 a month and you can have as many sites as you want.
When I say what you know, I mean what you are good at and how you can help people with it online.
Quick Note – When you start building your audience online, it is best to protect yourself from online hackers as they would try to break into weak points on your site. Big companies like Yahoo, Facebook, and Home Depot have had data breaches and password leaks.
To ensure your safety protect your privacy with Nord VPN, one of the best virtual privacy companies. They are very cheap.
Learn Website Design
You can enter the world of web design on your computer. Build beautiful and elegant websites like Facebook and Google from the comfort of your home.
Web design used to be very difficult. You need to learn HTML and CSS and other complicated programming languages to build websites. However, it will help develop the skill of problem-solving.
Now it has become very easy with the introduction of drag-and-drop programs like Elementor allowing you to build beautiful websites with the click of a mouse.
In designing websites, there are a number of steps you need to follow.
- You need to create a logo and favicon
You can either create one yourself with software like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator or online websites like logomakr.com. Here is a tutorial on how to make a logo and a favicon with logomakr.com.
To make it easier and faster you can hire a professional on Fiverr to make one for you.
- Pick colors for your website
Every website you will ever visit has its own branded colors, and it’s what differentiates it from others. When choosing a color make it simple. Choose a maximum of three to four colors.
Use color.adobe.com or coolors.co to create a color palette.
- Choose a pair of fonts for your website with fontpair.co
This is just the basics of website design. To learn more about web designing, you can learn from online educational websites like:
Take Online surveys
With your computer, you can get involved in what is going on out there by taking online surveys. These surveys are used for research purposes to learn what is going on in the world.
They are a great way to speak your mind and earn money in the process.
Here are some of the best survey sites online
- Swagbucks
- Inbox dollars
- Amazon Mechanical Turk
- Survey junkie
- Prolific
- Superpay.me
- PrizeRebel
- Crowtab
- Surveytime
- GrabPoints
- YouGov
- Pinecone
- Dscout
- UserTesting
Learn Game Development
If you spend a lot of time playing games on your computer, you might as well start creating one for others to play. Yes! Game design.
Think of games like God of War and Call of Duty and how the developers created them. All you need is patience.
You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to get a computer science degree or waste a lot of time figuring it out yourself.
This computer-based hobby can increase your creative skills, and help you earn more money by creating video games for Game design companies. It will make you a more interesting person among your friends. You could even do it as a side hustle in your free time.
Even if you don’t pursue it as a career, it can be placed on your resume, because HR professionals really love people who can break down complex problems, which is what game development teaches you how to do.
Start learning for free with these YouTube channels
For a more structured approach, it can get really complicated if you don’t follow a step-by-step process.
These paid educational websites can help you get started with the fundamentals of game development as quickly as possible. You can start with a free trial.
Start composing music
Your computer is a very valuable resource if you want it to be. You can start creating music online if music is a passion you want to follow.
Nowadays making music isn’t difficult because of the rise of music-writing apps. Here are some of them.
Best Paid Music Writing Apps
- Notion 6
- Noteflight
- MagicScore Maestro 8
- Sibelius
- MuseScore2
- Finale PrintMusic
Best Free Music Writing Apps
- LMMS
- SoundBridge
- Cakewalk
- Audacity
- Reaper
- Pro Tools First
Learn how to great lyrics from YouTube
Related Content:
- How To Write Music Lyrics
- Make Money Listening To Music
- Best Music Streaming Apps
- Best Free Music-Making Apps
Start a YouTube Channel
Just like a blog you can also create a video blog on YouTube if you want to share valuable information with people.
All you need is your computer, video camera, and microphone and you can start today.
YouTube is a very great place to make money online with what you know. There are YouTube channels making five to six figures online.
Don’t waste your time on your computer. Let it make you money.
Start playing games online
You start playing online games with different people around the world.
Research done by the Queensland University of Technology shows that people who play with other people online are able to collaborate more effectively with others.
They improve their multi-tasking skills, manage their emotions better, and enhance their memory and other cognitive abilities like concentration. It is better than watching television all day.
Create your own T-shirts and sell them online
Yes! You can create t-shirt designs on your computer and sell them on print-on-demand websites like Merch by Amazon, Teespring, and Redbubble. It’s a great way to improve your creative skills and keep you busy at the same time.
There are tons of resources online that can help you learn the basics of T-shirt design.
I recommend you learn from Greg Gottfried, the complete guide to Print on Demand. He goes into great detail on how to start and frankly, you don’t even need a paid course.
What to do next
Computer-based hobbies are very efficient ways to get more out of your computer. Use it and build your skills for the future. if you feel stuck and want a motivational boost, check our hobby quotes to inspire you.
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