With the new year comes a renewed focus on goals, routines, and—often—new hobbies. For many Americans, that means leaning into the pastimes they enjoy most or picking up something new altogether. According to a CivicScience poll of nearly 20K respondents, reading (24%) ranks as Americans’ favorite pastime, followed closely by watching TV (23%). These are followed by cooking and baking (11%), exercising (10%), gardening (8%), and crafting/drawing/painting (6%). The remaining 18% answered ‘other.’
Favorite pastimes vary widely by age group. Gen Z is most likely to say cooking or baking is their top hobby, while Millennials and Gen X lean toward watching TV. Baby Boomers, meanwhile, prefer reading. Geography also plays a role—those living in the Western U.S. are most likely to name reading as their favorite pastime, whereas adults in other regions are more likely to say watching TV tops their list.
But demographics aren’t the only thing shaping how Americans spend their free time. CivicScience data reveal several notable differences tied to hobby preferences:
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Happiness: Those who say cooking or exercising is their favorite pastime are the most likely to report feeling happy overall.
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Details vs. Big Picture: Respondents who enjoy reading, watching TV, or crafting are more likely to say they focus on details and specifics in their professional lives. Meanwhile, those who prefer exercising or cooking are more inclined to focus on the big picture.
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Fashion Identity: Cooking enthusiasts are the most likely to consider themselves fashion innovators or leaders, while those who favor exercising are more likely to identify as fashion followers. By comparison, people who prefer reading or watching TV are the most likely to say they’re not into fashion at all.
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Sleep: When asked whether they get enough sleep, those who enjoy watching TV and exercising are the most likely to report ‘always’ getting enough sleep. Gardening enthusiasts, on the other hand, are the most likely to say they never get enough sleep.
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Work Environment: Those working fully in person and those working fully remotely are most likely to prefer watching TV, while hybrid workers tend to favor activities such as cooking/baking and exercising. Additionally, people who enjoy exercising are more likely to report having desk jobs, while those who prefer cooking or baking are less likely to say their job keeps them primarily at a desk.
Favorite hobbies reveal more than just how people pass the time. From happiness and sleep to work style and planning habits, the way people choose to spend their free moments reflects broader patterns in how they live, work, and recharge.
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This article’s data comes solely from CivicScience’s database, which contains nearly 700,000 poll questions and 5 billion consumer insights.