9 Top Enneagram 1 Hobbies Ideal for “The Perfectionist”

Enneagram 1 hobbies are diverse but mainly directed toward personal development since Ones, also known as Perfectionists, always strive to be the best version of themselves. However, since they tend to take everything seriously, sometimes it is hard to distinguish between their hobbies and responsibilities.

In this article, we’ll explore which hobbies best support Perfectionist’s growth and help them live more fulfilling and joyful lives.

What Is Enneagram Type 1 Like?

Enneagram Type One is a driven idealist who strives to make the world a better place. Ones are conscientious, responsible, and highly ethical individuals with a strong sense of right and wrong. They are the guardians of morale in their communities and are always ready to stand up for what they believe in.

Moreover, Type One also has a strong intellect and is very rational and pragmatic. They enjoy learning and are continuously engaged in improving their competencies and skills. As a result, they often become unparalleled experts in their fields of interest.

Nevertheless, regardless of how successful and recognized they become, they always remain self-critical and impose very high standards on themselves. For this reason, they find it hard to relax and enjoy life, as they feel there’s always some ‘smarter’ or ‘more useful’ way for them to spend time. This is also why Enneagram 1 hobbies often grow into full-time careers.

In addition, it is important to note that the Enneagram theory recognizes two subtypes, which, depending on their Enneagram wing, can have traits of one of their neighboring types—Nine or Two.

So, an Enneagram One with a Nine wing (1w9) is even more idealistic and self-sacrificing, whereas an Enneagram One with a Two wing (1w2) is more affectionate and relationship-oriented than a typical One.

9 Most Entertaining Enneagram 1 Hobbies

Enneagram 1 hobbies should help these individuals relax and connect with their feelings, silence their inner critic, and learn how to enjoy the moment. While, in general, every hobby a Perfectionist chooses freely benefits them in some way, certain activities are particularly useful for them.

Let’s explore which Enneagram 1 hobbies are best for improving Type One’s quality of life:

#1. Volunteering

As we already mentioned, making the world a better place is of real importance to Type One. They honestly believe that every altruistic effort makes a significant difference. Therefore, what better way for them to feel fulfilled than to engage in volunteering?

Moreover, this type of activity allows Ones to forget about themselves and focus entirely on the benefit of others, which gives them at least a temporary break from the harsh voice of their inner critic.

Interestingly, Enneagram 1 and Enneagram 5 can sometimes be misidentified due to their shared focus on self-discipline and intellectual pursuits, though their motivations differ significantly.

#2. Gardening

Gardening is both a way of improving the world (since it brings more beauty into the environment) and a mindfulness exercise since it forces Ones to be present in the here and now. Moreover, nature and gardening have a very calming effect, thus helping Ones relax, which is precisely what they need to foster.

As an added benefit, Ones can literally enjoy the fruits of their labor, as everything they plant will flourish or ripen at some point, depending on the kind of gardening they choose.

#3. Cooking

Cooking is a great way for Ones to focus on the present and connect with their bodily sensations through their sense of smell and taste. Plus, cooking often demands a sense of measure, attention to detail, and precision—all of which Ones have in abundance.

Not to mention that this is often a social activity, which means it has the power to boost relationships with other people, which they also need to focus more on.

#4. Crafts & DIY Projects

One of the greatest passions of every true Type One is improving things. For this reason, crafts and DIY projects are very satisfying for them since they often involve making new, useful things from old and broken ones. Plus, since DIYs usually involve a lot of manual work, using their hands calms Ones’ nerves and helps them stay present in the moment.

#5. Martial Arts

Perfectionists belong to the Enneagram gut triad, which means that their core emotion is anger. However, unlike Eights, who express their anger without any inhibitions, Ones repress it and internalize it. So, the voice of their harsh inner critic is actually the voice of their own repressed anger.

Therefore, martial arts can be extremely beneficial for them, as these allow them to channel their anger constructively instead of turning it toward themselves. After all, the benefits of martial arts on psychological well-being have been well-known and documented many times.

Plus, martial arts develop concentration and precision and help them engage their whole body, which also has a massive anti-stress effect on them.

#6. Yoga

Ones are generally strong, but they are prone to experiencing very high-stress levels due to their perfectionistic tendencies. Therefore, yoga is an ideal Enneagram 1 hobby because it helps them manage stress more efficiently and become more resilient.

Moreover, the spirit and philosophy of yoga match perfectly with Ones’ nature.

#7. Learning to Play an Instrument

Learning to play an instrument is a structured activity that boosts creativity and brings notable results relatively quickly, depending on the chosen instrument. The very nature of music encourages Ones to connect with their feelings and express them in a constructive way.

Plus, the benefits of learning to play an instrument on brain health and IQ are well-documented, which strongly appeals to Type One, who’s always into self-improvement.

#8. Dancing

Though dancing isn’t an activity that would be a typical One’s natural choice, it is still one of the best Enneagram 1 hobbies because it helps Ones focus on connection with other people. Dancing requires precise movement coordination and collaboration with dancing partners or a dancing group, which may be very beneficial for Ones in more than one way.

Plus, dancing is also a great way to relieve stress and channel emotions in both a creative and constructive manner.

#9. Journaling

Ones are self-reflective, and journaling feels natural to them. It provides them with a safe space to express all their feelings in any way they want. It also provides them with structure for their emotional expression, which makes them feel safe.

Another huge benefit of journaling is that it allows Ones to have insight into their personal growth path. By going back to their journal entries, they can compare how their thoughts and reactions change and evolve over time.

How to Choose the Right Hobby as Enneagram Type 1

The best Enneagram 1 hobbies are those that help them silence their inner critic, enjoy life more, and foster empathy and self-empathy.

Therefore, while Ones are naturally drawn to choosing a hobby that supports their career goals or teaches them new and practical skills, they need to shift their focus to choices that make them feel good.

Nevertheless, any hobby Type One chooses should also provide structure, discipline, and purpose since these feel natural to Type One and support their well-being.

Moreover, Ones will create structure if there isn’t any; that’s simply their nature. So, when choosing an ideal Enneagram 1 hobby, Ones should focus on both their needs and their authentic personality.

How Enneagram Type 1 Can Stick to a Hobby: 3 Helpful Tips

Sticking to a hobby isn’t a challenge for Ones because they are highly organized and disciplined. Therefore, when they decide to take on a hobby, you can be sure they will give it an honest try, even if they don’t like it in the end.

However, there’s always room for improvement, and here are three tips that can help them stay committed to their hobbies in the most struggling moments:

#1. Focus on Progress, not Perfection

Ones always expect a lot of themselves and are prone to feeling disappointed whenever they fail to perform perfectly. Therefore, embracing mistakes and the lessons that come from them is a healing experience for Ones, and any hobby that allows them to do that is very useful for them.

#2. Allow for Spontaneity

Many of the hobbies in this article are great for helping Ones relax and be more present in the here and now. Fostering spontaneity is very important for Ones, as it opens the door to playfulness, fun, and joy, which they usually lack the most in life.

#3. Make Connections

Hobbies usually involve meeting new people with shared interests. By focusing on the relationships they make while practicing hobbies, Ones will be more committed and enrich their social circle. Plus, the more they connect with others through such activities, the more they will enjoy them.

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Key Takeaways

There are surely many more great Enneagram 1 hobbies, but today we focused on those that can be especially beneficial for highly responsible, dutiful Perfectionists. The ones we mentioned in this guide will surely help them learn to relax and feel more joy in life.

Bearing that in mind, let’s wrap up by focusing on the key insights from this article:

• The best Enneagram 1 hobbies support these individuals’ personal growth and teach them self-empathy.
• Hobbies for Enneagram 1 can help the representatives of this type overcome their perfectionistic tendencies and silence their inner critic.
• Some of the ideal Enneagram 1 hobbies include gardening, volunteering, cooking, martial arts, and journaling.