new hobby ideas

[VandVsmama]

Gardening - I love gardening with local species of plants. It's like detective work figuring it what will look nice in a certain spot, what will and won't flower, what can live on its own without me babying it all the time. You can start out by going to local botanical gardens for inspiration, join a local garden club (that's where I got tons of info), etc. After a few years now, nothing really needs pruning except for once a year and there is always a couple of things blooming all year long. When I survey my yard a few times a week, it's like meditation.

I also sort of look at my garden like a 3D painting. But it's a painting that is always evolving and changing.

 

[Philagoofy]

One of my hobbies is rubber stamping. With a few supplies (which can blossom into an overflowing closet full of stuff but doesn't have to) you can create greeting cards for all occasions for your friends and family. I found out about an organization that collects handmade cards and they then distribute them to hospitalized children across the US. My fun hobby has turned into something worthwhile.

Another vote here for gardening. Great for the mind and body.

Go to a craft store and walk around the different sections - beading for jewelry making, woodworking, painting, paper crafts, hook rugs, model building, etc. See if anything sparks your interest.

As for model trains, if you don't have too much room, there are some that are very small gauge and the platform would take up little room.

YouTube is a great source for how-to's. There are so many people on there who are generous with their knowledge.

 

[anniemae]

You have all inspired me to start gardening.

 

[NFLDERS]

Volunteer work, even just lending a hand to people you know in an informal way. Uses up time, expends mental energy and can be a great social outlet too!

And the need for volunteers is great.

 

[PigletsPal2]

Late post but here's my two cents worth,

I have the attention span of a flea, so I always have several things going at once. Right this minute, I'm reading three books, crocheting two scarves, playing computer games, solving Sudoku problems and playing Brain Games on my Nintendo, monitoring various computer message boards of which I'm a member, planning meals for DH and me when he comes home for good. The Sudoku and Brain Games are great fun. Through a series of tests, the program determines your brain age. The goal is to score a minimum of 20 years younger than your chronological age. I test myself every few days, and my personal best brain age is 29 years old. I'm chronologically 69 years old. Earlier this week I started a refresher course in Spanish. When my author friend finishes the first draft of her new book, I'll be editing it for her.

Unfortunately, all of these activities are sedentary. I have a neurological and physical disability that makes exercise extremely difficult. But I hope to be starting a physical therapy class in July that will give me some physical activity.

Queen Colleem

 

[scrapquitler]

I have been reading that it can be helpful to develop new hobbies as you get older, so that you are learning new things and doing things that are different from what you have previously done. Making your brain learn something new can apparently help prevent dementia.

So I am trying to find a new hobby or activity - something different. Currently my main hobby is reading - I read a lot. I also write. I like to do puzzles (crossword, Sudoko, Ken-Ken). I am not fit at all. I have tried in the past to learn knitting but have never been able to make it work.

When I try to think of new hobbies, I just draw a blank.

Just wondered if anyone had any interesting hobbies that I might consider. What do you do??

Quilting, scrap booking, gardening, cooking, wine tasting?

 

[Kimberlyann11]

This is going to expose me for the geek I am, but I love the free online classes. I am doing one right now from UC Irvine on introductory cosmology (DD says "like makeup?" No! like outer space!). It is so fascinating - and it's just videotaped lectures so I don't have to worry about studying or grades. It makes me wish I could start my life over and be an astronomer. But I say that about every class I take.

 

[StephMK]

Love the ideas in this thread!! I love to read and work on home improvement projects. Some years, gardening but that is not something I truly enjoy. It's more that the results are visible and the flower beds have needed color. I got tired of looking at the old landscaping.

We tried vegetable gardening but it is hard to fight the critters. The fenced off area is currently a playpen for baby bunnies who were born there. Mom rabbit is smart. Fence to protect them from our dogs and a free buffet if we plant.

Hoping to get my EdS down the road and learn some new arts or crafts in the next few years.

 

[Cantw8]

Gardening! I love planting and tending to flowers!

me too! I find it very rewarding and relaxing. I love to create a look in my mind and then bring it to life.

I also like to do some DIY projects that I find on Pintrest. I am currently refinishing an old window pane shabby chic in teal and lavender. I am going to place it over a painting I love, hang refinished shutters on either side and hang it in the living room. It will give the illusion of looking out a window into a lily pond

 

[cords]

Do you have a dog? Agility classes are a blast and keeps both you and your dog in shape. Advanced obedience, fly ball, and other classes like freestyle are also fun.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

I have a 5 month old who hates sleep. My hobby is watching 45 minutes of tv before going to bed 2-3 times a week. Haha. I look forward to having a hobby in the future! I'd love to get back to Zumba class.

 

[Hikergirl]

me too! I find it very rewarding and relaxing. I love to create a look in my mind and then bring it to life.

I also like to do some DIY projects that I find on Pintrest. I am currently refinishing an old window pane shabby chic in teal and lavender. I am going to place it over a painting I love, hang refinished shutters on either side and hang it in the living room. It will give the illusion of looking out a window into a lily pond

Its flea market season here so I have a list of projects that I want to do too. Right now I'm working on turning a vintage wooden tool box into a charging station for our cell phones. I have a ladder project and window projects planned too. Your's sounds like it is going to come out really nice, I love the idea of using the painting as the view behind the window.

 

[usnuzuloose]

We buy and sell collectables. It is so much fun.

 

[powellrj]

I use to have herbs as a hobby and loved it. I would grow them and dry them and cook with them. It was lots of fun always looking for new herbs to grow and new recipes to use them in.

 

[Bearvet]

A great way to combine your love of reading/books and volunteering is to volunteer to help at a school or public library. Shelving books is a never-ending task, reading to children, covering books (most librarians are happy to teach you) - always things to do. You may also consider joining the Friends of (local) Library group and help with their activities. Or join a local book club.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

Hi,
I started self publishing as a hobby, espeacially to help get over a party poker adiction that I gave up when it became clearly illegal. When it was fuzzy I would play in $5 holdem tourneys after wife and kids went to sleep. So I just used that time to write. I highly recomend it.
Now I have a new hobby marketing, it is not nearlty as fun and would not recomend that one to anyone.

 

[chirurgeon]

I say go for knitting. I find crochet harder. Knitting only have two stitches. It's what you do with them that makes beautiful things. Find a local yarn store. Most have classes. You can try both knitting and crochet to find which you prefer. Knitting is cheaper, uses less yarn.