What are your hobbies ?

[blameitonmyjuice]

Having a blether with a friend the other day about beating mild depression and she suggested getting a hobby ... before reeling off her massive list - she does embroidery, gardening , writes poetry, plays about half an orchestra of instruments (eg guitar, piano, clarinet, recorder, flute, ukele) , dog walking , cycling , collects paintings , all sorts of v interesting stuff .

I’m very boring in comparison - I have three very battered scrapbooks, and tried (and failed) at acrylic painting once. I’ve also collected sea pottery/sea glass before but that’s a hobby that’s difficult to do anything with really unless you like making jewellery . Have also traced my grandmother’s family tree to 1800s ... but again - once you have the information there’s little you can do , and once you get back to a certain date/area you get stuck ... usually spend my days watching Netflix , mumsnetting, mindlessly scrolling on my phone or housework/boring stuff .

What do you/other people do to pass the time ? Friend suggested buying a second hand instrument and learning to play but I genuinely don’t see the point unless you have the sort of family who would appreciate it or could join a band or something . Think my family would laugh at me ... Just seems pointless learning for myself [shrug] .

Would appreciate any ideas at all - just curious if there’s something I’d love that I’m missing out on !

I do crafts, i brought some littke boxes from the works and i've painted them
My mum brought some old earthenware flower pots that i'm currently decorating to put my house plants in as prettier than the plain plastic pots
Just going for a walk is an excellent help with mild depressuon
Other suggestions
Swimming
Running
Go to the gym
Join a knit and natter
Find a local book group
J

I run and cycle but mainly powerlift. I don't really have indoor/at home hobbies.

Exercise is my main one: spinning, body combat, yoga and resistance bands currently all at home though as shift worker it's just easier.
Gardening is becoming a hobby too
I like walking with my partner on our joint days off and have nice local walks that end up with a pub tea/lunch
Listening to music/podcasts
Reading though I struggle to concentrate atm.
Box sets/films
I'm quite active so some of my hobbies are low key and relaxing!

I taught myself to crochet from YouTube videos. Could already knit so wasn't too hard. I paint watercolours (if you knock the paint over it won't stain like acrylic 😂) and it's a relatively small amount of equipment so doesn't take up too much space. I read. Love walking. And of course I'm mildly addicted to mumsnet.

I still research our family tree (ties in nicely with the history of mining, of little villages, of epidemics etc.) and I am back to the beginning of recordings for some branches.
I love learning languages, reading, have recently taken up knitting again, do some archive work for a literary society and I take online courses on future learn - some to revive my memory, some because the subject is completely new to me.

Your friend sounds a bit like she’s filling the void tbh. I volunteer for one (intensive) month a year. I’m part of a book club. I garden. In theory I’m learning DH’s language, but not happening at the mo. The social stuff lifts my mood, as does being outside.

What’s that stone/rock painting thing called?

Basically you get a stone/rock and paint a picture on it then you take it out to a scenic place for others to find.

That would get you doing something arty at home and then out in the fresh air.

Your friend sounds a bit like she’s filling the void tbh

Isn't that what we're all trying to do ...indeed thd point of hobbies

I do yoga and swimming. I do knit as well but too tired in the evenings at the moment.

I read a lot, or at least as much as my DS will let me. I also enjoy cooking and spending an afternoon pottering around in the kitchen trying new recipes. I write as well and enjoy swimming and hiking.

I have just started cycling again. It began as a necessity because I can no longer afford to run a car. Now, 3 weeks in, and after 45 years of never riding a bike, I am loving it! I don't go far... yet. But the feeling of accomplishment is wonderful.

I also love to cook, or more specifically, to bake and give away mush of my baking. I read a huge amount. There is a silly internet game I play, I do jigsaws, I paint eggs (blown ones) with acrylics, I used to walk but have mild arthritis in my feet so don't very often. I also look after two of my daughter's horses on a daily basis.

Watch TV? Nah.. haven't got time

Reading, tarot, jewellery making, felting sometimes (needle and wet), design stuff on computer (vector art stuff and photo editing, just learning really), board games, computer games, walking, photography, writing.

Oh, and a lot of the more crafty stuff I started because my GP advised me to find time for myself to help with anxiety.

Not seeing the point is part of your depression.
The point is to enjoy it, maybe when you’re feeling a bit better you’ll take up a hobby.
I sew and draw but haven’t for around a year now because I’ve had crippling depression and thought ‘what’s the point’

I’m trying to get out walking more.

Would love to start kayaking but it’s so scary taking the leap and going to a meeting and asking to be allowed to play

I read do cross stitch and we go on bike rides as a fam we also work full time have 8 kids between us so it’s finding the time to do anything

Another arty one - sewing, jewellery making, painting, drawing, occasional sculpting work. Crossword puzzles, especially cryptic ones. Cooking and baking.

I recently cut down to part time (age catching up with me) so I've been trying out quite a lot of stuff to fill the time.
Creative writing, if you have a knack for it, is brilliant and I've earned quite a lot from it over the years.
Swimming
Park run
Lots of reading
Spending time with grand DC (this involves a lot of video games)
Research projects
DIY

greenyogagirl I think you’ve got it spot on there as that’s my overwhelming feeling towards life in general (‘what’s the bloody point?’) meaning I get very little done at all . Very difficult .

I think friend is probably just as worried/unhappy as I am deep down but does all that stuff to keep herself going - she has a hell of a lot to contend with unfortunately . But she says she’s happy and content in sort of blissful ignorance for now and I would kind of like to feel that way at least occasionally .

I think the best thing I’ve ever done is jet skiing , I don’t think I could do it as a hobby as it’s probably far too expensive but I loved it . That or sort of relaxed canoeing I’d love to do . I love water in general ... I’m quite fat having been virtually housebound for a long time but I think if I could go swimming that would help .

I have bought a felting kit to try off amazon - see what that’s like . I’ve got one of those code breaker puzzle book things too ... still holding back off trying an instrument though much as I think it would be a fun thing to try , if I’m totally crap I’ve wasted money .

Tabletop and online roleplaying are probably the hobbies I've been doing the longest and put the most energy into. I enjoy creating characters and stories with others and with online forums and similar, it can be both good fun as well as a cheap distraction during more difficult times alongside walking (love forest walks) and drawing.

I find when things really feel pointless and I've little energy for it, that sometimes just watching tips or reading about it can help. I follow a few people on youtube for creative writing and fitness and even more practical things like finance and such, and some days when I've little energy for anything else, I just spend a bit of time watching it and it perks me up a bit even if it doesn't get me really going.

I can lose hours gardening.

that’s my overwhelming feeling towards life in general (‘what’s the bloody point?’) meaning I get very little done at all

This is a classic symptom of depression. What works for me is to force myself to do things even when I really don't want to because I know I will feel better after/while doing them. It takes some serious discipline at times though.

I go to the gym a lot. I see a personal trainer (who pushes me really hard) and I also do HIIT/circuit training 5-6 days a week. This makes a massive difference to my mood.

I walk as much as I can. I usually walk around 50km each week.

I love animals and nature. It makes me feel at peace. So I volunteer every Sunday in a wildlife hospital, and on other days I try to go to my local park and feed the squirrels (who are super-tame and recognise me now) and just watch the wildlife.

I love to read and try to download a new book to my Kindle every week and read when I go to bed.

Most of my hobbies these days are all related to my mental health and trying to maintain a relative feeling of zen. Until recently, I had a very stressful lifestyle (high pressure job in the City, lots of politics and back-stabbing, lots of transatlantic travel, very little sleep/rest). My job was cut in Dec and I haven't been able to find work (bloody Brexit!) so I've gone from being money-rich time-poor to being time-rich money-poor. I'm trying to embrace the change in lifestyle and I think it's doing me good.

Crochet, thread crochet, paper quilling, paper flowers, baking, yoga. About to give polymer clay a go. I always find if I've managed to achieve something tangible it's more of a lift. Great for the self esteem.

It may sound ridiculous but as far as an instrument goes you can pick up a recorder for about £4, or a full keyed children's keyboard for about £10 (not half bad either), just to try. If you have an affinity for it and can manage a few tunes you can then invest in something better and more grown up. I always wanted to learn the keyboard but couldn't justify the space and money for a proper one if it wasn't for me. We picked one up for DD and I can proudly tap out a reasonable rendition of Old MacDonald, Twinkle Twinkle and Itsy Bitsy Spider 😁

Agree with PPs though. The "what's the point" thing is very much the depression talking. You need to ignore that little voice and just do it anyway. But something with a tangible achievement (something you can hold or that sort of thing) will give you a buzz and the motivation to keep going with whatever hobby you choose, and getting back to that hobby will be something you look forward to.

I do flyball, which is kind of a team relay race for dogs.
Keeps me fit and speaking to folk from all over.