New hobby ideas please

[MonkeyPuddle]

Hello MN, I need help.

I am changing shift patterns at work and going onto the night shift, due to my shift pattern I’ll be working essentially a week of nights and then a WHOLE WEEK OFF.
I currently am at home with my 2 year old every day, school run with 5 year old and work 5 evenings a weeks from once DP is home, I work from 5pm until midnight.
DD will also be going to nursery x 2 FULL DAYS on my week off.
Now, I am going to have a whole week of evenings, every other week, at home. And TWO WHOLE DAYS (bar nursery pick up and DS school run) to myself.
I plan on having tea as a family and then getting the kids to bed before I head out to night shift, I can’t wait to do this, I miss it so much. It seems like such a treat to eat dinner with my kids and tuck them into bed.
But what do I do on my two days with no kids? My evenings every other week?
What would you do?
Hit me with anything and everything. I am open to all suggestions.
I have worked these shifts for the benefit of my family and now is the time to do something for me. But, I have lost myself a little in the process, I don’t know what I like or want much anymore.
Help me!

Start with what you like doing. For me, I would run, walk the dog, garden - but I am an old git so they may not appeal. I have to confess to being marginally envious!

Oooh now I like the idea of gardening! But not sure if I need to leave that until spring time? I will scope out the gardening board. Our garden is just long and lawn, definitely something I can turn myself to, thank you!

Crochet
Knitting
Scrapbooking
Card making
Family history research
Online painting or drawing course
Bead-work / jewellery making
Learn an instrument

Learn a language
Sewing
Walking
Reading
Crochet
Exercise class

It t depends on what sort f person you are…do you want to be outside or inside, activivty level high energy or low energy, do you want to learn a new skill, are you someone who has high attention to detail, are you someone with good eye hand r body coordination, are you creative, etc etc
think about what you’ve enjoyed in the past in terms of individual activities, tasks , strengths etc…then we could probably help more …but tbh you’ll probably figure it out once you’ve gone through that exercise.
Then be prepared to try a number of things around that to find “your” buzz and thing.

I’d choose something that you can pick up and drop reasonably easily as required. As you’ll be on a sort of rolling 2 week pattern it’ll be good to have something you could do around housework/childcare.

My suggestions are:
Hand sewing or Cross stitch - they sell easy beginner kits in Hobbycraft etc so you can have a try.
Loom knitting- really easy to learn, as you wrap the wool around plastic pegs rather than needing to figure out knitting needles. I picked it up super fast and even made DS a basic superman doll.
Yoga/Pilates - loads of YouTube videos to get you started at home if you want to try it out.

Hope you find something you enjoy!

I'd find a surface I could lay a Jigsaw out on, and work on it on and off over the days off. I do this now, but it stays out for about a month as I dip in and do a few pieces most days but never spend more than about 20mins at a time at it.

Agree re knitting/crochet/Cross stitch. Even if you just start out with a little kit set rather than having to think of something from scratch.

Walks. Lots of walking listening to a podcast.