Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

I need a new hobby for 2023 - but what?

31 replies

BlancPetal · 29/12/2022 10:45

Suggestions please?

When I say new hobby what I mean is HOBBY.

I've never really had one - used to swim a bit in my 20s but what I want to achieve in 2023 is a new skill combined with an opportunity to meet new friends.

Open to suggestions - currently my mind is blank.

Thankyou.

OP posts:
PinkGrapefruitSorbet · 29/12/2022 11:15

You could join a choir? Usually very sociable, and most places have a range depending on whether you read music, have sung before, are a complete beginner, etc.

dudsville · 29/12/2022 11:24

Does it need to be done independelty or can it be in a group?

If it's a group then check if your local area has a "what's on" guide to groups and activities. Scroll thorugh and choose 5 that you're interested in and try them out.

My hobbies are independent ones like reading, sewing, walking. I used to do more crafty type stuff but that was more when I was setting up my home, so making curtains, reupholstering, re-varnishing etc., I hope to get into gardening when I retire but at the moment it requires too much energy.

Original poster
BlancPetal · 30/12/2022 18:01

@dudsville a group thing I think.

No what's on guide locally, not that I've seen anyway.

I like your idea of finding 5 things to try though.

OP posts:
GreyCarpet · 30/12/2022 18:17

Depends what you like doing...

Park run, couch 25k, join the gym, yoga, BMF...

Lindy Hop lessons, community choir, buy a ukulele for £25, teach yourself a few chords via YouTube and join/form a group...

Find a local pub that does live music and go to gigs.

What do other people do that you like the sound of?

I play bass guitar in a band. We rehearse weekly and gig as often as we can, I do yoga and occasionally go to the gym.

StormObelisk · 30/12/2022 18:22

I swim, do yoga and play golf. It took a couple of years to make friends through the first two. Golf was sociable from day one. Really supportive group of women golfers. 9 holes and a cup of coffee/chat takes a 2 1/2 hours once or twice a week. Love it

Popfan · 30/12/2022 18:22

I know it's hated on here but I play golf, very sociable and I love it. Have some lessons etc and when you are at a good enough standard join a club - most have good ladies sections now but check before joining. Some clubs offer group lessons for beginners too.

girlmom21 · 30/12/2022 18:24

I'd like to try rock climbing and fencing at some point

katscamel · 30/12/2022 18:30

Learning a language can be a fun thing to do and of course going to the country where its spoken is a bonus.
Park Run is apparently good...and you don't even have to run. Friends of mine in the last few years have done....netball, pottery, photography courses, badminton, furniture upgrading and gardening.

CalmConfident · 30/12/2022 18:37

Parkrun with added parkrun challenge chasing & tourism. You don’t need to run - you can walk and volunteer too

Lcb123 · 30/12/2022 18:38

Park run, choir, cycling group, book club?

Cornishmumofone · 30/12/2022 18:54

Join a local tri club and aim to complete a triathlon (novice or sprint). You'll meet a lot of people and get fit.

user863 · 30/12/2022 18:56

Gym, dancing, bookclub, running club?

What do you enjoy doing is the question?

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 30/12/2022 18:58

Roller derby, I've been playing over 10 years,its amazing fun!

lugeforlife · 30/12/2022 18:58

I am considering photography. Dh would also quite fancy this will will be nice to do something together.

Yoga and swimming but I see that more as exercise.

I did also consider a choir - I used to sing in the church choir as a pre teen and can sort of hold a tune but am not great.

Ponderingtosk · 30/12/2022 18:58

U3A, the WI, both I think will offer good opportunities for making friends.

Gingerlygreen · 30/12/2022 19:13

Photography, it opens your eyes to so much of what is going on around you, I look at my surroundings in such a different way now and notice the small things.
You could do a night course and meet people that way or join a camera club, they do tend to have a high proportion of older men who like to brag about having the latest equipment but there will probably be women there too and it's a nice way to meet fellow photographers.
Ours do competitions where you are given a theme then an external judge bought in, some weeks it's a talk and sometimes the more knowledgeable members give lessons to the newer people.

It's something you can do in any weather and combine it with a walk to get some exercise in.

Winter2020 · 30/12/2022 19:22

Running club, open water swimming, language class?

CMOTDibbler · 30/12/2022 19:44

A tri club is a good call as between the swimming (pool and outdoor), cycling and running plus yoga/ conditioning etc certainly our local one has something every day and then there is taking part in events and organising them.
I open water swim, and it is a lovely social activity esp in the winter, depends where you live as to how much is going on.
Rowing? The club my son goes to has lots of adult 'learn to row' graduates and they seem to have a lot of fun

ProperVexed · 31/12/2022 06:52

I second photography, but I do it as a secondary interest to nature / bird watching. Being outside for a good walk and observing what is happening is fabulous. I've made a great group of friends and we meet up regularly. However, it is also something you can do alone.

fallfallfall · 31/12/2022 07:00

Bee keeping.

WinterFoxes · 31/12/2022 07:03

kayaking. Easy, fun and you develop skills in water navigation.

RhubarbFairy · 31/12/2022 07:06

I play poker in the Redtooth league. If you go to their website, you can find locations near to you. They're usually in a pub, and different places run on different nights.

It's free to join and technically free to play as it's a points based league. Some places will cite a buy-in of about £5, but that goes towards a pot for the winner. You can decline to pay the fiver (I never put in the cash pot at mine), and the money just goes to the highest placing person who did pay.

I love it. It's sociable, and knowing how to play poker is a skill.

inglese · 31/12/2022 08:04

Second vote for rowing.

StormObelisk · 31/12/2022 08:23

I think you need to live near a club or have tons of time to take up rowing. I rowed for decades, started at uni and for 20 odd years afterwards. It is a great thing to do. Gave up shortly after moving to where I live now because the nearest club is a 50 minute drive away.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 31/12/2022 08:40

I'm trying to think of things less sporty, in case that's not your thing:

Conversational French (or whatever language you may know bits of)
Photography
Local History
Volunteer with Cubs/Brownies etc
Befriending (pensioners)
Pottery
Amateur Dramatics
WI
Choir