If you are an introvert, what are your hobbies and interests?

[LabradorsByTheSea]

I've found myself with a bit more spare time on my hands as the DC are getting older and would like to have a few more interests. I'm quite introverted and find the idea of organised fun pretty horrific. I also struggle with activities that are a weekly commitment at a particular time, as I and DH work erratic hours at times. DC are also pretty busy and needs lots of running about. The only group activity I've really enjoyed is singing in a choir.

I can't do many of the craft/handy activities that others enjoy at home, as I'm dyspraxic and only have functional vision in one eye. Basically, if a six year old would struggle then so would I!

At the moment, I enjoy cooking (would love to extend this but not sure how), reading (I try to get to a monthly book club), walking with the dogs, yoga and pilates, swimming, gardening, learning French (coffee break French podcast), politics and current affairs (well, listening to Alastair and Rory while I walk the dogs) and culture (I try to get to galleries and concerts with friends a few times a year). We also absolutely love travelling as a family. I'd like to try creative writing but have no idea how to get started.

Any ideas about other hobbies I might enjoy, or ways I can extend these interests (DH says no more booking holidays!)?

What kind of cooking do you do? There are absolutely loads of world cuisines so I’d get into one of those!

Golf - you can do it whenever you choose to. The right club with an active and welcome women’s section is amazing.

I have a nine hole membership which is fairly inexpensive and play as often/little as I can fit it in.

I really enjoy a solitary nine holes very early am before work in the summer. Also enjoy playing with a couple of friends. We started together a few years ago and have become firm pals.

I go to the gym, play X Box/ PS5, read, colour in, watch films. Go for the occasional run. That all keeps me going.

Grow a full on herb garden. Start with the ones you use.

Maybe invest in a more advanced french course online lessons which can be done each week when you want to/can.

Get some advanced yoga pilates equipment, there is swing yoga I have seen but if you haven't got resistance bands etc.

Have a look on open university courses for french/creative writing it's not all degrees.

Crafting
Art (viewing)
Theatre
Cinema
Yoga
Train travel
Board games
Gardening
Meandering

Reading (book group), plus I joined the library and pop in once a week - good way to find out what else is going on locally, and now the library staff know me by name!

Listening to podcasts

Crochet (this is the only craft I've got any ability in

Drinking coffee with friends

Cycling

Volunteering (in my case at a children's club, but could be anything)

The gym! I love having something to work towards. Love being able to train on my own when i want for how long I want. I love the short social interactions I have with the regulars between weight machines

I love doing jigsaws and watching true crime documentaries /court trials on youtube (at the same time). I really need to start going to the gym again.

Thanks so much. I have enjoyed reading these and feel better that the hobbies I have are probably ‘enough’ and popular introvert interests.

There are some brilliant ideas here for new things to try. DS is into golf and I can play a little, so I might pick it up again. Our gym has a 9 hole membership so we could just do a hole or two.

I also need to look into self directed creative writing courses and cookery options.

Someone mentioned Scrabble. I love Scrabble! Might try to get DH back into it too.

As I’ve got older, I’ve enjoyed being in my garden more and more. I dream of having an abundant cottage garden- so that’s something to work towards.

On line poker, I can play without interacting physically with anyone.
Love it, Texas holdem , doing OK.

Gardening
Beekeeping
Reading/writing
Listening to music
Fishing
Baking
Collecting old clocks, barometers and scientific instruments
Learning a new language through 'Duolingo' - currently Swahili!

History
Reading
Visiting national trust places
Photography, especially close in nature images of insects in flowers
Cooking and experimenting
Theatre
Crafting and sewing
Painting
Art - galleries etc
Museums. I love love love being in a museum on my own.
Botanic Gardens
Gardening and garden centres
Walking and rambling
Foraging whilst walking, picking up interesting wee things
Playing with my 3 young cats

I like nature and walks in the woodlands, and photography.
Academic wise, it's a mix of perspectives, eg forensic science, archaeology, ancient history etc

I do all the things you do, OP, plus volunteer at a bookshop (used also to do a stint at the library), write a blog (and try to get others to contribute, which makes it a bit more interactive) and do a ballet class. I am looking for a language buddy to improve my French speaking skills - I like studying alone (I usually go to the library to get out of the house for it) but there's a limit to how much you can improve your speaking alone. I've become a bit obsessed with interior decorating, and am forever plotting new paint schemes and soft furnishings and trying to find low-cost ways to primp up the house.

If you enjoy gardening, would you care to volunteer at a community garden?

I have similar hobbies to yours.

I do a lot of training with my dogs. We do agility and are working on good citizen dog scheme Gold award. (All organised, of course)
I also teach them tricks: riding a skateboard is the latest challenge! (In my own time!)

I read a lot of historical fiction that I use to learn/ research about a specific area or event.

And I love writing- mainly for myself. These are short stories and some poetry.

Walking
Reading
Gardening- 4 hours today

Gardening. Church.

Learn a musical instrument

I just posted your question into the ChatGPT thing and it came up with some good options.

"It's great that you already have several interests that you enjoy! Here are a few ideas for other hobbies you might enjoy:
1 Writing: Since you mentioned that you'd like to try creative writing, why not start by keeping a journal? You can write about your daily experiences, your thoughts, your dreams, or anything that inspires you. You could also try writing short stories or poems.
2 Photography: If you enjoy traveling and culture, you might enjoy taking photos of the places you visit and the people you meet. You don't need a fancy camera to get started - even a smartphone camera can produce great results.
3 Volunteering: If you're interested in politics and current affairs, you might enjoy volunteering for a political campaign or a non-profit organization that works on issues you care about. Volunteering can be a great way to meet new people and make a difference in your community.
4 Birdwatching: If you enjoy walking and spending time in nature, you might enjoy birdwatching. All you need is a pair of binoculars and a guidebook or app to help you identify the birds you see.
5 Meditation: If you enjoy yoga and pilates, you might enjoy adding a meditation practice to your routine. Meditation can help you reduce stress, improve your focus, and cultivate a sense of calm.
As for extending your existing interests, here are a few ideas:
1 Cooking: If you'd like to extend your cooking skills, you might try taking a cooking class or finding new recipes to try online or in cookbooks. You could also challenge yourself to cook a meal from a different culture each week.
2 Reading: To extend your reading, you could join an online book club or start your own with friends. You could also try reading books outside your usual genres or authors.
3 French: To extend your French skills, you could try practicing with a language exchange partner online or in person. You could also watch French movies or TV shows with subtitles or listen to French podcasts or music.
4 Gardening: To extend your gardening skills, you could try growing new plants or vegetables, or learning more about sustainable gardening practices.
5 Culture: To extend your cultural experiences, you could try visiting new museums, attending performances of different types of music or dance, or exploring different neighborhoods or cities in your area.
I hope these ideas inspire you! Remember, the most important thing is to find hobbies that bring you joy and fulfillment, so don't be afraid to try new things and see what resonates with you.

One of my DC has dyspraxia and a hand tremor but has been able to master crochet. It is supposed to be very good for warding off arthritis. They do a lot with thick blanket yarn, making all kinds of animals.

I have taken up making rag rugs using a peg loom. Anyone can do it as it is just tearing scrap fabric into strips and winding them around pegs. Peg looms can be bought from Etsy. It is reasonably portable so I take mine to local village hall based craft groups. They are on different days and times and are purely pay as you go so if you can't make a session that is fine. You can either chat to the other attendees or sit in companiable silence. I have turned my SIL's old couch cover, a bunch of her old Primark dresses, and BIL's paint stained t-shirts into rugs and made one for DH that used a sequin covered monstrosity from a charity shop that now glitters and shines in his home office.

I signed up with my county's wildlife trust as a volunteer. I can sign up to volunteer at places near me when I am able to. They also have opportunities to be a nature watcher where you record what wild flora and fauna are in a particular reserve. They provide training.