Hobbies- suggestions please

[Anonymouseky]

I’m feeling a bit like I really need a hobby/ interest. All of my efforts/ spare money go into giving my kids every opportunity possible, like music lessons, swimming, martial arts etc. I would love to do something myself and feel like I’m making progress in something. I’ve thought about doing a masters degree, but the costs are prohibitive and I guess that’s not really a hobby. I love the idea of something where the progress is visible, a bit like the belt system in martial arts (although I’m not sure I’m cut out for martial arts as I’m not coordinated at all!). Learning a musical instrument is on my shortlist as it’s something I have always wanted to do and has the grading system attached, so I could feel like I was making progress. Any suggestions please?

We need more information to help you out here. Are you creative? Artistic? Sporty? What kind of budget? Do you prefer individual activities or being part of a team? What are your current hobbies?

What's your budget and interests?

I go horse riding but it isn't cheap!

Musical instrument sounds ideal for your criteria.

You could do couch to 5k, that is sort of goal orientated.

Instead of a masters you could look at free/low cost shorter online courses of your interest.

Can you sing? There is so much to 'proper' singing. Lessons or with a choir. Our musical director teaches vocal technique.

Thank you all for your suggestions. I tend to lean more towards individual activities, but wouldn’t rule out a group activity as I am very sociable. I like so many different things (sports, arts, music, etc) that it’s hard to pick what I would like to do. My budget would be at the low/ medium end. I think horse riding would be a bit on the expensive side for me (plus I’m terrified of horses!) 😂 I have actually been thinking about couch to 5k. I did a 10k many years ago and would love to do another. I am currently doing a work related qualification, but would love to do something more enjoyable study wise, so I may look into some short courses. I’m afraid I’m not a very good singer, but do love music.

I enjoy the gym, reading, drawing and painting, studying.

Bellringing? There was another thread where someone was seeking a hobby and this was a suggestion a few of us made. I started last year. There are progress markers both formal (a sort of badge type system, I’ve never done it) and informal (what you can ring, how well you can ring it). It’s exceedingly cheap/free.

What it requires is about weekly lessons until you get the hang of it, so can you spare an evening (usually) or daytime session (in some places)? If so I recommend trying it out to see if you like it. Not everyone takes to it but there’s no pressure to continue if it’s not for you. If you want some help figuring out the nearest place to you to have a go is, let me know.

How do you feel about crafts? Knitting or crochet? It’s not progress like a belt system, but you would see it in terms of being able to make things with different skills levels, seeing your work improve etc.

You could learn another language. Plenty of learning systems available, lots as phone apps. It can fit in with your schedule and you do as much or as little as you like. There are also classes you could sign up with, some are possibly still in classrooms, some have moved to be online on Zoom/Teams.

Candle making is very therapeutic

Orienteering courses are colour coded - learn to read a detailed map of contours and progress from yellow to orange to light green to green. At the start the controls you are looking for are all on the paths, then you do courses where they are near the paths or can be found by following streams or walls, finally you are bounding across hillsides looking for a particular rock in a forest guided only by the landscape.

I'd go with martial arts. Doesn't matter that you're uncoordinated, that's something that you learn to do and the sense of achievement each new belt is great. I own a karate club, and it's so much more than just the physical side. There is the spiritual side, the language side (learning Japanese), the ability to memorise ever more complicated sequences, studying the history and philosophy of the art, etc..plus it's excellent for exercise and boosting mental health..

I only charge £5 a lesson, there is a once a year licence fee of less than £30 and grading fees so also inexpensive.

I'm quite sporty, and when I have a bit more free time I want to try handball, women's cricket and back to netball. There are local teams for all these. I might try all three and see what sticks!

Have you considered volunteering with the scouts or a Cadet Force OP? For example look at www.armycadets.com you don't need any experience and there is a lot of personal progression opportunities

Writing is free. Start with poetry or short stories or a memoir. You can share your work on a blog or with writing groups that are usually supportive and reasonable. Or I've just started crochet and baking... would love to do a book group too. All these are a mix of solitary and social, reasonable and rewarding

I’m in rock choir, it’s amazing, highly recommend. You don’t need to be a good singer, just to enjoy it.
its a fantastic way to make new friends, plus it’s excellent for your brain, learning lyrics etc. You don’t need to be able to read music.
https://rockchoir.com/

Woodwork! Then you can make all your own furniture, learn skills to repair your home, make decorative items to fulfil your art-y side, and get a workout all at once.

Kayaking. Whatever the question, the answer is kayaking. On the rare occasion it isn't, the correct answer is canoeing. Like running but with a seat, in both cases. Just my opinion.

Singing in a choir is pretty good, I will give you that. When you have to break the ice to kayak I do slightly wistfully think back to the choir I was in before kayaking came along.

I played the piano to grade 6 as a child. I find learning an instrument as an adult very frustrating because of the slow progress. One of my DC played the ukulele and the guitar. They have the reputation of being easy. I’m afraid it isn’t and it takes a lot of effort to play it at the level I’m happy with! So I gave up and stick to working through late intermediate repertoire of piano. But I don’t know if my frustration is from comparing beginner guitar to intermediate piano skills.

On the other hand I would recommend ice skating if there is an ice rink near you. There are group lessons and levels and it’s very satisfying to pass a level and also seeing how much I have learned over time. I learn much slower than kids but I don’t mind. I am late 40s and afraid of falling but it hasn’t stopped me learning.

I have also picked up crochet recently and it’s a lot of fun. I really love seeing my creations.

My advice is to actually see what’s on offer locally at a time convenient for you. I did a 10 week history of art evening course at a local school, and Saturday morning yoga, because that’s what was available nearby when I was free.

Do you have a choir locally?

Hmm yum. Where are you based? That's the sort of thing that would interest me but you could be in Kamtchatka

Sorry to hop you your thread OP but @TheThoughtfulCandlemaker I used to do candlemaking as a child and had a kit to get started with moulds and instructions. I’ve tried to track down another kit more recently but not been able to find one. Are you able to recommend somewhere that sells the supplies? Or do you make dip candles? (Looks more fiddly to me.)