Do you have hobbies or interests you'd like to pursue in theory, but actually don't?

[hobbiesfordays]

There are lots of things that I would like to learn and be good at and enjoy doing. I would love to learn to knit and make beautiful jumpers etc. I would love to pursue gardening and have a lovely garden.

But in reality I'm not actually motivated to do these things - I've never gone and bought wool and started a knitting pattern. I've gone as far as searching for and looking at different flower seeds in a shop but didn't get any. I feel like a lot of these things are nice to me in theory but if I was truly interested I would have done them by now! Instead I revert to pursuing my normal interests/hobbies which I've had for ages.

Is anyone else like this?

Wild swimming - but I'm always too cold!
Me too - also I can't find anywhere to do it!

I like the idea of quilting but I started a quilt for dd about 10 years ago so...

@muddyboots

I really want to get into outdoor climbing.

I've done a weekend introduction and a day with an instructor but I can't find anyone who is willing to let an unfit 42 year-old tag along and ruin their day on the crags. It feels like it's impossible to make the breakthrough into being competent.

Have you checked out the Women's Trad Festival?

And where are you based? Local climbing clubs can be very good for getting into outdoors.

www.womenstradfestival.co.uk/

I've got a sewing machine, thread, patterns, scissors and everything needed to make clothes. Except for the material.

I gave away all my crafting resources recently. Had to accept they were taking up space and would never be used. I kept the magazines/papers for mood-boarding but they know they're on borrowed time.

I have two yoga mats but no commitment.

Yoga - I'd love to get up at 5AM before everyone else and do some Yoga then watch the sunrise in the back garden on my own before the daily tasks etc set in.

Reading - it takes me months to read a book. I bought a couple of books back in July. I fancy being someone who always has a book with them. Waiting for a bus, get the book out. I finished my book about a week ago and that was only cos DD1 wanted to read it.

I'd also like to own and look after a horse, but money really doesn't allow, plus having only ever ridden a horse once on an adventure week when I was a teen I feel a bit lacking in experience. Owning horses is for those who always have in my mind (probably wrong there I do realise)

Agree with climbing and wild swimming. Both of these sound fun, but with little confidence I really don't know where to start.

I'm a climber (everything from local bouldering to Alpine routes and expeditions to explore unclimbed peaks) and local climbing clubs remain one of the best ways to get into it. Most organise regular meets at crags, and provided you've learnt how to tie in and belay (which can be done indoors at a climbing wall beginners session), newbies are usually welcome.

I'd also recommend the Women's Trad Festival, although I know the 'learner' tickets sell out very fast.

Sewing - I like the idea of it and have permanently 'borrowed' mum's machine. But i simply don't have the mental space to sit down and work out how to use it. It's not something that will come naturally to me so I will have to devote time and energy to learning which I don't have ... too many constant interruptions from 8 year old

I would love to try needle felting but a few things stopping me...

What if I buy the stuff but then never do it

I've watched videos on YouTube but can't tell exactly what they're doing. Just sort of stabbing at the wool? 🤔

I've had repeat stress injury and tondonitis in my hands before and it looks like this hobby would send me right back down that road unfortunately.

I'm still very curious though... It looks fun.

I’d love to do horse riding again but I can’t afford it as DS(12) would want to do it too as he loves a good hobby so the cost would double. I’m definitely going to go back to it when DS is older and less expensive 😂.

No free time over lock down - disabled partner, child with additional needs, homeschooling and a newborn.

I was very envious of all the people who had lots of free time to try new things, although I recognise not everyone else could for one reason or another too.

I really believe I would have tried had I had the time though.

@ChikiTIKI

I would love to try needle felting but a few things stopping me...

What if I buy the stuff but then never do it

I've watched videos on YouTube but can't tell exactly what they're doing. Just sort of stabbing at the wool? 🤔

I've had repeat stress injury and tondonitis in my hands before and it looks like this hobby would send me right back down that road unfortunately.

I'm still very curious though... It looks fun.

You're literally stabbing the wool. Wool has little spikes and it gets 'tangled' when you keep stabbing and it gets denser and denser. You can get little kits quite cheaply to start you off without having to buy loads of thing. I can totally imagine doing this ina kind of 'voodoo doll' way when angry at someone.

@Agadorsparticus

I taught myself to knit a few months back. I did us all fingerless gloves which were a big hit and did myself a scarf. Now I don't have a clue what to knit, everything else seems too complicated.

The only 2 things I've ever knitted are: 1 scarf (huge, took me ages, but literally just knit stitch all the way) and about 58 of these bobble hats. Easiest pattern ever

Should probably have put a link @Agadorsparticus - this is the pattern. Could do one in chunky wool in about an hour once I got the hang of it!

Then I got cocky and tried to do a woolly sock on double pointed needles, abandoned it when I realised I'd somehow turned it inside out, and have never knitted again...

I'd like to climb again - I went bouldering loads for 2 years and then Covid hit and I've not been back. I'd also like to learn how to weld, but that's not likely

I look at the beautiful crochet blankets on line and would love to have a go but my diss, who has much more patience than me, cant master it so now I cant be arsed to give it a go.

I'd love to spend some time to improve a language, seriously improve music skills in a certain genre, etc. But realistically with work and family that won't happen :(

I love skiing and was competent at it but we don’t live anywhere to cheaply and easily access ski fields anymore 😔

We live on a golf course and I played every now and then before we moved here but can’t afford the membership and I’ve now stuffed my shoulder so unlikely to play again

I enjoy hiking and would like to get out but again no where easily accessible to go. A friend does trail runs or something like that and is in a club but they drive 2-5hrs to get to the place before they do the 10-20km walk/run, so that would be a looooong day and H works away so no one to mind the youngest and she couldn’t come with me.

Always an obstacle to be found 😂

On the other hand I always wanted to do genealogy but took ages to get going. Now if be doing it for over 20 years and I have to admit that I'm rather good at it

I tend to try most things I fancy but life gets in the way of some hobbies.

I used to dance pre children but to find time the the lesson plus babysitters and practise is just not feasible.

I also used to act but, again, can’t commit to the rehearsals.

I stick to stuff I can do easily like sewing, crochet, DIY and other craft stuff.

I try to pick one thing I want to do and then do that.

Last year me and DD did a "bulb lasagne" where we planted three layers of bulbs in one container

It's joyous to see what happens! Just pick one thing at a time, that you can do "now". Learning Knitting or Spanish is time consuming and difficult but filling a pot full of compost and bulbs takes 30 mins max

Give it a go

www.express.co.uk/life-style/garden/1495728/Gardening-Monty-Don-when-to-plant-bulbs-uk-tips-tricks-Gardeners-World

Pick small stuff you can see the benefits of straight away, or that don't take much time, then you may be motivated onto bigger things? X

Picked up a few more reading through, would love to kayak and paddle board. I really am made for outdoor living. Have married an indoor type and well he’s dragged me down to his level sadly.

I have a massive box of wool in the cupboard too. I learnt to crochet to get me through a bereavement (keeps the mind busy) and have made loads of blankets, can make little bags, baskets, hats etc and even made DD a little poncho. One year I made all the kids in a playgroup a snow globe Xmas ornament, they were fun. I like it but haven’t touched it in a couple of years. The box lurks there every time I fetch a toilet roll. Sigh

I do have a cross stitch kit I got when DD was a bay, that I cannot for the life of me fathom, so...

Might pay someone to do it for me