To ask if you developed a new skill/hobby that changed your life after 30

[raringtogo354]

I'm interested to hear about your skills and hobbies and if they gave you a new lease of life/turned things around for you. I'm in my 30s and feel stuck in a rut and have done so for a few years now. Absolutely not asking for a pity party here, but I don't feel like there is anything I am good at. Sure I'm okay a bits and pieces, but would like to channel my energy into something where I can later on down the line say 'It's taken me years to learn XXX'.

As a youngster I did very well academically but have taken a route in life where my degree is no longer useful or indeed of interest to me. I had a bit of a moment this morning where I thought, in a dinner party scenario, there really isn't much I can say about myself and don't feel like there is a lot to me and I really want to change things.

Explaining to my DH this morning, I want something to work at in life, something that I love. I want to put the hours into something physical and creative - which is where I thought maybe I could learn an instrument.

Has anyone else started something life-changing as an adult?

@2bazookas that last one is pure magic

Wow, some of these!
@Lunalae can you tell us more about coding please?

At the grand age of 40 I moved from a wee town to much more rural village in N Scotland and became a crofter (part time as I'm also a teacher)

I absolutely love being outside with the animals and am in the middle of lambing at the moment. We have 60 sheep and 20 cows although I don't take much to do with the cows tbh.

My dd is going to have her own flock this year too so I am excited for her about that.

Nothing better than newborn lamb cuddles. Nothing worse than losing one...

Yoga for me too - utterly life changing. I now teach and train, so it led to a career change too.

I picked up the guitar too, which I love, but I had a head start as I was already a decent pianist.

At 38, in between pregnancies, I learned to swim proper front crawl. I loved learning a new skill and I get a great sense of achievement from doing it well.

Started outdoor swimming in my 50's and it has been life changing in terms of physical and mental health benefits and circle of good friends made - wish I had done it in my 30's. Got started after a new years resolution to try one new thing a month and this was unexpectedly the best by far. Also tried yoga, pilates and did a number of short creative courses and workshops - crochet, felt making, jewellery, macrame, arm knitting, machine embroidery - and have continued with a couple of these too for relaxation and down time.

Early 30s was talked into taking a few tennis lessons to keep another mum company.

Absolutely loved it and still play multiple times each week. Found good friends through playing.

For me its something I have to concentrate on or it goes badly, so I have to switch off from everything outside the court. No understatement to say hitting a yellow ball around has saved my sanity.

If you are a complete beginner cardio tennis is a good start point. I'm a David Lloyd member and they run Fast Track sessions for beginners to see if it suits.

My other new hobby is gardening, we've taken on an old house that needs renovating and it has an established garden, just did pots before so very steep (but enjoyable) learning curve. I feel responsible to look after whats here and now have enough confidence to tweak and improve it.

Everyone tells me the gardens are beautiful. I do them for myself mainly, its a nice bonus that others like them too.

2 sideways career switches after I had my dcs. Massive upskilling needed in the case of the second one which is my current career.

I took up horse riding lessons at 39, having never ridden at all before then. 18 months later I bought my own horse and then another one. I go to the barn most days and it is my happy place. I have made lots of lovely friends through this hobby ad well.

Ice skating. I love it. Fitness, skill and elegance. Met lots of new friends, and we all love our skating.

I dropped out of uni when I fell pregnant with my oldest and was a SAHM for several years, then I retrained as a Web developer when I was 30 and now I work doing that as a freelancer. My previous work and qualifications were in something completely different and I was really a self described techphobe so it was a huge change for me. I'm also finally learning to drive at 34 although I'm not exactly a natural at it so not sure it counts just yet as having learnt a new skill!

Oh and thanks to the couch to 5k app, over the last year I've managed to go from zero exercise and struggling to run for a few minutes to comfortably doing 5ks with a personal best of 8k. I never would have imagined a few years ago that I'd learn to love running.

Yes. I joined an am dram company when I was 30. Met DH, got married, had a son. Pretty life changing ☺️.

I learned Spanish at 30 and moved to a Spanish speaking country for 4 years

I learned horse riding at 35 (had never done it), but lost my nerve around 40 (it's a thing apparently, I was cantering around happily, doing jumps, but suddenly thought: wtf am I doing and who will get my kids to school if I break something )

Then I spent 3 years learning to sketch and oil paint.

At 43 I decided to try and learn to play tennis. Am now playing competitively.

Am currently learning to knit

However, I don't think any of the above make me an interesting dinner party guest.

I never go to dinner parties though (as always seem to be playing tennis now )

Just try something new. There's a whole world out there.

@Hedgesgalore agree about tennis taking up your entire brain and therefore giving you a complete mental break from anything else

I started horse riding lessons last summer aged 32.

I've done a beach ride along the coast and I have plans to do more this summer. I have private lessons each week and do my beach rides with a friend who also has lessons with he same instructor.

It's not the cheapest hobby (lessons are £30 for an hour) but I can easily afford and I absolutely love my time riding.

It's also helped my business (dog walking and pet care) as i now feel comfortable caring for horses too, so it's boosted my income too!

Such a great thread!

During the past two years I have taken up carving, collage and returned to singing which I did professionally as a very young woman.

Carving is more fun and fulfilling than I can begin to describe, every piece is a new adventure. I absolutely love using all the tools, especially the machinery, it's very empowering.

@Fillystine what an amazing leap to make and huge congratulations on your achievements! You did the scary thing and I really admire that! I'd love to see your work :)

Swimming. Always been a swimmer that pootled along in the pool. For my 50th birthday I bought myself a couple of 1:1 sessions with a coach, then moved onto open water swimming. I can swim better, further and for longer than ever before. Nearly completed my training as an open water swimming coach. Have learnt about the rivers and coast where I swim, weather, tides…
I had a very academic upbringing and profession and I’m loving learning more about sports, exercise etc now.

I took up boxing in the middle of last year, and it's been life-changing.

I am fitter, stronger, and healthier. I'm in the best shape of my life.

I'm completely buzzing off of improving my skills and technique week-to-week.

It's given me a massive all-round confidence boost.

At times it feels like an absolute super power to know I have this strength, aggression and skill inside me.

I'm under no illusion that I could/would fight off a male attacker but I feel much safer walking alone.

I carry myself with much more confidence, shoulders back, head up, taking up space (physical and symbolic) that I'd have previously given over.

@IceIceBabyBump

I took up boxing in the middle of last year, and it's been life-changing.

I am fitter, stronger, and healthier. I'm in the best shape of my life.

I'm completely buzzing off of improving my skills and technique week-to-week.

It's given me a massive all-round confidence boost.

At times it feels like an absolute super power to know I have this strength, aggression and skill inside me.

I'm under no illusion that I could/would fight off a male attacker but I feel much safer walking alone.

I carry myself with much more confidence, shoulders back, head up, taking up space (physical and symbolic) that I'd have previously given over.

Should've said that I'm 35, very quickly approaching 36.

Tennis. I'd played as a child and then hadn't played for decades. Took it up again in my 30s and now captain of the local team.

It's hugely fun and social and has led to holidays, volunteering and some great friendships.

Since my 30s I've completed an OU degree, doing the courses I was interested in rather than those that would lead to employment etc.
I trained to become a Forest School Leader, & was thinking about retraining as a teacher but finances/circumstances prevented that.
I've now done 4 courses on soap & cosmetic making, & am thinking of pursuing that as a possible business for when DS starts school (I work part-time).
I've also done a sea glass course which was fun, a bakery/dessert course, & sourdough bread making course too.

I was recommended this website for finding craft courses locally:

www.craftcourses.com

I have read all of these responses with the biggest smile on my face! Please keep them coming. They're giving me serious motivation to better myself and learn new things! I feel so pleased that all of you are doing something you love xx

Great thread and yes!!!

Took a meditation course aged 40 - life changing.

Started tennis lessons aged 44 - one of my greatest pleasures.

Started learning Arabic aged 38.

Started properly running regularly aged 42.

Started a podcast aged 43.

I consider myself to be on a constant quest to learn and improve and find life very meaningful and fulfilling as a result.