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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask what hobby you do?

126 replies

whathobby · 27/06/2022 13:44

Becoming more and more aware that I don't have any hobbies and aside from work I have nothing to talk about when catching up with friends.

I don't have any obvious interests that could lead into a hobby.

AIBU to ask you for ideas for a hobby?

Perhaps it is something you do or have done and can offer some insight into it.

I'm thinking something with other people rather than a solo thing.

OP posts:
Notimeforaname · 27/06/2022 23:36

Dance, gym, pilates and gardening.

goldfinchonthelawn · 27/06/2022 23:40

Bootcamps
Yoga
Hiking
Theatre, galleries and gigs
Reading

Those are the main things I spend time and money on. I've no craft ability, can't sing for toffee or play an instrument.

NK346f2849X127d8bca260 · 27/06/2022 23:43

Reading
Walking
Family History
Studying for another A level
Did pick up a cross stitch kit the other week but it scares me!

Shelby1981 · 27/06/2022 23:49

Knitting, sewing, felting, lego, and I'm a member of the Women's Institute 😊 I'm 41, it's not just for old ladies and it's not just jam and Jerusalem! We do all sorts....give it a go 😁

CharSiu · 28/06/2022 02:27

I have done all of these but over many years and not all at the same time
Bellydancing, ballroom dancing, ballet dancing, tap dancing.

Running, hockey, aerobics, goju ryu karate, hill walking

Reading, knitting, gardening, sewing, prop making, writing classes, pottery classes. Collecting Ladybird books, I have over a thousand, family history, choirs.

Gaming that’s the longest hobby of over 40 years video gaming and board gaming. Have just tried my first dungeon and dragons session tonight and it was great just regret not trying it sooner.

Aria999 · 28/06/2022 02:33

Kung fu, art, hiking, computer games.

Mostly I actually talk to people about our kids, the weather, politics (if it seems safe!), their work, and what they are doing at the weekend.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 28/06/2022 07:03

Ace I live in Glastonbury. But generally online on pagan sites. The Ordo Templi Orientis is good. Otherwise pagan or druid sites. I was also a member of Servants of the Light in years gone by but not sure if they are taking people on at the moment.

Eliveonline · 28/06/2022 07:08

I have had various interests over the years, intellectual and physical things. Look on meetup first ideas. It has to be something you are interested in OP. Your local council will have adult learning classes prob too.

JennyForeigner · 28/06/2022 07:27

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 28/06/2022 07:03

Ace I live in Glastonbury. But generally online on pagan sites. The Ordo Templi Orientis is good. Otherwise pagan or druid sites. I was also a member of Servants of the Light in years gone by but not sure if they are taking people on at the moment.

Lol @shehasadiamond, I love that something called the Servants of the Light has a waiting list.

UsernameIsCopied · 28/06/2022 07:39

housemaus · 27/06/2022 14:23

I think try and narrow down from what you do (or really don't) like:

Are you outdoorsy or does the thought of wearing waterproofs make you want to cry? You can count in or out stuff like outdoor swimming, stand up paddleboarding, hiking, camping, horse riding, cycling etc.|

Do you like exercising or prefer to be comfy and horizontal (like me, haha) - then you can count in or out crossfit, bouldering, Zumba, pilates etc.

Do you like being crafty or does the thought of something fiddly fill you with boredom? That covers painting or pottery classes, cross stitch groups, knitting groups.

Are you remotely interested in politics/local governance/helping causes? If so, there's campaigning for local causes or politicians, joining a local residents' group, joining a local foodbank or street homeless support team and helping out.

Like animals? There's volunteering at shelters, being a dog walker, horse riding, etc.

Want something you can do at home but meet others virtually? There are games (everything from Dungeons and Dragons to fun co-op strategy games), or puzzle solving clubs or online book clubs or cryptic crossworder groups.

Want something fandom related? There's cosplaying, fan meet ups, going to conventions, watch-along clubs for every TV show and franchise you could think of.

Like food and/or cooking? Cooking classes, 'curry club' type events, cooking for local homeless shelters...

Want to do something useful? Almost every charity ever will need volunteers - from admin to serving food to fixing outbuildings at animal shelters to sorting donations for charity shops to writing emails/bids for fundraising.

Do you want to/can you spend a lot of money, or not? Some hobbies (rally car driving, horse riding, pottery, collecting Warhammer, even some online games) can be expensive, some (online clubs, book clubs, volunteering, campaigning, running, etc) can be cheaper, and some are as expensive as you want to make them, so factor that in.

Do you want it to be regular, or ad hoc, or a mix? Park run, for example, you can do whenever you fancy but it's on regularly. Volunteering is usually set times, whereas you can pop along to a book club or debate club whenever you want.

So maybe think - "it needs to be out of the house, but not 'outdoorsy', I'd prefer it to be once a month/week/fortnight, I'm not fussed for it being charitable, I do want it to be cheap"... etc and then go from there!

What a great post, so many ideas!

I don't have a hobby currently (except reading, but I don't do much of that either) because I don't have time. But I would love to start stand-up paddling once the kids are older.

HelpMeGetThrough · 28/06/2022 08:03

Martial arts. Have been doing it for years and really enjoy it.

Gets a bit harder as I'm getting older, but no way I'll stop it. Can still get my foot up to head height, which isn't bad for half a century old! 😁

whathobby · 28/06/2022 08:15

Thanks for some great ideas on this post.

I see reading is really popular and now I feel a bit bad that whilst I have several books and have started a few, they rarely get finished. So, the likely options for me to at least try from this thread are:

Reading - see above
Studying- someone said about an A level
Walking/running - I barely get my 10k steps so this is a good one
Gym/weights - would love to be a bit stronger as I know we get weaker as we age so I should get some muscle in reserve
Travel - would be less frequent but I do have this desire to do a solo trip.

Stand up paddling - probably a one time thing only but would like to give it a try
Cooking - Id love to learn how to make a mean curry that the lovely aroma fills the house and beyond
Golf - someone said about this and I'd possibly consider going to the driving range to shoot some balls - no idea if that saying is a thing but you know what I mean

Nothing crafty or musical - just not me

Please keep the ideas coming!

OP posts:
Onlyforcake · 28/06/2022 08:17

Knitting, sewing, I used to take part in reenactment, I cycle, read and swim. There are clubs for most things.

Onlyforcake · 28/06/2022 08:18

Stand up paddle boarding is something I'd like to take up. Enjoy finding your "thing".

Pottedpalm · 28/06/2022 08:20

Gardening and visiting gardens with like minded friends, and occasionally DH. Got into veg gardening which is so rewarding!
Adult ballet; a fab group, have made new friends and we socialise a bit too.. coffee and some trips to the ballet.
Knitting, reading, sewing, walking..

Pottedpalm · 28/06/2022 08:24

OP have you got anywhere near you for adult classes? We have a place that offers language classes, art, local history, various crafts, creative writing…
I did a year of watercolour painting before Covid and it was enjoyable.

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 28/06/2022 12:09

I go to the gym, choir, learning to play the drums and volunteer at brownies. I also read

ShandaLear · 28/06/2022 12:15

Gym/swim and cycling, though I suppose my main hobbies are my friends. Now our kids are older we all of a sudden seem to have a lot more time for each other so we’re going to gigs, the cinema, bottle of wine in the garden, that sort of thing. It’s really nice.

Murraysmum · 28/06/2022 12:19

Tennis. Have a look at joining a local club. There are always beginners groups and social events and its a great way to meet new people.

ChinBristles · 28/06/2022 12:54

There's another thread atm about developing random obsessions.
I like to google conspiracy theories and keep lists on random facts.

darisdet · 28/06/2022 13:46

Some good ideas here. I'm always looking for new things to try.

I'm just about to try martial arts as a beginner. Will see how that goes, but I'm quite looking forward to it.

thelastshadowpuppet · 28/06/2022 13:55

I play the piano. A lot.

Cotswoldmama · 28/06/2022 14:06

Reading, running and crochet and knitting but I generally only knit and crochet in winter!

pippapoo62 · 28/06/2022 14:26

Knitting , candle and soap making ,diamond painting ,reading and jigsaws.

Sweetener12 · 05/07/2022 06:24

This is a little too late but my hobby is photography. It has been my passion since I got a phone with a camera (a really shorty one back then 😂). Would never try and take it to the professional level but taking photos of whatever beautiful things I see around is fun and I love the way programs like Photoworks do their magic and allow you to change colors or merge pictures and create something totally different.