To ask what you do with yourself?

[Getahobby]

Not sure how to word this so excuse clunky language.
I have never been happy. Ongoing trauma in childhood lead to poor mental health very early on. Therapy didn't help.

I have always heard that hobbies help people to feel better. To do things they enjoy. I don't know what I enjoy as I can't remember ever enjoying anything other than the DC. I know I liked to draw in primary school, is that a hobby?

I am looking for ideas on things that I might enjoy. What hobbies do you have that a complete beginner can enjoy and that have the option of doing solo not only in a group. I would just like to try to break my day to day cycle and see how it is.

Knitting and crochet and spinning (on a spinning wheel). What I like about it is that it's creative but without needing you to be a particularly creative person (which I'm not ) iyswim!

It can be quite relaxing and almost meditative once you've mastered the basics, but you can also challenge yourself by making trickier things. You can do it in a group or on your own, and it's very portable (well... the spinning wheel not so much!). Also you can do a quick row when you have 10 mins or you can sit there doing it for hours! Big online communities of knitters & crocheters online too, if you don't fancy face-to-face groups.

Drawing is a hobby.

I have my garden which I adore, on holiday atm and missing it even though I'm surrounded by greenery.

Also play tennis and pickleball.

I have a dog and enjoy walking him. Finding different walks for us to keep it interesting. He's here on holiday with us and loving his life.

Cooking, or really feeding people more than cooking. Finding new meals we all would enjoy.

I second walking. A PP summed it up nicely. I also love jigsaws and can get totally lost in one.

Tai Chi - you don’t have to ‘believe in’ the ‘theory’, just enjoy the gentle exercise, especially to music. You can learn from the internet, but I would recommend a class, at least to get you started.

Mine are all things I do on my own but I run a few times a week and cross stitch, it’s easy to learn and start. You can buy some small basic kits with everything you need for wuite cheap. But definitely draw if that’s what you like to do. Find some you tube videos and start! When my kids are older I’m planning on learning Spanish again as well, I did it to A Level but nothing since.

I choose something that I know a friend would like and frame it. A friend loves frogs, so I did a mandala frog cross stitch (pattern from Etsy) framed it and that was her birthday present sorted

I also learned crochet from youtube. Working on a poncho right now (not as naff as it sounds, truly). Got a set of hooks from ebay for very little, tend to get cheap yarn from Aldi.

Gardening is great. Something to look forward to, either veggies/fruit to eat or flowers. Blueberry bush in a pot, maybe? Sunflowers? Sugar snap peas?

And knitting dishcloths

https://jknitsandbits.wordpress.com/2017/07/19/p5-simple-dishcloth-

knit/https://sheepandstitch.com/pattern/learn-how-to-knit-a-potholder-with-leftover-yarn/

I love walks with my dog ,cycling,puzzles especially word search and sudoku.also love baking ,loaf cakes , marble cake (mary berry)and small iced cakes .the icing and decorations are so therapeutic to do.i am sorry to hear of your experience. Maybe try another counsellor . Good therapy is so helpful

Definitely walking. I use the All Trails app to find new walks. Some days it can be a short walk locally, some days I can spend the whole day climbing mountains or walking a coastal path. I love it!

I've just joined a choir!

I've recently started volunteer gardening. No commitment, just book myself in on the volunteer sheet when I'm free. I'm loving it.

Physical exercise is proven to improve mental
health.

Why don’t you join the worst of us and become a triathlete! You get to swim, cycle and run all in one and spend between 4 and 24 hours training per week. There are loads of triathlon clubs around. They take complete beginners and have group training sessions which are great for meeting new people too. I’ve had lots of fun.

Alternatively, there is tennis. I love tennis. I’m a little too mad for tennis but it’s great for socialising and all round fitness.

If you liked drawing in school, I suggest buying some watercolour pencils and a cheap sketch pad. It's quite satisfying to roughly draw something and add the water and see the picture elevated. Soothing too.

Gardening, baking, going to the theatre, reading, doing crosswords and puzzles. I also love cross stitch, and have done 4 birth samplers in the last year. That has been fun.
I hope you are ok and find some peace.

The gym for various classes and weights.
Hiking.
Wild-camping.
Wild-swimming.
Cross stitch.
Colouring.
Podcasts.
Paint by numbers.
Dog walking.
Games night.

Basically, I give anything a go and if I like it, I carry it on. Keep trying things and you will find something you like!!

Walking, excerise classes, sewing. I joined a sewing class and make bunting. Absolute love it.

Drawing is definitely a hobby. Cheaper to get started on than painting.

card making.

Reading.

cycling

geo caching

cross stitch / knitting / crochet / felting

patchwork quilting

learn to play the guitar

learn a language

cake decorating.

pyrography

candle making

soap making

clay modelling

jewellery making

crystal collecting/ rock tumbling.

I or members of my family have derived pleasure from all of these.

I sing in a musical theatre group - it's just a relaxed fun group, we don't perform as such, it's just for the joy of singing. I've also taken up golf which is frustrating and rewarding in equal measure - and is a good one if you want something you can either do on your own or with others. Time consuming though!

I second the water colour pencils. It feels like cheating - you colour in with pencils and end up with a painting!
I started doing Yoga With Adrien on YouTube. Been doing them every day for 20 mins a day. They're free! There's a bit of mindfulness as well as exercise and I usually feel really good afterwards. I love the idea of being fit as I get older - so many older people seem to seize up. Yoga helps me walk tall and feel calm, and I do the vids first thing when I wake up.

I walk. I have a fab app called worldwalking where you can do different walks all over the world. It adds your steps to the walk and shows you in Google maps where you would be if you were actually there.
I'm currently in the alps. Love it.

I also like going out so arrange things with friends, family or by myself.

Listening to podcasts, audiobooks and radio.

Doing courses, watching tv, reading books.

Drawing is definitely a hobby. I have some friends on Facebook that post fabulous stuff pictures they've drawn/painted. Get down to hobby craft, get some nice pencils and a good pad and start drawing 😀

I play Xbox alot.

Great thread OP! I read books, do yoga, do fitbit classes (from video), cook special meals and knit. But I only knit when it's not too hot! Have done embroidery in the past too.

Oh. And copic markers or Posca pens for illustrations. Felt tips for grown ups! They are expensive but you can buy them individually and it’s fun to see your collection grow.