Looking for new hobbies
Hello! So my name is Kallie, and recently I went through a lot of hard life stuff that I won't get into here, and I have found myself without any hobbies. I'm currently trying to go through a dopamine detox, and want to find hobbies to fill my time with now that I am going through an introverted stage of my life where I'm trying to focus on healing. I need suggestions for hobbies to do that are relatively calming, easy to learn, and affordable for beginners to start. Some of the things I have interests in quite frankly are too expensive for me to get started right now. I've been looking at doing knitting but I don't know where to start and it's a little overwhelming for me. So any suggestions on where to get started in these hobbies or resources on where to learn the basics would also be great!
@kalliekat
hm, that's a great question. i have some kinda alternative ideas for you because i know most crafts have expensive supplies...
something that i enjoy doing in my free time is board games (i know board games are really expensive) but there's this website you can play them for free against random people, and you don't even need a computer, you can do it off your phone, and it's totally free https://boardgamearena.com/ (some of my favorite games are incan gold, wingspan, can't stop, and L.L.A.M.A.)
something else i just learned about that could be considered a "hobby", i learned its possible to volunteer for charity organizations without leaving home, you can find cool charities to work for on https://www.volunteermatch.org/
and finally, i don't know from personal experience i'm afraid, but i remember when i was a kid my aunt used to volunteer her time making scarves and hats for a homeless shelter, and they would supply her with the yarn for free. that was a Loooong time ago though haha, so i just checked with copilot and yeah, it said places you can contact that might offer arrangements like that, either for donated items in return or just to help people who can't afford crafts otherwise, thrift and craft supply stores get donations and sometimes they offer them to people in need, local libraries and community centers will too, and they sometimes even offer free craft programs to learn crafts, and churches and youth groups sometimes do something similar.
Hi Kallie. Good for you seeking solo projects while you heal your spirit. I learned crochet and needlepoint as a youngster and still think the results are cool. Imalways wanted to learn knitting . There are a ton of free video tutorials on youtube. Or when getting your yarn at craft store pick up a beginners book.
Have you heard of Woobles? They are kit you can order, it provides all the tools and materials and instructions to do a small animal crochet project. My daughter did this for her first project and it’s so cute, affordable too.
Oh, forgot to say… check your local library for kits you can check out. My township here in Pennsylvania offers many different activities m it varies by library branch. One was a bird watching back pack with all the items you need… you borrow it for a week or two. Another had cute cake pans to borrow, another had the knitting projects again with all the materials and tools (not sure about instructions but youtube would show all basic stitches).
@kalliekat have you considered exploring growing plants. There are so many varieties to explore.
hi Kallie,
I’m not sure if you’re into animals but animal care can be a great hobby. You could volunteer at your local shelter or walk dogs in your neighborhood. I consider it a hobby because you learn new fascinating information about animals. Also, you might make some really nice friends at the shelter. Best wishes to your new adventures 🦋
Hi @kalliekat
I hope things are going better for you now. Hobbies is a great way to stay occupied and also enjoy your free time. I will list some hobbies I enjoy doing or have done at some point that you may like:
- Walks in nature.
- Paying video games.
- Producing music or DJing.
- Programming.
- Playing musical instruments.
- Creating bracelets (Kandy).
Feel free to reach out to me directly if you'd like to talk to me about any of these hobbies!
@kalliekat
Music, learn an instrument! And in time it can be sociable - piano is introverted , wind instruments good for breathing /breath control, string instruments really challenge your listening skills and of course singing… natural level calm
@kalliekat Gardening is a great hobby. It could be a singular plant or more than 5 plants at once. Start with something simple, like fruit plants (strawberries, figs, cherries), or you could buy a pre-prepared plant and grow it! :)
Strawberries are simple in spring, but the others are fruit trees. That's a big commitment and can be challenging depending on where she lives.
As someone who was drawn to knitting, but didn't start until my late 20s, I want to say go for it! It is my favorite way to relax, though I'll admit it takes time to get the hang of it. Start with a ball of cotton yarn and a pair of needles. (You can even find cotton yarn at Dollar Tree most places.) You can find directions for how to cast on and do the basic knit stitch online. Make a square and you'll have a dishcloth! It's great for wiping down counters (or for almost anything you'd use a paper towel for). I recommend this as a beginner project because it's simple and useful; and if it's not perfect that's ok!
@kalliekat i play chess. i can teach u if you are interested
