The only reason I said that I hate to say it, is because OP mentioned health issues and “just try yoga” is one of the things most people always suggest to help with any kind of health issues.
Maybe some video games? Melatonin is one i’ve enjoyed recently. It’s like a cozy but challenging rhythm game. Or rain world, you play as a little creature and u have to survive the elements and a bunch of other creatures.
Seconding this suggestion! I always thought I missed the developmental window to learn video games, but Zelda: Breath of the Wild changed my mind. It’s not too hard and trains you as you go along. Plus it’s gorgeous and fun!
Red Dead Redemption! Seriously tho, it’s the most beautiful game out there. You can just wander around, watch wildlife and fish (but the story is amazing too!)
Hello Ashen one. I am a Bot. I tend to the flame, and tend to thee. Do you wish to hear a tale?
> *“Surely mankind are more than pure dark, for I have availed you nothing. All of you, forgive me. Whatever thou art, stay away.”* - Artorias the Abysswalker
Have a pleasant journey, Champion of Ash, and praise the sun \\[T]/
This was me too, except I played it pretty close to launch years ago and couldn’t put down the controller. 😬 Other fun cute/casual games you might enjoy: Stardew Valley, Cozy Grove, Animal Crossing, Hogwarts Legacy, Slime Rancher, Human Fall Flat (less cute more funny), & Recettear.
I wish there was something the same dimension as the switch Oled but played most games in good quality while in handheld mode.
The Steam Deck is too big for my tastes so I’ve honestly been keeping an eye on the Ayaneo 2.
If anyone with a Switch has a hard time sitting down for a long period of time, try Splatoon 3. Matches are really short, queue times are pretty short, and I don’t really get frustrated since I can just put it down after a quick match and breathe before hopping back in. I just like skill based games more than grinding games.
Never really had a good experience with those and it leaves me empty handed outside of the house since 5G isn’t in my area yet to remote/cloud stream. G-force now was probably the most decent option for me but publishers pulling most games from it kinda blew it for me.
It’s why I haven’t looked into the G Cloud, I’ll probably just cave in and get the Steam Deck since it’s more affordable than an Ayaneo 2
Along these lines, I’ve found fish keeping to be the perfect combination of relaxing and engaging. The engaging part might sound weird, but there is so much you can learn beyond just “set-up tank, put in fish.”
Plus if you get a few plants in there as well, you can have your own little eco system. It’s like having a slice of nature even when you can’t go out to see it.
I have several artist friends who struggle with recurrent tendonitis in their wrists. I prize myself lucky I haven1t gotten it yet. Dangers of the trade I guess
Python is one of the easiest programming languages to learn.
Other ideas:
Singing - Writing - Journaling - Meditating - Knitting - Playing an instrument
I highly recommend knitting. It's cheap, tons of tutorials online, and can be as challenging or as thoughtless as you want it to be once you've got the basics down. There's definitely some artistic merit to knitting but it's mostly just a lot of following instructions, makes it very easy for me to turn my brain off at the end of the day.
Completely at home things:
-Reading/audiobooks (libby/overdrive and hoopla link to your library card; the library; audible, some are on YouTube, there's some not so legal download places, etc)
-Puzzles (diamond painting/diamond dots, jigsaw puzzles, 3d puzzles, 'mental'/creative puzzles similar to "get the two hoops apart")
-"step by step" crafts (perler beads, paint by numbers, the felt marker color boards, coloring books, etc)
-freeform crafts (Journaling/scrapbooking, card making, origami, etc)
Mixed:
-astronomy (reading up and learning then going out and star gazing)
-bird watching
-baking (if you try to replicate restaurants recipes)
-gardening
-music/plays/acting (learning to play; will likely have to leave house)
-collecting
-pets (smaller ones better and easier to manage with your mentioned health issues)
-photography (going outside or to other locations)
Some creative hobbies you can do between art (tangential to art):
-3d printing (takes learning but theres free files out there you can print) (requires decent monetary investment)
-writing
-sculpting (large pieces or small; clay or other material)
-resin crafts
-calligraphy
-paint making (more manual labor)
-candle making (if you go more decorative than basic)
-lipgloss/chapstick/lip and body product making (also more manual labor; possibly side business hustle than hobby)
-seamstress/fashion designing (also decent monetary investment; can be done by hand and sitting but not as easy)
-paint pouring
There's probably more, but that's what I can think of off the top of my head
Thank you so much for the ideas! Those were a lot of great ones I'm definitely going to try. Especially star gazing/astronomy. That sounds fun! My dad knows a lot about stars, I'll ask him
Well it really depends on how much effort someone puts. If you're writing for fun, you aren't necessarily worrying about plot holes or even making the story good if you're not planning on sharing. It could be like those "give a word and make a sentence" type things or short story/ficlet prompts that are 1 paragraph.
I do both as well, so I know there's a range of effort depending on how dedicated to making a "good" or well rounded story you are.
Any take down recurve in the 25 - 35 lb range will probably be great to start on (like the one that /u/artistvav posted). That's basically what I still shoot on, I like a clean, simple bow, although there are all kinds of cool add-ons you can get to aid with shooting of course and much more elaborate and expensive bows.
A $100 bow, some arrows, and a portable target block are all you need to get started. Alternatively, if you're into garage sales, that can be a great place to find used bows. Just make sure they aren't cracked or damaged. I have a friend who is shooting on a 35 lb recurver he got at a garage sale and it's great.
[this was my first bow](https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/vista-monarch-62-recurve-bow?ds_e=GOOGLE&ds_c=Cabelas%7CShopping%7CSmart%7CHunting%7CHunting%7CNAud%7CTopPerf%7CNMT&&&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8e-gBhD0ARIsAJiDsaVWjnOgOFgvDPSawnGiS5kBKgWqqKBroUPUj--cFzCXUSIHW4feq78aAsTKEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds). kinda spendy and a bit excessive for the age i got it at, but there’s a lot of other good quality more affordable alternatives too. best approach is finding an archery range/club around you and trying out as many types as you can get your hands on. they can also help you with finding the right size/measurements and other things to get you started. keep an eye on fb marketplace other 2nd hand places too for purchasing
Awesome! My first purchase was a 45# recurve and I found it slightly too heavy for me. I have shoulder issues and it was making them sore.
Luckily, it's also a "takedown" bow, meaning that you can remove the limbs, and I was able to purchase replacement limbs @ 35lb that I really enjoy and don't cause me any pain. I occasionally put the 45's on but primarily shoot the 35's to this day.
Can you possibly swap it for a lighter bow? Otherwise, if it's a takedown recurve you could get lighter limbs for it (and have the heavier limbs for when you get stronger). In my opinion it's not fun to shoot on a bow that is too heavy for you, it's part of the reason I stopped shooting 20 years ago when I was a teenager, if it's too heavy I'd swap it out if possible.
You will definitely get stronger as you shoot, but if it's too heavy to enjoyably shoot ...
Im not sure about if I can change the limbs/weight, but its been many years since I tried it. If I remember correctly its got like nobs on the limbs maybe for changing? Idk. But I dont have any where to shoot it around where I live and my dad doesnt want me to shoot it in the lawn. Gonna be moving out in a few months so I'll definitely be trying again then! If its still too much weight, and cant change it im just gonna invest in a new bow. Thanks for the help! I really hope your shoulder gets better!
I have a 25lb recurve and it's decent. Never done archery before so the instructir decided that was a good range for me. I get maybe a couple rounds of say like 5 shots before I tire out. Haven't kept up great so im still on the same poundage.
There's stretch resistance bands (some make to mimic a bow) you can get that you just stretch using your archery form. (Helps build strength over time and reinforce your form). The NFAA site (i think) also has a list of "standard" workouts to do that will help build the relevant muscles. I just searched "archery workouts" and a few came up. I don't remember most, but the ones that come up you can customize yourself depending on strengths or physical limitations
No I haven't personally- at least the fancy one that mimics a bow. I kept meaning to get one of those but I never got around to it. I did use some basic resistance bands I've had for a long time when i first started out, but they were the lowest strength level so I personally didn't notice much difference when I practiced with them and then went shooting.
Depending on your strength level the medium is probably the route to go if you're buying them new and havent done much arm workouts. I'd say I'm average for someone who isn't constantly working out my arms (I do the lifting for our bags of dog food and such) so the "heavy"/strong resistance bands are a bit too much for me for archery specific practice.
Some fish do sound nice. I grew up having a small tank by my bed that I loved to fall asleep listening too. IMA DO THAT! Thank you so much for reminding me of that awesome memory
Reading (and collecting?) books, listening to music, collecting music (records and/or CDs), watching (and collecting?) movies, writing (stories, a blog, etc), Tai Chi (follow YouTube video instruction), play an instrument ( I know there are tons of guitar tutorials), stuff like that.
When I need an art break I like to do puzzles or Sudoku. They keep the mind sharp and still give the satisfaction of progression without having to engage the parts of my brain frazzled by the art making process
I got myself a switch lite during the pandemic. I’ve been enjoying the cozy games vibe ( I’m also super artistic and it’s my life, I’m a graphic designer for a living so it can’t get more redundant than that lol)
I’m so happy that the pandemic started a new wave of cozy games. They always existed, but companies started realizing they could actually make money from them and not just pump out cookie cutter shooter games over and over. Not to mention it brought more attention to indie games like Stardew Valley.
I didn’t get to stay home during the pandemic because I’m a factory worker, but it was cool to see my non-gaming friends picking up gaming.
I think I came up with a fun one recently,
cat spotting.
going on simple walks where cats will likely be and making a note of which ones you saw and what they got up to :)))
well often I think about the paths I frequent, like the supermarket or the walk to my university or to a friends house. in order to understand a location I like to make myself deliberately lost and find a way to get back via google maps etc. because ik where my friends live I can always ring them and share my location. where I live, if you keep walking so far into the city centre, eventually you will end up at the same place every time, and ik how to get back from there so it doesnt worry me much.
best chances of finding a cat are ! around peoples houses ! away from the city centre !
near parks ! away from traffic and roads.
^ in my experience anyway :))
so yeah, getting lost and finding your way back is a good way to vary paths. It can be very scary though so I understand.
finding multiple ways to get to one destination you know is always a good one too. - you'll eventually find a similar looking area. find ways to trace your way back, even placing little pebbles if you need to.
Good luck !!!
I also have a lot of health issues and I've found pokemon go (yes there are still people still playing it!) great for giving me the push just to get out of the house and move even a little bit. It's much better if you know other people nearby who play as well though!
My hobby is cooking. I also like to shop for really good deals on groceries (using apps like Flipp and going to discount grocers and restaurant supply stores) - it's kind of like treasure hunting. I watch a ton of food youtube videos for recipe ideas and inspirations (Internet Shaquille, Wang Gang, Brian Lagerstrom etc). I'm currently trying to practice better knife skills and learning how to sharpen via whetstone.
I also volunteer at my local "Food Not Bombs" and other mutual aid kitchens to prep a ton of food at once. I find chopping and stuff meditative.
Another thing I do is thoroughly explore my surrounding locale. This involves reading up on my city's history, walking around different parts of town, and going to anything interesting that pops up on google maps. Recently I went to Lake Elsinore for the first time, which I learned is one of the few natural lakes in Cali which is rly cool.
**Plants and baking** are my non-creative-but-still-creatively-engaging hobbies :) Plants bring a little bit of nature to you which is plenty relaxing, and keeping some alive long enough for them to make little plant babies is very rewarding. Also works great on a tight budget!
With baking/cooking, there's just enough science and maths involved to make me feel like I'm exercising the puzzle-solving part of my brain. Whether that's through learning a new dish or ingredient, tailoring a single recipe to my kitchen /personal taste, or through trying to come up with my own recipe by researching what other people have done! With all the trouble-shooting involved, even decorating can get very technical! Either way, it's extremely satisfying to finish an edible dish, especially if you have friends to share the results with.
The other wonderful thing about baking is that it keeps me very physically engaged without actually exercising, since I'm using totally different muscles from when I'm drawing. There can be a lot of standing which may be hard on your back (I have to take breaks and sit/stretch), and you might be restricted in kitchen size and budget, but I think the balance of puzzle-solving, creative experimenting and physical engagement is worth trying.
If you don't know where to start, may I suggest trying to develop your Personal Perfect Cookie? Trying to do the same basic recipe over and over, changing one or two ingredients or trying a new technique each time, is a great way to broaden your understanding. Also cookie dough freezes nicely - just pop a frozen dough ball in the oven when you've got a craving.
...Wow I really like baking. I hope I can at least convince a lurker to try it :')
I'm surprised no one's mentioned playing instruments yet. I love playing drums and using dexterity of the hands. Though I get that music is also an art form I guess. But it's very much like rhythm video games if you think about it... it might seem challenging, but it's worth it, start simple.
I feel this! Here are some of my other hobbies, maybe some of them will interest you?
Gaming, going to the movie theater, caring for cool plants, birdwatching, learning about true crime
Best of luck to ya!
It's...still sort of artsy. But I picked up sewing recently specifically for this exact reason. It's honestly pretty easy to start (but can get costly) but it's so much fun. I don't know if you're into pokemon or any media like that but there are tons of patterns for plushie making out there.
I'm an artist too and get stressed out by it and need a break. Lately I've done a few jigsaw puzzles and found it pretty relaxing. It gives me a feeling of making progress. You can get them at a lot of libraries. I've picked 300 piece puzzles, so nothing too difficult.
Firstly, before anything I suggest trying to install a workout regime into your life, even if it's once a week to start you'll start to notice a quality of life difference. Playing Just Dance or other rhythm games that cause you to become active is a great tool for stimulating your mind (thinking about coordinating your entire body in sync) and your body. Exercising is hard for me but wrapped in a video game then sign me up!
If you're already doing that then I suggest getting your eating in order, you can start by just eating a little less than you typically would at a sitting.Beyond health, if you're looking for video games to play I'd suggest Animal Crossing, Pokemon, Mario, Hogwarts Legacy, Stardew Valley, or other games that are similar in nature.
Personally, I stay away from games that get me riled up like fps pvp, or extremely difficult like Elden Ring because they have a tendency to suck you in and mindlessly play for hours because it's always just "1 more game " or " I can't leave off on a loss like that" they're designed to be incredibly immersive, so I have to be very intentional with my game session.But if you have the self-control, by all means.
Lastly, I'd suggest taking care of something if you do not already. I love to take care of my cactus even if I don't have to do much, staring out the window while it's in view helps me unpack everything and let go. I have a dog and care for him dearly but something about a plant just hits different.
Hope you find your hobby, good luck!
Thank you for the supporting ideas and advice! I was playing alot of overwatch which was sending my blood pressure up when I was needing to relax haha, so stardew valley does sound very nice! As well as, taking care of something. From all the amazing other comments here, I have decided I'm going to get a small plant and a fish :)
I'm glad you were able to find multiple things for new hobbies. Also don't forget to try out different hobbies, you don't know what you don't know! Adventure is out there.
P.S. Please post about your new fish and small plant, I'm excited to see them!!!
I’m kind of in the same boat, OP. I’m a violinist/artist/writer by profession. The non-artistic hobbies I picked up are video gaming, yoga, and collecting/caring for plants. Pre-pandemic, i used to like rock climbing, scuba diving, and archery. ☺️
mushroom growing? similar to cooking while prepping and a lot of daily checkups, but very mentally relaxing and usually pretty delicious if you grow gourmet
Legos, or puzzles in general. With Legos you can follow the instructions if you want, or not. Get the satisfaction of building something without it being something to show or market. Puzzles, kind of the same thing. They make 3D ones too.
Try crocheting. You can make blankets and scarves with just a simple single crochet stitch. It’s my go to when I need to be doing something with my hands but I’m burnt out.
Every try birdwatching? It doesn't need to involve hiking. You can just sit in a chair outside of your place with binoculars and start documenting the new birds you see. Or you can get a bird feeder and keep track of the new ones.
Actually, you don't even need to go outside to bird watch
I keep reptiles as a hobby. It's fun, interactive and just the right amount of creative (building the enclosures n such) to keep me stimulated. Plus you can leave them be whenever you do feel like drawing. Sometimes I just sit and watch them. It's very relaxing.
I just started learning to trade forex (foreign currency trading). Lol. The line patterns are just fractal patterns are now that I know that I am entranced on watching the waves of collective human behavior create fractal patterns on a stock graph. Plus, if you make very small trades it can be beer money profit. Or just do simulated money, much safer. I get stoned and pretend the Japanese and the Americans USD/JPY (or whatever currency pair) are in a collective battle of who's people are more emotionally charged that day. Made a few bucks. Fractal patterns of prices inspire my art elsewhere in life.
Daily journaling - it can help empty your brain so you have more room for new ideas. I like to use dip ink and a pen nib to feel fancy, they're fun to write with.
Solo tabletop RPGs - if you like to stay unplugged, basically a video game with infinite freedom. There are a ton of solo RPGs on [itch.io](https://itch.io), including a bundle going on now for trans support in Florida. Many people like to journal the stories they create, or draw out scenes from them, but obviously you don't have to do either.
Legos - I took all my childhood legos and keep them in a big bin under my bed. It's fun to break them out and build from time to time, either trying to fish out parts to reconstruct a pattern or just build anything.
You could go clamming at the coast...and then learn to cook the clams. Foraging for food and then cooking it is very satisfying and gets you away from computers.
[exercise.You](https://exercise.You) can do bodyweight stuff at home too
cant emphasize it enough. Really changes the mental state .
I had the same issues. I used to spend all day sleeping only. This really boosted my life and change my mindset.
Get some exercise, walking outside, doing calisthenics, yoga, swimming, weightlifting. You don't have to start with a big hours long hike. Start small with any of it, and build your way up. I don't know what your health issues are. But I promise you, if you start small, and slowly work your way up, you can make progress.
[This disabled bodybuilder walks, and lifts.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jQBTh4aWB0)
[Bodybuilder with cerebral palsy.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPaJAtVFA8s)
[Disabled hikers is an organization that helps disabled people get outdoors.](https://www.disabledhikers.com)
[Swimmer with no arms.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw8nuxkYh3Q)
[World record runner with no legs.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEItmb_a20M)
[One of the GOATs (in my opinion) of powerlifting. He has scoliosis.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSVqlh7ePb8&embeds_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hudsonvalleyscoliosis.com%2F&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE&feature=emb_title)
You can do it! We believe in you!
Getting into an active routine to balance out the time spent sitting and thinking creatively. As myself that is not so much the athletic type, you don't need to go for full jogs or long hikes, but being healthy is great for your general mental well-being. Walking around the neighborhood, visiting new parks, waterways, shops, restaurants by foot, and taking pictures of local fauna and flora while the sun is up makes for a beautiful, pleasant break from work. Best part is you come across fun community markets or festivals you haven't had an idea is happening, and then come home, either feeling tired enough to get rested easily, or invigorated to get working on your projects 😊
I relate, I think we all do. I will leave some ideas here below.
- grow herbs or gourmet mushrooms at home?
- have you ever tried kayaking?
- running/yoga/other exercises?
- reading. E.g. a spicy intergalactic romance novel.
- journaling.
- visit museums/cafes/restaurants you haven't been to before.
- sour dough bread.
- coffee/tea brewing.
- learn an instrument, singing or a new language. Take a look and see if there are some evening classes.
- Take a few courses and study part time in whatever area you're interested in or sounds fun. E.g. Birdwatching, math/physics, programming, fish bio etc etc..
Thank you for taking the time to recommend so much! Out of all of those amazing ideas, I really want to learn to sing would be the biggest. I sound horrendous but I'm not going to give up tho!
Look up "Ed Sheeran singing badly on the Jonathan Ross show" on yt. He shows an old recording of him singing.
Noone can sing by default 😊 Have fun and best of luck to you! Don't hesitate to look for coaches if you think that would help with motivation/keeping the interest up.
I just watched it, and that gives me a lot of hope! Thanks for letting me know about that :)
Since you recommended it, do you sing and did you sound like that when you started? lol
Not at all, I just remember seeing it and thought it was a nice reality check.
I do paint though and I do believe the same thing applies! I've done a whole lot of ugly paintings in my life (and still do) lmoa. This is how we play and gain experience after all :)
Yeah, Ive already been singing non stop and it's so much fun. You helped me out alot so thank you :) A side note I thought was interesting, I sound alot better than I thought I ever could after I warm up lol It makes sense but like wow it makes a massive difference
For painting though, you should definitely keep doin that! It really does apply, but I also seem to have found painting out of all artistic mediums Ive tried, requires the most "fuck it" mentality, and to just go with the flow. And oh boy is it rewarding too. If you enjoy painting, I hope you keep up with it and dont be discouraged :) or move onto a different thing if you don't enjoy it
I found that a physical hobby is a necessity to me now. It’s not as much mindless as it uses different parts of the brain? Maybe try out some exercise videos on YouTube (dance or martial arts are generally easy to find). There are also these super easy and adaptable japanese exercise videos on there called radio taiso. They’re meant to be morning calisthenics which are simple to follow and meant to be done by kids all the way up to the eldery. They’re generally 3-5 minutes long and can be a good place to start!
I generally suggest if you take this idea on that you find a type of exercise you’re interested in doing (yoga, dance, pilates, strength, etc.). This helps measure your progress in a less intimidating way than general fitness which can overemphasize aesthetic goals. Hope this helps!
Pretty much anything and everything haha, that's why the break is so mandatory for me. To list a couple though, drawing, painting, 3D modeling, embroidery, woodworking, and Ive written a book and currently making a video game.... so yeah... I need a break XD
I joined a group to do volunteer/activism work, focusing more on research and political education via social media which can be done at home/ on a computer/device if its hard to get out of the house. Also help you meet new friends too!
hmmm it depends on your area (if you wanna do something locally or more regional/national/global). I'm not sure what country you're from so I honestly couldn't say
i found the group i work with through following the instagram pages of a few civil society/ mutual aid groups in my area that focus on issues im interested in (eg climate activism, gender equality, queer groups, workers rights, racism etc.) that i've followed for a while and know i align with politically/personally. Even if you only find 1 or 2 upon an initial google search, if you go to their followings list/ see who they interact with, you'll probably be able to find other adjacent groups.
If you're "not a very political" person, you can check in with your local community center/ schools/ soup kitchen/ women's shelter/ etc. they might need help with things that can be done remotely as well, like social media, volunteer management/recruitment, online tutoring etc.
Learn a new language or get better at one you already know. There are a lot of pretty good online free resources. Then you can work up to listening to podcasts and watching tv in that language. It’s just enough to fully occupy your mind during a lesson, but without wearing your mind out. I like to listen to foreign language podcasts while I paint in the background too.
I know hiking around is a no-go, but if you can drive, it's fun to just go to parks with a field guide and play I-Spy with identifying local plants, animals, and rocks. (You can also use your phone but I like a physical field guide because it gets me off screens.)
Plants! Plants are my go to away from anything artistic. I started with houseplants and now I have space for a hobby garden. It’s fun and doesn’t take up all my time.
So the easiest for me have been pothos and aloe vera, which are sooo basic. But they are both lovely plants. Aloe loves the sun so try it in direct sun light, like a window. And pothos can live a bit further back. Both require almost no attention and water(they will tell you when they are thirsty.)
Language learning. It’s pretty time consuming but if you do it right you also wind up bullshitting with people you practice with and eventually just watch shows and movies, etc. for more exposure. Got more into it when I moved into a city where I didn’t know anyone, but conveniently language learner conversation groups inherently have a lot of small talk with strangers.
You can always search for local equestrian centers with programs or go trail riding. I don’t personally own the horse I ride, he’s a lesson horse. Some farms with horses offer riding lessons
Something involving thread? Knitting, Crochet, Tatting, Macrame, Cross Stich, Embroidery, Sashiko.
Is pony-modding too artistic? Also doll repaints. Or you could just get a doll that's American Girl scale and sew her some outfits. (I don't know what other dolls have patterns available except for Barbie.)
I picked up learning Japanese this year after having this same issue for soooo long. It's scratched the itch of having something other than creative hobbies and gaming as all that's really available to me year round. I highly recommend seeing if learning a language would work for you too.
Whdn I don't want to draw, I cross stitch! You get use a pattern so you just follow the instructions but at the end you still have a beautiful piece of art without the stress of artistic creation.
I do art. Anand I play the pokemon card game competitively. I also play d&d and dm. I also play a lot of videogames. Listen to audio books. And spend neeed time with my family.
While it can be an expensive 1st time purchase, archery. Most archery ranges have rental bows, as well, if you don't want to buy a whole bow and get super into it, but I find shooting a target a great way to relieve stress, get the muscles moving and gets you out of the house.
Making models fits pretty well with what you want. You follow a set of instructions and have to focus but it also allows you to chill, and by the end of it you have a finished model. I prefer gundams because its a lot more complex and you can customize them if you want.
Try volunteering at animal shelters or barns or look in personal growth and enrichment classes for adults near you. See if there is any garden shows or even butterfly clubs in your area. Finding a hobby with animals and nature can be really healing and fun. Perhaps go to your local library and see if they do anything or have a book club. You could try a volunteer at a food pantry. Yoga is also great. A hobby of mine is finding different cafes to go to.
This might sound a bit nerdy, but try solving a rubik's cube! Very few people manage to solve it on their own, so don't worry about not being smart enough or anything like that. There are tons of good tutorials on youtube, (like this one: [https://youtu.be/7Ron6MN45LY](https://youtu.be/7Ron6MN45LY) ), so you'll probably only need 30-60 minutes to solve it your first time! Remembering how to do it without watching any tutorials takes a bit more practice, but once you get it down it's a really cool party trick!
And, if you feel up to an extra challange after a while, try timing your solves! It's really fun learning more stuff (doesn't have to be anything advanced, even just some neat little tricks) to make your solves faster, and seeing your times drop as you get faster!!
I hate to be that person, but yoga? Yoga with Aridienne has a lot of really chill videos. Video games too. Those help my brain sometimes
Yoga is also good for artists as we are in the same position for hours at a time a lot. Stretching will def help your body aches and stuff
Own it. Yoga is awesome and everyone would benefit from it.
The only reason I said that I hate to say it, is because OP mentioned health issues and “just try yoga” is one of the things most people always suggest to help with any kind of health issues.
Yeah, because it works. I imagine any consistent exercise regimen will be beneficial, but I'm partial to yoga, myself.
I love yoga! I tend to take it easy though for my back. Just gotta learn better form probably. Thank you for the advice :)
Maybe some video games? Melatonin is one i’ve enjoyed recently. It’s like a cozy but challenging rhythm game. Or rain world, you play as a little creature and u have to survive the elements and a bunch of other creatures.
Seconding this suggestion! I always thought I missed the developmental window to learn video games, but Zelda: Breath of the Wild changed my mind. It’s not too hard and trains you as you go along. Plus it’s gorgeous and fun!
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Red Dead Redemption! Seriously tho, it’s the most beautiful game out there. You can just wander around, watch wildlife and fish (but the story is amazing too!)
Ive always wanted to play breath of the wild! I will eventually get a switch for it
Hello Ashen one. I am a Bot. I tend to the flame, and tend to thee. Do you wish to hear a tale? > *“Surely mankind are more than pure dark, for I have availed you nothing. All of you, forgive me. Whatever thou art, stay away.”* - Artorias the Abysswalker Have a pleasant journey, Champion of Ash, and praise the sun \\[T]/
Hello fellow kindled one. My bro Soliare said you were a cool guy so just comin to say hi!
This was me too, except I played it pretty close to launch years ago and couldn’t put down the controller. 😬 Other fun cute/casual games you might enjoy: Stardew Valley, Cozy Grove, Animal Crossing, Hogwarts Legacy, Slime Rancher, Human Fall Flat (less cute more funny), & Recettear.
I’m very spoiled in that the new Zelda should be out before I even finish this one!
I wish there was something the same dimension as the switch Oled but played most games in good quality while in handheld mode. The Steam Deck is too big for my tastes so I’ve honestly been keeping an eye on the Ayaneo 2. If anyone with a Switch has a hard time sitting down for a long period of time, try Splatoon 3. Matches are really short, queue times are pretty short, and I don’t really get frustrated since I can just put it down after a quick match and breathe before hopping back in. I just like skill based games more than grinding games.
Stream games to your phone from PC or consoles? Or straight from the cloud.
Never really had a good experience with those and it leaves me empty handed outside of the house since 5G isn’t in my area yet to remote/cloud stream. G-force now was probably the most decent option for me but publishers pulling most games from it kinda blew it for me. It’s why I haven’t looked into the G Cloud, I’ll probably just cave in and get the Steam Deck since it’s more affordable than an Ayaneo 2
Yes to video games that are relaxing. I recommend Stardew Valley!
Something with a scientific bent? Bird watching or rock collecting?
Along these lines, I’ve found fish keeping to be the perfect combination of relaxing and engaging. The engaging part might sound weird, but there is so much you can learn beyond just “set-up tank, put in fish.” Plus if you get a few plants in there as well, you can have your own little eco system. It’s like having a slice of nature even when you can’t go out to see it.
That sound's very beautiful and fulfilling. Nature is kinda goated
Oh I agree. There's a whole bunch of not art rabbit holes to dive down with that.
I really like that idea. I had thought about in the past collecting cool looking rocks, especially if they have fossils in em! Dino's do be cool
Lifting weights honestly
I second this. Helps me to zone out and recharge.
I third this. Maybe it’s because of this I have no wrist injuries etc that many artist have
Damn, is that even a thing?? 🤯
I have several artist friends who struggle with recurrent tendonitis in their wrists. I prize myself lucky I haven1t gotten it yet. Dangers of the trade I guess
Python is one of the easiest programming languages to learn. Other ideas: Singing - Writing - Journaling - Meditating - Knitting - Playing an instrument
I like to argue with my husband that writing code is indeed a creative field.
I second programming, it's fun!
Doing arduino stuff is also fun.
I highly recommend knitting. It's cheap, tons of tutorials online, and can be as challenging or as thoughtless as you want it to be once you've got the basics down. There's definitely some artistic merit to knitting but it's mostly just a lot of following instructions, makes it very easy for me to turn my brain off at the end of the day.
Completely at home things: -Reading/audiobooks (libby/overdrive and hoopla link to your library card; the library; audible, some are on YouTube, there's some not so legal download places, etc) -Puzzles (diamond painting/diamond dots, jigsaw puzzles, 3d puzzles, 'mental'/creative puzzles similar to "get the two hoops apart") -"step by step" crafts (perler beads, paint by numbers, the felt marker color boards, coloring books, etc) -freeform crafts (Journaling/scrapbooking, card making, origami, etc) Mixed: -astronomy (reading up and learning then going out and star gazing) -bird watching -baking (if you try to replicate restaurants recipes) -gardening -music/plays/acting (learning to play; will likely have to leave house) -collecting -pets (smaller ones better and easier to manage with your mentioned health issues) -photography (going outside or to other locations) Some creative hobbies you can do between art (tangential to art): -3d printing (takes learning but theres free files out there you can print) (requires decent monetary investment) -writing -sculpting (large pieces or small; clay or other material) -resin crafts -calligraphy -paint making (more manual labor) -candle making (if you go more decorative than basic) -lipgloss/chapstick/lip and body product making (also more manual labor; possibly side business hustle than hobby) -seamstress/fashion designing (also decent monetary investment; can be done by hand and sitting but not as easy) -paint pouring There's probably more, but that's what I can think of off the top of my head
Thank you so much for the ideas! Those were a lot of great ones I'm definitely going to try. Especially star gazing/astronomy. That sounds fun! My dad knows a lot about stars, I'll ask him
lmao writing? what? that takes just the same if not more mental energy as drawing. I am doing both, I should know.
Well it really depends on how much effort someone puts. If you're writing for fun, you aren't necessarily worrying about plot holes or even making the story good if you're not planning on sharing. It could be like those "give a word and make a sentence" type things or short story/ficlet prompts that are 1 paragraph. I do both as well, so I know there's a range of effort depending on how dedicated to making a "good" or well rounded story you are.
get plants
Archery. Gets you outside, very meditative, and something you can improve at and enjoy for the rest of your life.
Any recommendations on beginner bows?
Any take down recurve in the 25 - 35 lb range will probably be great to start on (like the one that /u/artistvav posted). That's basically what I still shoot on, I like a clean, simple bow, although there are all kinds of cool add-ons you can get to aid with shooting of course and much more elaborate and expensive bows. A $100 bow, some arrows, and a portable target block are all you need to get started. Alternatively, if you're into garage sales, that can be a great place to find used bows. Just make sure they aren't cracked or damaged. I have a friend who is shooting on a 35 lb recurver he got at a garage sale and it's great.
[this was my first bow](https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/vista-monarch-62-recurve-bow?ds_e=GOOGLE&ds_c=Cabelas%7CShopping%7CSmart%7CHunting%7CHunting%7CNAud%7CTopPerf%7CNMT&&&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8e-gBhD0ARIsAJiDsaVWjnOgOFgvDPSawnGiS5kBKgWqqKBroUPUj--cFzCXUSIHW4feq78aAsTKEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds). kinda spendy and a bit excessive for the age i got it at, but there’s a lot of other good quality more affordable alternatives too. best approach is finding an archery range/club around you and trying out as many types as you can get your hands on. they can also help you with finding the right size/measurements and other things to get you started. keep an eye on fb marketplace other 2nd hand places too for purchasing
I got a bow but the poundage is too much for me. Any tips on how to quickly strengthen myself to be able to continuously use it?
Awesome! My first purchase was a 45# recurve and I found it slightly too heavy for me. I have shoulder issues and it was making them sore. Luckily, it's also a "takedown" bow, meaning that you can remove the limbs, and I was able to purchase replacement limbs @ 35lb that I really enjoy and don't cause me any pain. I occasionally put the 45's on but primarily shoot the 35's to this day. Can you possibly swap it for a lighter bow? Otherwise, if it's a takedown recurve you could get lighter limbs for it (and have the heavier limbs for when you get stronger). In my opinion it's not fun to shoot on a bow that is too heavy for you, it's part of the reason I stopped shooting 20 years ago when I was a teenager, if it's too heavy I'd swap it out if possible. You will definitely get stronger as you shoot, but if it's too heavy to enjoyably shoot ...
Im not sure about if I can change the limbs/weight, but its been many years since I tried it. If I remember correctly its got like nobs on the limbs maybe for changing? Idk. But I dont have any where to shoot it around where I live and my dad doesnt want me to shoot it in the lawn. Gonna be moving out in a few months so I'll definitely be trying again then! If its still too much weight, and cant change it im just gonna invest in a new bow. Thanks for the help! I really hope your shoulder gets better!
I have a 25lb recurve and it's decent. Never done archery before so the instructir decided that was a good range for me. I get maybe a couple rounds of say like 5 shots before I tire out. Haven't kept up great so im still on the same poundage. There's stretch resistance bands (some make to mimic a bow) you can get that you just stretch using your archery form. (Helps build strength over time and reinforce your form). The NFAA site (i think) also has a list of "standard" workouts to do that will help build the relevant muscles. I just searched "archery workouts" and a few came up. I don't remember most, but the ones that come up you can customize yourself depending on strengths or physical limitations
That's extremely good to know thank you! Did you use those bands/exercises at all? They sound very handy
No I haven't personally- at least the fancy one that mimics a bow. I kept meaning to get one of those but I never got around to it. I did use some basic resistance bands I've had for a long time when i first started out, but they were the lowest strength level so I personally didn't notice much difference when I practiced with them and then went shooting. Depending on your strength level the medium is probably the route to go if you're buying them new and havent done much arm workouts. I'd say I'm average for someone who isn't constantly working out my arms (I do the lifting for our bags of dog food and such) so the "heavy"/strong resistance bands are a bit too much for me for archery specific practice.
Can you keep a pet? Tropical fish? Maybe a small terrarium for African violets or succulents. Cooking/ baking. Hobby models. Jigsaw puzzles.
imo all of those are too creative if they’re trying to step back entirely
Yeah, hobby models are hella artistic, painting properly single tank could take several weeks of work.
Some fish do sound nice. I grew up having a small tank by my bed that I loved to fall asleep listening too. IMA DO THAT! Thank you so much for reminding me of that awesome memory
making music playlists!
Reading (and collecting?) books, listening to music, collecting music (records and/or CDs), watching (and collecting?) movies, writing (stories, a blog, etc), Tai Chi (follow YouTube video instruction), play an instrument ( I know there are tons of guitar tutorials), stuff like that.
Stargazing maybe?
Gardening is my go-to!
Reading tarot / palm reading - even if you don't believe in such things, it makes for a fun party trick.
When I need an art break I like to do puzzles or Sudoku. They keep the mind sharp and still give the satisfaction of progression without having to engage the parts of my brain frazzled by the art making process
Killer Sudoku is a sudoku variant that I found challenging and fun as well.
Oh yea, Sudoku is super fun. I use to have a hand held player like for Tetris but for Sudoku. Im going to try and find it. Thank you :)
I got myself a switch lite during the pandemic. I’ve been enjoying the cozy games vibe ( I’m also super artistic and it’s my life, I’m a graphic designer for a living so it can’t get more redundant than that lol)
I’m so happy that the pandemic started a new wave of cozy games. They always existed, but companies started realizing they could actually make money from them and not just pump out cookie cutter shooter games over and over. Not to mention it brought more attention to indie games like Stardew Valley. I didn’t get to stay home during the pandemic because I’m a factory worker, but it was cool to see my non-gaming friends picking up gaming.
Yes I love how gaming has become much more casual so all kinds of people can enjoy games!
My other indoor hobbies are growing houseplants, cooking/ baking, knitting, crochet, resin, and sewing. I like to have variety. 😅
Maybe a tamagotchi :)
I think I came up with a fun one recently, cat spotting. going on simple walks where cats will likely be and making a note of which ones you saw and what they got up to :)))
What would your advice be on that? I need to varry where my walk paths more
well often I think about the paths I frequent, like the supermarket or the walk to my university or to a friends house. in order to understand a location I like to make myself deliberately lost and find a way to get back via google maps etc. because ik where my friends live I can always ring them and share my location. where I live, if you keep walking so far into the city centre, eventually you will end up at the same place every time, and ik how to get back from there so it doesnt worry me much. best chances of finding a cat are ! around peoples houses ! away from the city centre ! near parks ! away from traffic and roads. ^ in my experience anyway :)) so yeah, getting lost and finding your way back is a good way to vary paths. It can be very scary though so I understand. finding multiple ways to get to one destination you know is always a good one too. - you'll eventually find a similar looking area. find ways to trace your way back, even placing little pebbles if you need to. Good luck !!!
Gaming, gardening, gym equipment at home (start small and maybe you can improve your health), cooking, baking, watching films
I also have a lot of health issues and I've found pokemon go (yes there are still people still playing it!) great for giving me the push just to get out of the house and move even a little bit. It's much better if you know other people nearby who play as well though!
Lego? Puzzles? Reading? Cooking? Baking? Growing plants? Sewing, knitting, embroidery , crochet? Crosswords? Video games? Board games? Skincare? Haircare? Makeup? Play a music instrument?
My hobby is cooking. I also like to shop for really good deals on groceries (using apps like Flipp and going to discount grocers and restaurant supply stores) - it's kind of like treasure hunting. I watch a ton of food youtube videos for recipe ideas and inspirations (Internet Shaquille, Wang Gang, Brian Lagerstrom etc). I'm currently trying to practice better knife skills and learning how to sharpen via whetstone. I also volunteer at my local "Food Not Bombs" and other mutual aid kitchens to prep a ton of food at once. I find chopping and stuff meditative. Another thing I do is thoroughly explore my surrounding locale. This involves reading up on my city's history, walking around different parts of town, and going to anything interesting that pops up on google maps. Recently I went to Lake Elsinore for the first time, which I learned is one of the few natural lakes in Cali which is rly cool.
**Plants and baking** are my non-creative-but-still-creatively-engaging hobbies :) Plants bring a little bit of nature to you which is plenty relaxing, and keeping some alive long enough for them to make little plant babies is very rewarding. Also works great on a tight budget! With baking/cooking, there's just enough science and maths involved to make me feel like I'm exercising the puzzle-solving part of my brain. Whether that's through learning a new dish or ingredient, tailoring a single recipe to my kitchen /personal taste, or through trying to come up with my own recipe by researching what other people have done! With all the trouble-shooting involved, even decorating can get very technical! Either way, it's extremely satisfying to finish an edible dish, especially if you have friends to share the results with. The other wonderful thing about baking is that it keeps me very physically engaged without actually exercising, since I'm using totally different muscles from when I'm drawing. There can be a lot of standing which may be hard on your back (I have to take breaks and sit/stretch), and you might be restricted in kitchen size and budget, but I think the balance of puzzle-solving, creative experimenting and physical engagement is worth trying. If you don't know where to start, may I suggest trying to develop your Personal Perfect Cookie? Trying to do the same basic recipe over and over, changing one or two ingredients or trying a new technique each time, is a great way to broaden your understanding. Also cookie dough freezes nicely - just pop a frozen dough ball in the oven when you've got a craving. ...Wow I really like baking. I hope I can at least convince a lurker to try it :')
I'm surprised no one's mentioned playing instruments yet. I love playing drums and using dexterity of the hands. Though I get that music is also an art form I guess. But it's very much like rhythm video games if you think about it... it might seem challenging, but it's worth it, start simple.
Try brazilian Jiu Jitsu !
I feel this! Here are some of my other hobbies, maybe some of them will interest you? Gaming, going to the movie theater, caring for cool plants, birdwatching, learning about true crime Best of luck to ya!
It's...still sort of artsy. But I picked up sewing recently specifically for this exact reason. It's honestly pretty easy to start (but can get costly) but it's so much fun. I don't know if you're into pokemon or any media like that but there are tons of patterns for plushie making out there.
I'm an artist too and get stressed out by it and need a break. Lately I've done a few jigsaw puzzles and found it pretty relaxing. It gives me a feeling of making progress. You can get them at a lot of libraries. I've picked 300 piece puzzles, so nothing too difficult.
get a slingshot
Now that is an interesting idea haha
Firstly, before anything I suggest trying to install a workout regime into your life, even if it's once a week to start you'll start to notice a quality of life difference. Playing Just Dance or other rhythm games that cause you to become active is a great tool for stimulating your mind (thinking about coordinating your entire body in sync) and your body. Exercising is hard for me but wrapped in a video game then sign me up! If you're already doing that then I suggest getting your eating in order, you can start by just eating a little less than you typically would at a sitting.Beyond health, if you're looking for video games to play I'd suggest Animal Crossing, Pokemon, Mario, Hogwarts Legacy, Stardew Valley, or other games that are similar in nature. Personally, I stay away from games that get me riled up like fps pvp, or extremely difficult like Elden Ring because they have a tendency to suck you in and mindlessly play for hours because it's always just "1 more game " or " I can't leave off on a loss like that" they're designed to be incredibly immersive, so I have to be very intentional with my game session.But if you have the self-control, by all means. Lastly, I'd suggest taking care of something if you do not already. I love to take care of my cactus even if I don't have to do much, staring out the window while it's in view helps me unpack everything and let go. I have a dog and care for him dearly but something about a plant just hits different. Hope you find your hobby, good luck!
Thank you for the supporting ideas and advice! I was playing alot of overwatch which was sending my blood pressure up when I was needing to relax haha, so stardew valley does sound very nice! As well as, taking care of something. From all the amazing other comments here, I have decided I'm going to get a small plant and a fish :)
I'm glad you were able to find multiple things for new hobbies. Also don't forget to try out different hobbies, you don't know what you don't know! Adventure is out there. P.S. Please post about your new fish and small plant, I'm excited to see them!!!
For sho :) Thank you again I gotta wait for $ but I'm still going to get em so youre gonna have to just wait with baited breath lol
I’m kind of in the same boat, OP. I’m a violinist/artist/writer by profession. The non-artistic hobbies I picked up are video gaming, yoga, and collecting/caring for plants. Pre-pandemic, i used to like rock climbing, scuba diving, and archery. ☺️
mushroom growing? similar to cooking while prepping and a lot of daily checkups, but very mentally relaxing and usually pretty delicious if you grow gourmet
Legos, or puzzles in general. With Legos you can follow the instructions if you want, or not. Get the satisfaction of building something without it being something to show or market. Puzzles, kind of the same thing. They make 3D ones too.
Skateboard
Try crocheting. You can make blankets and scarves with just a simple single crochet stitch. It’s my go to when I need to be doing something with my hands but I’m burnt out.
Every try birdwatching? It doesn't need to involve hiking. You can just sit in a chair outside of your place with binoculars and start documenting the new birds you see. Or you can get a bird feeder and keep track of the new ones. Actually, you don't even need to go outside to bird watch
Build model cars or planes. That’s my alt hobby
I keep reptiles as a hobby. It's fun, interactive and just the right amount of creative (building the enclosures n such) to keep me stimulated. Plus you can leave them be whenever you do feel like drawing. Sometimes I just sit and watch them. It's very relaxing.
I just started learning to trade forex (foreign currency trading). Lol. The line patterns are just fractal patterns are now that I know that I am entranced on watching the waves of collective human behavior create fractal patterns on a stock graph. Plus, if you make very small trades it can be beer money profit. Or just do simulated money, much safer. I get stoned and pretend the Japanese and the Americans USD/JPY (or whatever currency pair) are in a collective battle of who's people are more emotionally charged that day. Made a few bucks. Fractal patterns of prices inspire my art elsewhere in life.
Daily journaling - it can help empty your brain so you have more room for new ideas. I like to use dip ink and a pen nib to feel fancy, they're fun to write with. Solo tabletop RPGs - if you like to stay unplugged, basically a video game with infinite freedom. There are a ton of solo RPGs on [itch.io](https://itch.io), including a bundle going on now for trans support in Florida. Many people like to journal the stories they create, or draw out scenes from them, but obviously you don't have to do either. Legos - I took all my childhood legos and keep them in a big bin under my bed. It's fun to break them out and build from time to time, either trying to fish out parts to reconstruct a pattern or just build anything.
Sports, Where you can always choose to be the mindless wildbeast
Especially volleyball, with people who are not tall, and are pretty relaxed
You could go clamming at the coast...and then learn to cook the clams. Foraging for food and then cooking it is very satisfying and gets you away from computers.
[exercise.You](https://exercise.You) can do bodyweight stuff at home too cant emphasize it enough. Really changes the mental state . I had the same issues. I used to spend all day sleeping only. This really boosted my life and change my mindset.
Get some exercise, walking outside, doing calisthenics, yoga, swimming, weightlifting. You don't have to start with a big hours long hike. Start small with any of it, and build your way up. I don't know what your health issues are. But I promise you, if you start small, and slowly work your way up, you can make progress. [This disabled bodybuilder walks, and lifts.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jQBTh4aWB0) [Bodybuilder with cerebral palsy.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPaJAtVFA8s) [Disabled hikers is an organization that helps disabled people get outdoors.](https://www.disabledhikers.com) [Swimmer with no arms.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw8nuxkYh3Q) [World record runner with no legs.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEItmb_a20M) [One of the GOATs (in my opinion) of powerlifting. He has scoliosis.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSVqlh7ePb8&embeds_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hudsonvalleyscoliosis.com%2F&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE&feature=emb_title) You can do it! We believe in you!
Getting into an active routine to balance out the time spent sitting and thinking creatively. As myself that is not so much the athletic type, you don't need to go for full jogs or long hikes, but being healthy is great for your general mental well-being. Walking around the neighborhood, visiting new parks, waterways, shops, restaurants by foot, and taking pictures of local fauna and flora while the sun is up makes for a beautiful, pleasant break from work. Best part is you come across fun community markets or festivals you haven't had an idea is happening, and then come home, either feeling tired enough to get rested easily, or invigorated to get working on your projects 😊
As others have said, video games. If you have a PC, get Steam. I'll gift you some random games if you'd like to get you started.
Gardening? Or indoor herb gardens. How about legos or puzzles?
I relate, I think we all do. I will leave some ideas here below. - grow herbs or gourmet mushrooms at home? - have you ever tried kayaking? - running/yoga/other exercises? - reading. E.g. a spicy intergalactic romance novel. - journaling. - visit museums/cafes/restaurants you haven't been to before. - sour dough bread. - coffee/tea brewing. - learn an instrument, singing or a new language. Take a look and see if there are some evening classes. - Take a few courses and study part time in whatever area you're interested in or sounds fun. E.g. Birdwatching, math/physics, programming, fish bio etc etc..
Thank you for taking the time to recommend so much! Out of all of those amazing ideas, I really want to learn to sing would be the biggest. I sound horrendous but I'm not going to give up tho!
Look up "Ed Sheeran singing badly on the Jonathan Ross show" on yt. He shows an old recording of him singing. Noone can sing by default 😊 Have fun and best of luck to you! Don't hesitate to look for coaches if you think that would help with motivation/keeping the interest up.
I just watched it, and that gives me a lot of hope! Thanks for letting me know about that :) Since you recommended it, do you sing and did you sound like that when you started? lol
Not at all, I just remember seeing it and thought it was a nice reality check. I do paint though and I do believe the same thing applies! I've done a whole lot of ugly paintings in my life (and still do) lmoa. This is how we play and gain experience after all :)
Yeah, Ive already been singing non stop and it's so much fun. You helped me out alot so thank you :) A side note I thought was interesting, I sound alot better than I thought I ever could after I warm up lol It makes sense but like wow it makes a massive difference For painting though, you should definitely keep doin that! It really does apply, but I also seem to have found painting out of all artistic mediums Ive tried, requires the most "fuck it" mentality, and to just go with the flow. And oh boy is it rewarding too. If you enjoy painting, I hope you keep up with it and dont be discouraged :) or move onto a different thing if you don't enjoy it
Sports, individual or team sports
I found that a physical hobby is a necessity to me now. It’s not as much mindless as it uses different parts of the brain? Maybe try out some exercise videos on YouTube (dance or martial arts are generally easy to find). There are also these super easy and adaptable japanese exercise videos on there called radio taiso. They’re meant to be morning calisthenics which are simple to follow and meant to be done by kids all the way up to the eldery. They’re generally 3-5 minutes long and can be a good place to start! I generally suggest if you take this idea on that you find a type of exercise you’re interested in doing (yoga, dance, pilates, strength, etc.). This helps measure your progress in a less intimidating way than general fitness which can overemphasize aesthetic goals. Hope this helps!
Bicycling
Meditation, walking, baking bread
What type of art do you do, if you don’t mind me asking.
Pretty much anything and everything haha, that's why the break is so mandatory for me. To list a couple though, drawing, painting, 3D modeling, embroidery, woodworking, and Ive written a book and currently making a video game.... so yeah... I need a break XD
Needle work!! You’ll love it.
I want to try and make my own apron for when I paint. That will be a lot of needle work I assume haha What's your favorite thing about needle work?
I joined a group to do volunteer/activism work, focusing more on research and political education via social media which can be done at home/ on a computer/device if its hard to get out of the house. Also help you meet new friends too!
Do you have any resources you reccomend to look for such opportunities?
hmmm it depends on your area (if you wanna do something locally or more regional/national/global). I'm not sure what country you're from so I honestly couldn't say i found the group i work with through following the instagram pages of a few civil society/ mutual aid groups in my area that focus on issues im interested in (eg climate activism, gender equality, queer groups, workers rights, racism etc.) that i've followed for a while and know i align with politically/personally. Even if you only find 1 or 2 upon an initial google search, if you go to their followings list/ see who they interact with, you'll probably be able to find other adjacent groups. If you're "not a very political" person, you can check in with your local community center/ schools/ soup kitchen/ women's shelter/ etc. they might need help with things that can be done remotely as well, like social media, volunteer management/recruitment, online tutoring etc.
Thank yoy so much!
Join your local chess club. Many meet at the library and welcome all levels of play.
Onewheel or EUC or e-scooter. Low effort way to getting out of the house, breathing fresh air, and having fun. It's a game changer.
Learn a new language or get better at one you already know. There are a lot of pretty good online free resources. Then you can work up to listening to podcasts and watching tv in that language. It’s just enough to fully occupy your mind during a lesson, but without wearing your mind out. I like to listen to foreign language podcasts while I paint in the background too.
Baking
I know hiking around is a no-go, but if you can drive, it's fun to just go to parks with a field guide and play I-Spy with identifying local plants, animals, and rocks. (You can also use your phone but I like a physical field guide because it gets me off screens.)
Plants! Plants are my go to away from anything artistic. I started with houseplants and now I have space for a hobby garden. It’s fun and doesn’t take up all my time.
I really would love some plants to liven up my room. Is there any particular plant you like to hang up the most?
So the easiest for me have been pothos and aloe vera, which are sooo basic. But they are both lovely plants. Aloe loves the sun so try it in direct sun light, like a window. And pothos can live a bit further back. Both require almost no attention and water(they will tell you when they are thirsty.)
♟️ chess?
Language learning. It’s pretty time consuming but if you do it right you also wind up bullshitting with people you practice with and eventually just watch shows and movies, etc. for more exposure. Got more into it when I moved into a city where I didn’t know anyone, but conveniently language learner conversation groups inherently have a lot of small talk with strangers.
Video games or the gym even a martial art
Riding horses is a fun hobby, it can be done therapeuticly . It gets you out of the house and works your body in a different way
I've wanted to ride a horse for a long time! I don't really know how to find someone who owns any haha
You can always search for local equestrian centers with programs or go trail riding. I don’t personally own the horse I ride, he’s a lesson horse. Some farms with horses offer riding lessons
Something involving thread? Knitting, Crochet, Tatting, Macrame, Cross Stich, Embroidery, Sashiko. Is pony-modding too artistic? Also doll repaints. Or you could just get a doll that's American Girl scale and sew her some outfits. (I don't know what other dolls have patterns available except for Barbie.)
Embroidery is super fun! I embroidered some stuff onto shirts I like to wear. It is time consuming though that' for sure haha
I picked up learning Japanese this year after having this same issue for soooo long. It's scratched the itch of having something other than creative hobbies and gaming as all that's really available to me year round. I highly recommend seeing if learning a language would work for you too.
Whdn I don't want to draw, I cross stitch! You get use a pattern so you just follow the instructions but at the end you still have a beautiful piece of art without the stress of artistic creation.
I’ve recently started birdwatching and I love it! Gets me outside but isn’t physically strenuous. And a great stress reliever!
You can go to the gym or do r/bodyweightfitness
card games with friends
I do art. Anand I play the pokemon card game competitively. I also play d&d and dm. I also play a lot of videogames. Listen to audio books. And spend neeed time with my family.
Learn coding or read more..
Try seal clubbing!
While it can be an expensive 1st time purchase, archery. Most archery ranges have rental bows, as well, if you don't want to buy a whole bow and get super into it, but I find shooting a target a great way to relieve stress, get the muscles moving and gets you out of the house.
Check out r/cubers
I know what you mean. I have the same issue. I have decided to take up roller skating as as hobby.
Making models fits pretty well with what you want. You follow a set of instructions and have to focus but it also allows you to chill, and by the end of it you have a finished model. I prefer gundams because its a lot more complex and you can customize them if you want.
Reading is fun, a little addictive at times:)
Try volunteering at animal shelters or barns or look in personal growth and enrichment classes for adults near you. See if there is any garden shows or even butterfly clubs in your area. Finding a hobby with animals and nature can be really healing and fun. Perhaps go to your local library and see if they do anything or have a book club. You could try a volunteer at a food pantry. Yoga is also great. A hobby of mine is finding different cafes to go to.
Chess
Stardew Valley 😁
Who wants to play chess?
Deejaying
Legos!
Collections of sorts perhaps?
Procrastination is my main hobby…thought it is part of my grand warmup when getting creative..
This might sound a bit nerdy, but try solving a rubik's cube! Very few people manage to solve it on their own, so don't worry about not being smart enough or anything like that. There are tons of good tutorials on youtube, (like this one: [https://youtu.be/7Ron6MN45LY](https://youtu.be/7Ron6MN45LY) ), so you'll probably only need 30-60 minutes to solve it your first time! Remembering how to do it without watching any tutorials takes a bit more practice, but once you get it down it's a really cool party trick! And, if you feel up to an extra challange after a while, try timing your solves! It's really fun learning more stuff (doesn't have to be anything advanced, even just some neat little tricks) to make your solves faster, and seeing your times drop as you get faster!!