Hobbies to keep you sane

[dannybgoode]

A big part of managing my depression without meds has been to really try and make time to focus on hobbies when I can.

Doing something that requires enough concentration to stop my mind wandering, be something that I enjoy and giving me a bit of time and space to myself help so much.

Sometimes I have to push myself as I'm not in the mood but once I'm doing it then we'll becomes good.

So mine, in no particular order are:

Morse code (CW as it is more properly called in ham radio circles)
Flying model planes
Running
Astrophotography
Plastic kit building

What hobbies do you good folk enjoy?

 

[eggyg]

I love to read, cook, birdwatching and trying to take photos of them, and going for a good hike. Not all at the same time!
Reading when I need some peace, I need it to be absolutely silent though, no music or telly in the background. I don’t need any encouragement to read. I read every single day even it’s only five minutes after the end of a hectic day.
I love to cook, I like nothing better than what I call a “cooking day” where I slip on my pinny and put the radio on and cook up a storm. Usually just family favourites like chilli, spag bol, soups, pies etc. my freezer is always full. Other times I’ll go all out if we’re entertaining, even if it’s just the family.
Birdwatching is something I could do all day, I have loads of bird feeders in the garden, and French doors and a sofa in my kitchen. We get lots of varieties, great spotted woodpeckers, gold/greenfinches, sparrowhawk, jays, sometimes bullfinches, reedbuntings, as well as the usual, tits, blue, great, long tailed, coal. Sparrows, jackdaws, crows, rooks, robins, wrens, dunnocks. The hard bit is trying to take photos of them!
Hiking is another love, sometimes I don’t want to do it but I never regret it once I’m out there. Nothing better to clear your head of all the things filling it, mostly rubbish! Sometimes we’ll climb a fell or two, I sometimes regret that at the time and swear I’m never doing it again. But of course I do. 😉

 

[dannybgoode]

There's an excellent RSPB reserve not too far from me which I enjoy visiting and did a fair about of bird photography there. I am a member - really should get back out there as I do enjoy it.

 

[helli]

My hobbies are a balance of exercise and food.
I frequently visit the gym, either for a general work out or a spin class, I go climbing most weeks and enjoy hiking.
Then I balance it with cooking and eating. I live trying new foods and recipes. Or just favourites.

Today will be a typical Sunday. A workout at the gym then back to bake a couple of loaves of pumpernickel bread.

 

[silver minion]

My hobbies are:-
Gardening
Beekeeping
Crafting if the weather is too cold/wet to go outside. Using both hands stops me from mindless munching through boredom
Reading, mostly before bedtime
Walking
Tai Chi

 

[paultrose]

Another interesting thread

Having hobbies is a good form of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.....occupies the mind away from the negative and bad thoughts

Trying to get back into reading.....love crime novels.
Jigsaws is an on and off hobby....great to do at night when the tellys on
And im a model maker too......find it very relaxing

 

[Leadinglights]

Making stained glass items, I just love the glass, the colours and textures and designing new patterns. Other Half thinks I'm obsessed.
Gardening, we have an allotment so grow our own fruit and vegetables. Hard work but very rewarding except when the badgers eat the carrots and sweetcorn.
Church bell ringing, gets you out and meeting other people, visiting some fantastic churches with amazing history and learning new things which definitely challenges the brain and memory. I have been doing it for 60 years. It is a hobby for all ages, from youngsters to oldies in their 90ies.

 

[pjgtech]

Another interesting thread

Having hobbies is a good form of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.....occupies the mind away from the negative and bad thoughts

Trying to get back into reading.....love crime novels.
Jigsaws is an on and off hobby....great to do at night when the tellys on
And im a model maker too......find it very relaxing

View attachment 33603

Damn, a Bentley, thats another one I'm gonna have to add to my future builds list, cheers....

 

[pjgtech]

Since retiring recently I now have more time for hobbies, so I'm actively embracing them.
They include:
Gardening/pottering
Plastic model kit making and painting
Air gun target shooting at a range
Reading, pretty much anything, but especially SciFi, Thrillers, etc
Listening to music, pretty much anything, but especially 70's/80's stuff, rock, punk, soul, R&B, etc.
Travel, especially cruises and just visiting areas around the UK.
Cycling, currently on hold due to recent health issues, but still have my MTB.
Motorbikes, currently on hold as no motorbike, but....
Fishing (fly)...
DIY and general tinkering at home, in the garden, in the garage, etc.
Online browsing/forums, many and varied, including airguns, here, modelling, cars, bikes, fishing, etc
But not enough hours in the day TBH, so some get neglected at times...

 

[dannybgoode]

Making stained glass items, I just love the glass, the colours and textures and designing new patterns

My grandma used to make stain glass. I have one of her pieces still 🙂

 

[CliffH]

A big part of managing my depression without meds has been to really try and make time to focus on hobbies when I can.

Doing something that requires enough concentration to stop my mind wandering, be something that I enjoy and giving me a bit of time and space to myself help so much.

Sometimes I have to push myself as I'm not in the mood but once I'm doing it then we'll becomes good.

So mine, in no particular order are:

Morse code (CW as it is more properly called in ham radio circles)
Flying model planes
Running
Astrophotography
Plastic kit building

What hobbies do you good folk enjoy?

Collecting Victorian bottles

 

[SB2015]

I mainly spend time weaving sewing and singing/composing, but will happily dabble in a variety of other things and have tried basket weaving, riddle and sieve making, jewellery, felting, chocolate making, painting
Only got into cooking in the last few years as OH did it all when I was teaching. Now enjoying it more as I gain more confidence.

 

[harbottle]

I write stories.
Might occasionally do some programming, but that's my day job.
Would love to get back into film-making.

 

[Leadinglights]

My grandma used to make stain glass. I have one of her pieces still 🙂

That looks amazing and a good thing to have as a reminder of her. It is a mosaic so you have to cut the small pieces to fit your pattern and they are then stuck to a backing board or piece of glass and then grouted with a tile grout, It is quite fiddly but you can get some amazing effects. Some of Tiffany's work was mosaic, I suppose it used up the bits of glass left over from the lamps and bigger windows.

 

[Chris Hobson]

Playing piano. Swimming. Woodwork shop.

Any DIY jobs that need doing. I've just assembled a new chicken run. The old one I built myself out of wood many years ago and it's very much past its best. The new one is a steel framed one that just needed assembling. Due to avian flu regs it has to be fully enclosed like an aviary.

 

[mashedupmatt]

I am a hockey (not Ice) umpire - have just got home after my 4th game this weekend - used to play in goal (to a high standard) but now prefer blowing a whistle - great for my fitness - typically run/walk (mainly backwards and sideways) 5km per game (depending on the standard of game - did two junior games today and they are really fast, so a proper workout) - do games for a local club and the league, as well as for some local public schools (who pay good ££ too!) - Thoroughly enjoy it but it does play havoc with my BG Levels tbh - mainly because it's such a mix of types of exercise and can be quite stressful, as you do get a fair bit of abuse (until you send them off!) - wouldn't give it up for the world though

 

[dannybgoode]

I forgot one - honing straight razors. More challenging than I imagined but very meditative and very satisfying when you start to put a really good edge on a razor.

 

[Lisa65]

Reading
Gardening
Keeping carnivorous plants
Keeping fish and shrimps
Learning Turkish 🙂
I also enjoy macro photography (flowers and insects) although I haven't done any lately.

 

[CliffH]

I forgot one - honing straight razors. More challenging than I imagined but very meditative and very satisfying when you start to put a really good edge on a razor.

You could be a suspect in a Strike story! It reminds me of the couplet in the Carl Perkins song 'Dixie Fried':
"Well Dan got happy and he started raving,
He pulled out his razor but he wasn't shaving".

 

[saffron15]

I am a hockey (not Ice) umpire - have just got home after my 4th game this weekend - used to play in goal (to a high standard) but now prefer blowing a whistle - great for my fitness - typically run/walk (mainly backwards and sideways) 5km per game (depending on the standard of game - did two junior games today and they are really fast, so a proper workout) - do games for a local club and the league, as well as for some local public schools (who pay good ££ too!) - Thoroughly enjoy it but it does play havoc with my BG Levels tbh - mainly because it's such a mix of types of exercise and can be quite stressful, as you do get a fair bit of abuse (until you send them off!) - wouldn't give it up for the world though

Is that really a hobby, its more a passion? My late Mum was passionate about hockey until marriage made it too difficult. She was an air mechanic in the Navy and Dad a good and enthusiastic rugby player was a pilot. She sometimes played in mixed teams and said men were tough.
I go to a language class where we are all retired. However several of the participants are very sporty. One of them in her late sixties plays veteran hockey and beside her local team plays for England. Recently she has been to South Africa, Spain and Holland.