Hey everyone,

Many of you know I'm currently in the psych hospital, and I am making some goals to feel better, and feel like I have a purpose in life.

At this moment, I have hardly any hobbies. They are reading, writing, and taking walks. I'm interested in trying more activities, which brings me to the point of this post.

What are YOUR hobbies? Please post as many as you like, whether they're activities you do alone or with others, I'm interested in seeing what different people do for fun, and maybe I'll try some of the activities you post.

Thanks for reading, and responding!

Hi Melissa.recovering--is there anyone there who'd play a good game of chess with you?

Chess is a wonderful "game", and, in preparation for life on life's scales; has taught me much.

With a good partner, you can spend hours playing chess, and exercising your mind.

I send you comforting thoughts, and positive energy for your recovery. hugs--theo

Okay; I crochet and knit--used to alot of gardening, but I don't have my house anymore, (live in an apartment) so no gardening.

I spend time on games here on P.C. which is alot of fun.

Can't seem to think of what else right now--but I'll get back to you---theo

[Ygrec23]

Well, Melissa, I don't know if a guy is allowed to chime in here, but there are plenty of hobbies that aren't restricted by sex. I like writing stories. Writing haiku Japanese poetry. (Very easy to do. Just google it.) Cooking from all different cultures in the world, particularly (for me) from India and Indonesia. Messing around with interesting computer programs for graphics and photographs and art. Geneology at your local library (ours is really big on that and they have a special reference librarian just for geneology). Making and firing pottery of all kinds. (We have three kilns.) Hydroponic gardening (just in water) for your favorite vegetables and herbs (call your county extension service for free information and classes, every county has one). That's about all for me. My wife is an artist and draws and sketches and paints all kinds of stuff. She loves it. We do the pottery together. If you can't afford a kiln, you can probably find a pottery class in your area that has access to a kiln and will let you use it. Hope this helps! Take care.

Thanks theodora and Ygrec for your many suggestions. (And of course Ygrec, gender doesn't matter in this post) I do enjoy chess, and the cooking & pottery do sound interesting to me...although I usually prefer to just eat food! :P

Anybody else have any hobbies they'd like to share?

Yoga
I go to arts and craft stores and find little art projects - painting boxes and putting pretty flower transfers on them - even coloring books.

I also love word search books!

I'll try to come up with some others for you.

[Rohag]

Hello, Melissa.Recovering! I've been thinking about this thread since I saw it. "Fun" became difficult for me years ago. My attempts to revive or develop hobbies have been largely though not entirely unsuccessful. I'm not surprised because, frankly, it's part of my experience of depression.

Nowadays, my "hobby" efforts are primarily attempts to keep my mind active.

[whenwillitend]

I hate when my docs ask me that question. I don't have any actual hobbies, I'm always with my kids. I used to have a horse, so daily horseback riding was my hobby. I also like bowling. And yes, I enjoy Bingo, it's a fun game. Man I sound old!!

Now, I play the piano, I love playing Scrabble on the computer or my Nintendo DS, I also like Sudoku, I LOVE baking, I have pets that I play and cuddle with, and I love doing physical things, like working out at a gym, or on my treadmill, or going for walks, or even just playing the Wii. I usually don't have the patience to just sit down and watch a movie, so I usually do that while I'm on the treadmill. And when I need some quiet activity, I sit down and put my iPod on and just color. I have my own coloring book and my own crayons/color pencils, my kids are not allowed to touch them. I'm lousy at drawing, so all I can do is color.

I don't know if any of these count as actual hobbies, but they're things that I enjoy.

(And my cat just tried climbing up my BARE leg. )

[lastyearisblank]

I did judo in college. Now I do yoga about once a week in a class.

My easiest to stick to hobby is probably buying books and reading, I also love researching stuff on the net- science, psychology, art, literary theory, language. I am a big geek and could spend literally hours on wikipedia.

Travelling. Baking bread. I have different recipes from the countries I've visited!

Museums... galleries... ballets... theater...

Volunteering with kids (watch out for germs! But they are cute!)

One thing I have been planning to do a lot lately but am really too shy to is read poetry at an open mic!

I am trying to go out more as usually when I meet new people I like it is through a hobby.

If I am limited i.e. in a hospital. I use clay to form roses, make jewelry, read, draw and write. At home I make shadow boxes or doll house rooms, one at a time.

[jbug]

I scrapbook, I am currently working on a book of my weight loss journey. I also have a graphic journal. My sister got me started on that. I take quotes out of magazines and pictures place them in the notebook and then journal around it. Sometimes just the word gets put into what I am journal ling about. Sometimes it is just the border that gets taken out of the magazine and put on the page.

If you want to fancy up the cover of the book PM me and I will tell you how.

Jan

[Yoda]

I like to shop. Unfortunately my disability income doesn't allow much of that anymore.

[EvilPopTart]

Travel mainly. Going to gigs, going to cocktail bars, shopping.

[thine_self_untrue]

"Fun" is whatever you enjoy, making it rather subjective. Are you an artist? A musician? Do you like sports? Do you like to go new places and try new things? Making your life worthwhile is about filling it with things that are important to you. Sounds to me like you might need to start trying some things to find ones that you enjoy. My biggest piece of advice would be to keep health in mind. While video games can be fine in moderation, a far healthier hobby would be tennis or jogging.
Once you find something you like, invest yourself in it. Who cares if the guy next door doesn't think your artwork is very good? You are doing this for YOU and that's all that should matter, right?
I wish you the best of luck! Do let us know if you find something new you absolutely love. Who knows? Maybe you'll inspire someone else to take it up too.

[lachrymose]

i'm glad to know i'm not the only adult with coloring books!!! yay for big boxes of crayon.

I like to scrapbook, read, play computer games, watch movies.

My bff is trying to get me to start playing tennis with her. I'm not real sporty and am a little scared, but I may try it. I have a fear of falling down, but there's not much falling potential in tennis is there?