I really need to find a new hobby that gets my mind going and takes me away from just watching TV or scrolling through my phone. Legos and knitting seem interesting to me, but I’m not sure. I’ve seen a lot of ideas in this forum, but I can’t figure out what to choose or how to get started. I would appreciate any advice.
I checked out your profile to see what you like so I could suggest something.
Big mistake.
Good luck, man!
I can’t really give you advice, but here are some things I enjoy. Maybe one will catch your interest:
Metal detecting
Virtual reality
Filmmaking
Fishing
Rock climbing
Tai Chi
Reading
Those are my main hobbies.
I’ve been into metal detecting too. I’m 40 and never really had hobbies, so I’m following this thread.
Where do you go metal detecting? I’ve only seen people doing it at the beach.
Make sure to check local rules, but I usually go to a park that isn’t developed. It’s mostly wild, and people go there to hike or walk their dogs. I’ve found some cool stuff from the early 1900s, like an ice skate from the 1890s. Nothing super valuable yet, but the hunt is what makes it fun.
Sounds fun. Thanks for the tip.
No problem. Enjoy!
This sounds like a blast!
Tai Chi is great. It gets you out and around other people. If you’re in the US, local Parks and Recreation might offer affordable classes. They usually have more women than men.
Good point. I should take a proper class since I’ve only been using YouTube videos.
A small laser engraving machine or a 3D printer could be a good fit. I use my laser engraver a lot. It’s fun to learn and doesn’t cost much to start.
That sounds cool. What do you engrave?
You can find all kinds of blanks on Amazon or at craft stores like Hobby Lobby or Michaels. Dog tags, wooden coasters, cutting boards, pretty much whatever the laser can handle. I’ve even figured out how to do portraits with canvas and spray paint, which is really fun. I get to create portraits for people as gifts.
Oh cool. I didn’t know you could engrave things other than metal.
Oh yeah, if it burns, you can engrave it. Metal does need a bit more prep since my laser isn’t strong enough for it, but you can buy special bimetallic blanks made for lasers, and those are easy to work with.
Target shooting is fun. It helps with control, and you get a good connection between mind and body.
Building models is a good hobby.
Interesting. What kinds of models do you build?
Wooden ship models.