Interests Or Hobbies

[falling_wave]

I have been really working hard to get out and find what works for me in life. People keep telling me that I need to pursue an interest or hobby. The thing is I didn't have an environment where I could foster one growing up so I really don't know what I like. I have a few fleeting ideas but I'm so far behind the curve as an adult I could never take up those hobbies now. Do you all have any ideas for hobbies that are social or relaxing that would appropriate for an adult to start as a beginner? Thanks for you ideas!

 

[hodge]

Well, I think if something is going to work for you, Falling Wave, you would need to take stock of what you might be interested in. A few fleeting ideas are a start. I don't believe you're ever too old to start something. I started painting when I was in my 40s. And people bought my prints and originals! And now this summer I've been asked to display some of my paintings for our annual summer festival. It's never too late!

 

[falling_wave]

Things I've thought about are horseback riding but I can't afford it and maybe interior design but also don't have money and don't really know if that's a hobby anyways. I'm not an artist but just have a taste for decoration and am good at organizing. If I started as a kid maybe soccer? People have told me it not fun to play with beginners and I would definitely be one. I don't really have anyone to play with either. All I do is work and school. I love it a lot of times but I really have made it my leisure and my living with nothing else. I feel like I don't have much talent with anything. My coordination is terrible and I feel like I don't have that niche with any area or haven't found it yet. Ideas of just random stuff to consider would be very appreciated.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Are you interested in music? Art?

Do you prefer outdoor activities or indoor activities?

Do you enjoy any sports? Either as a spectator or a participant?

Do you prefer social activities or are you looking for something that's a bit more solitary?

 

[Chava]

First, anything is appropriate (well, maybe minus riding Hotwheels around your neighborhood). I have friends who've taken dance and music lessons beginning as adults and loved it.

Decorating can be a hobby. I have a friend who is a genius for finding stuff at Goodwill. His place looks like it came out of a modern decorating magazine. True it's a hobby that kind involves spending. But you can do garage sales, thrift shops, re-paint, play around with different arrangements of things, and study it (buy decorating magazines or browse online). I study stuff as a sort of pastime.

Some of my friends have done adult volleyball (no you don't have to be good at it). You could also look in your local community education flyer (or community education online) to browse offerings...could be something jumps out at you that you wouldn't have thought of. Usually those classes are relatively inexpensive too. Everything from martial arts to cooking to soap making. There are social things, hobbies, crafts... it's not really about talent. Adults like learning too and we all need some degree of novelty and challenge to feel alive.

I had many hobbies as a kid because it was how I escaped. My issue is how to get back into relating to other people :depressed: But I'm often looking for new opportunities to just keep life interesting. Check bulletin boards at local coffee shops and other places for listings of events and classes. Also maybe just browse a big craft store for the heck of it and see if anything jumps out at you. Join a gym if you aren't already a member, and try new classes or adult sports offerings. I know the gyms in our area are very inclusive...like you don't feel out of place if you aren't a 20-something athlete.

 

[ihateusernames]

Unless you're thinking along the lines of professional ballerina or olympic gymnast you're not too late for anything!

I collect hobbies. You could just do that. LOL. Scrapbooking, beading, painting, video games, knitting, hiking, container "gardening" (or killing), sewing, creating recipes, making bread, writing, reading, couponing, graphic art, photography, singing, trying to figure out how to play my guitar for the 7th year in a row, researching off the wall things. I do them all and then some. I'm only decent at a couple of those, but having a hobby isn't really about mastery- unless you want it to be.

I would suggest you just pick something and try it. And don't let it be an opportunity to judge yourself and beat yourself up because you aren't automatically an expert at something. Nobody is.

 

[ihateusernames]

Actually, I know a girl who goes on day trips with her husband. That's their hobby. And it's a good one. I used to do it, too. It's fun to go drive through the country and visit towns you would have no reason to ever see otherwise.

 

[watundah]

If you want social activities check out meetup.com

 

[falling_wave]

Are you interested in music? Art?

I enjoy music and can be really moved by classical music cello in particular. I love looking at art and appreciating the depth of it. I'd like to try playing cello someday when I can afford one and lessons but with art I had a brain surgery and my coordination is really impacted even for art. Still love it though.

Do you prefer outdoor activities or indoor activities?

Both but I feel isolated a lot so probably something that doesn't require being social but definitely could incorporate it. I'd love for my hobby to be a way to make good friends.

Do you enjoy any sports? Either as a spectator or a participant

I'm not really into watching any sport. Maybe figure skating once a year on olympics. Lol I like the idea of running maybe soccer and swimming and try to be good at them but definitely it would be a challenge. I like these questions. Definitely made me think.

@Chava I like the idea doing something low cost with decorating. That Seems like it has potential just need to work hard so I can afford to buy what I need.

@ihateusernames gardening sounds interesting! Also the day trip thing could definitely work. I just think I probably need to wait to be in a relationship first. I would love to travel! You really did hit one of the main issues though with your comment about judging myself. I really do and I don't know how not to. It just reminds me of how much I missed and makes me feel bad about myself. Then whatever it was it's not fun anymore. I just throw myself back into work because Im good at work. I want that to change.

 

[ihateusernames]

comment about judging myself. I really do and I don't know how not to

I find myself doing the same thing. All the if onlys and shoulda-couldas and the comparing myself to people. And thinking I might as well not bother because it's going to suck. I'm terrible about that. I don't know how to stop that altogether, but a way to fight it is this: think really hard about the things that you are accomplished at. For example, I'm an excellent cook. It feels weird saying that, lol, but it's true. It comes completely naturally to me- or at least it feels that way. Truth is, I've been cooking nearly every day of my life since I was 15. That's 18 years of experience. Probably what? 7,000+ hours of practice? Not to mention the many things I have read about it, talked about with other people, and watched on tv, etc., etc. I won't discount natural ability somewhere in there, but mostly it's about the practice. Same with whatever you do at work. You are good at it because you have done it over and over and you have encountered all of the varied situations involved in your job and have learned to adapt to those.

Know that you're not going to achieve that level of mastery with anything else until you have put as much time and effort into it as you have put into your job.

And you do not have to. It is perfectly fine to be awesome at your job, but only piddle around with other things as long as you have some thing that you like and look forward to doing- it doesn't matter about the rest. You only have so much time in your life, anyway. And what has already passed is gone. Dwelling on wasted opportunity is pointless.

Anyway, I hope you find something that clicks for you!!

 

[Nam]

I haven't read any responses.

EVERYONE starts as a beginner with anything.

My go to for relaxing is knitting. If it fails, it's no biggie because the end result isn't the most important thing. I need processing while doing something repetitious. (I learned to knit as an adult.)

I paint, but that's my job.

In the future, I'm going to pick up cello. (my parent's didn't allow instruments)

You can explore. It's okay to do that. And it's okay to find out it's not for you. You don't need to find one that is suitable right this minute. It might be fun doing several different things and seeing which one seems like something you can keep doing. You might surprise yourself. I have a friend who likes to kick box to relax....yeah.

 

[mrsps]

Hubby and I never really had any hobbies and very few friends. We got into geocaching (which is all throughout the world so should be in some in your area) It is like a gps treasure hunt. It has got us outdoors doing a lot of walking as we go in search for the caches. We are part of the local facebook page where events get organised every couple of months and we have met up with other locals who enjoy this hobby. Has been really good for the both of us and we both struggle with social situations but have enjoyed others company.