Help me dabble

July 25, 2024 1:47 PM

I have basically no hobbies at the moment and don't even really know what I enjoy doing. I'd like to try a bunch of things in order to find out. What are some hobbies or activities or interests I should try, that don't require big startup investments or equipment?

My only real limitations are budget and apartment living. What kind of things do you enjoy doing, that I could dip my toes into? Keeping this purposefully broad because I always get stuck trying to do the things I feel like I'm supposed to do instead of finding what I actually like; in fact, the more obscure or esoteric suggestions are extremely welcome.

posted by specialagentwebb to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (46 answers total)

Learning foreign languages.
posted by mbrubeck at 1:54 PM on July 25 [6 favorites]

Do you want to do this new hobby once in a while (e.g., make hard cider or mead: it needs to be left alone for a month), or frequently (fiber arts like needle-felting can be done any time, for a short period)?

I am a crouton-petter, so many of my hobbies are a burst of setup work and then frequent tending (e.g., soldering small sensors to ESP32 microcontrollers, which I then hook up to things around the house, or tagging and sorting my e-books).

Are your hands/wrists strong, or do you need to be wary of RSI (and thus avoid crocheting or knitting)?
posted by wenestvedt at 1:55 PM on July 25

I like learning about birds and then watching for them on my morning walks. I also set up a BirdNet-Pi install on a small computer (Raspberry Pi 5) with a microphone, which sits in my backs yard and identifies birds by their songs.
posted by wenestvedt at 1:57 PM on July 25 [3 favorites]

Best answer: Just go out and start doing stuff!

Do you have an orchestra in your area? Get cheap day-of tickets to whatever they're doing on an evening you're free and see if you like it.

Same thing with any kind of theater!

Roller rink near you? Skate rental is only a few bucks! Just go and see if you like it.

Go to the websites for any arts centers in your area and sign up for a beginners class in something you've never tried before.

Same thing with a cooking class! Or a music class!

Take a friend and go do one of those sip and paint nights.

Your public library probably has a bunch of events as well, go check them out.

Basically go be a dilettante for a while. Eventually you'll find something you like enough to want to do it again, and you'll find your hobby.
posted by phunniemee at 1:58 PM on July 25 [3 favorites]

Best answer: See if there are any local clubs that have an introductory event where you can try out the activity.
posted by zamboni at 1:58 PM on July 25 [4 favorites]

Best answer: One year we got my kid a subscription to a monthly crafting kit. Each month a kit would arrive with all the materials and equipment needed for a project. The tools were pretty basic but did the job. Examples were macrame, glass etching, paper marbling, and making pots with some kind of clay.

Something like this is a relatively low stakes way of trying out a bunch of different crafts to see if any really interest you enough to become a hobby.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 2:00 PM on July 25 [4 favorites]

You can get started in watercolor painting for $20 or less in readily-available supplies (dollar store, Michaels, etc). There's a channel on youtube, Andrea Nelson Art, that has a few longer videos but most of them are short (or actual Shorts) and I use them as a sort of Morning Pages activity before work.
posted by Lyn Never at 2:00 PM on July 25 [9 favorites]

For that matter you can start drawing with a pencil and a piece of paper. If you want to fancy it up some you can buy a cool little sketchbook to take around with you. If you like it you can start adding in colored pencils or pens, brush-tipped pens, etc.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 2:04 PM on July 25 [3 favorites]

Best answer: If you have any interest in a hobby that you can't do in your apartment (metal sculpture? pottery? woodworking?) it might be worthwhile checking whether there's a good makerspace near you.
posted by Jeanne at 2:07 PM on July 25 [4 favorites]

What kinds of things did you enjoy when you were a child? Did you walk in the woods? Draw or paint? Put on plays with friends? Tend a garden?
posted by mochapickle at 2:09 PM on July 25 [3 favorites]

Object manipulation. Juggling and magic are the obvious ones, but there's also yoyoing, card throwing, hula hooping, and dozens more variations.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 2:11 PM on July 25 [1 favorite]

Contra-dancing is good exercise, good way to meet people, skews crunchy granola.
Volunteer on a political campaign, many local campaigns are worthwhile, in addition to national.
Legos.
Board games - meet people at coffee shops and bars.
Darts - meet people at bars.
Hike in the woods, walk in your town.
Visit museums.
In Portland, Maine, bowling is a bit popular again.
Go to your library; you may be able to borrow a telescope, binoculars or any other interesting stuff, plus books.
posted by theora55 at 2:19 PM on July 25

I have so many hobbies, but I love trying out new ones. So I'm also on the lookout for low-stuff hobbies, heh. Recently, I've done some beading and made bracelets with seed beads, which has been fun. I've also been going to jewelry class at a local art school and doing silversmithing; if I tried to do it at home I would need a lot of stuff, but because I can just roll into the school studio and use their workshop tools, the things I need for it fit in a small bag. There's also a lapidary class I have my eye on but haven't gotten around to trying out.
posted by catcafe at 2:20 PM on July 25 [3 favorites]

Best answer: If you're in the US, your local community college likely offers some interesting adult education classes on a range of interests and hobbies, like metalworking, different arts and crafts, writing, local history, languages, etc. Sometimes these are one-day or one-evening sessions, or sometimes classes that meet over a few weeks. These are different from their for-credit classes that lead to a degree. Often these adult ed classes are quite affordable.

Similarly, your local Parks & Rec program (through your city or county) may also have affordable adult ed classes related to a range of hobbies and interests.

So I say to browse the local websites or catalogs for your community college and parks & rec and see if anything catches your fancy.
posted by bluedaisy at 2:42 PM on July 25 [3 favorites]

You've asked the right ADHDer. Here are some hobbies I've tried, with various levels of investment from $0 -> $1000s:

1970s
Drawing/Painting
Lego building
Reading fiction and mythology
Guitar
Collecting baseball cards, stamps, coins, and anything space-related

1980s
Computer Programming (now my job)
Photography (from self-developed B&W film to iPhone digital)
CB Radio
Comic creation

1990s
Long distance cycling
Amateur Pool League
*Learning Japanese

2000s
Online and Live Poker
Heavy drinking
Darts

2010s & 2020s
*Brazilian jiu Jitsu (brown belt now)
*Learning Portuguese
Homebrewing
Digital Music production / DJing
DIY Electronics/soldering
Lockpicking
*Electric Unicycling
*Rifle & Handgun marksmanship
Barbecue
Drone Photography
Gardening

* -> stuck with it for more than a year or two
posted by bashos_frog at 2:46 PM on July 25 [5 favorites]

Card tricks/throwing cards
Coin trick/manipulation
Solving Rubik's cubes
Pencil sketching
Whistling
Macrame
Whittling
Yo-yo
Knife throwing
Kite flying
Harmonica
Darts
Juggling
Hiking
Flint knapping
Lock picking
posted by SaltySalticid at 2:54 PM on July 25 [1 favorite]

I like fermenting and cooking. You have to do it anyway, so you might as well see if you can have fun with it. Being able to make your favourite food better than anyone else can is an incredible feeling.
posted by wheatlets at 3:44 PM on July 25

Chip carving starts at about $20.

Pyrography can at its cheapest be done with a piece of metal heated with a candle. However kits start around $40.

Photography is cheap if you have a half decent camera in your phone.
posted by Mitheral at 4:02 PM on July 25 [2 favorites]

Best answer: nthing drawing and juggling, and adding watercolor painting, maybe with brush pens, and adding poetry: memorizing it and writing it.

Two suggestions for any and all hobbies you might want to dabble in:

1. Embrace your library - ask your librarian to point you to good beginner books on anything. Go into the non-fiction (especially the 700s for crafts, or the 400s for foreign languages) and just pull stuff off the shelf and see what looks like fun. See if your library has any stuff you can check out to try!

2. Embrace the Crap Art Manifesto, even if you're not trying something arty. Focus on discovery. Ignore "success." Make lots. ("That which is created rapidly and in high quantities contains more variety and is more likely to be successful/innovative.")

Or, okay, three suggestions:

3. For at least some of the things you try, post an AskMe asking folks for specifics on getting into it in a fun way. Want to try learning/memorizing poetry? Ask us for suggested anthologies or websites or poems. Want to try writing poetry? Ask us for good, friendly DIY books. Want to try drawing? Ask us for good books or video channels or just tips. MetaFilter is full of enthusiasts. Let us enthuse with you!

Have fun! There's so much fun stuff to do!
posted by kristi at 4:18 PM on July 25 [6 favorites]

Ok, depending where you live, I have a good weird one: sacred harp singing. It doesn't cost anything (you can buy a book but you don't have to.) It's egalitarian/low bar to entry--it's not about being a great singer and it's not about performing. It's a thing that takes some learning, and it takes a while. It's also, in some places, a bit of a community, which is nice. Just to elaborate a little, it's shape-note singing, and the texts are religious (hymns) but a great many people who participate are not religious.
posted by less-of-course at 4:45 PM on July 25

Best answer: This is more addressing the flaily "i don't know what I wanna do" aspect, as well as the budget and the space aspect....go to a toy store and browse the kids' craft kits or kids' science kits. Pick up a couple that strike your fancy, and try them out.

I'm suggesting that because there are a gabillion different kids' craft kits covering a HUGE range of hobbies. There are kids' crochet kits, soapmaking kits, paint-by-numbers kits, model painting kits, glass painting kits, bath bomb making kits, candlemaking kits, sewing kits, It's the perfect way to have a taste of a lot of different things to do, because

a) it's aimed at kids, so it's likely not going to be too difficult;
b) the things you make with it are usually small;
c) it's an all-in-one kit with just enough supplies to get you through a couple projects; and
d) if you end up not liking a particular thing, then you're only out $20 or so, so no big deal. And if you end up not liking the thing you made using the kit, then you can give it to your niece or something.

The reason I knit today is because I idly picked up one such kit about 15 years ago, where you could make a simple scarf with some fuzzy yarn. Something clicked and I was off.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:53 PM on July 25 [10 favorites]

Genealogy. An impressive amount of the work can be done entirely online with publicly-available resources, though if you happen to have DNA results it often goes faster. Just be aware of the real potential for serious surprises

Trail maintenance/building, prairie restoration, etc.
posted by teremala at 5:13 PM on July 25 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Go look at your city or town's Parks and Recreation website. You may be pleasantly surprised by the wide variety of classes and workshops on offer. Most will be a commitment of 2-3 months max.
posted by potrzebie at 5:16 PM on July 25 [2 favorites]

Perhaps try out VCV Rack. VCV Rack is a modelled version of Eurorack synth modules, meaning that you can sequence and fiddle about with drum machines and synths and do experimental noise stuff and everything in between, all for free. (You can buy a 'pro' version too but the free version is extraordinarily fully featured, and there is a wide community of developers making - again, often free - modules that will fit right in.) It's a very rewarding little hobby all on its own. You really don't need any musical proclivities to get going with it; a lot of the time you're kind of building music-as-a-system by creating ways for processes to generate music for you.

I would recommend Omri Cohen's channel to learn more about using VCV rack, especially his 'let's build' episodes, where he basically recreates whatever synth is flavor of the month, using the VC modules as components to build up more complex syths.

A word of warning though. If you like it, you may be tempted to get into the real thing and start getting eurorack modules. This is both expensive and addictive...

If you're still wondering what Modular is, here's Colin Benders working with some real modules.
posted by aesop at 5:50 PM on July 25 [1 favorite]

Start going to local plays - it can get kind of addicting.
posted by soelo at 5:53 PM on July 25

Glass bead making. The initial investment is low, and you can use what you make to make other things or try other hobbies, such as beading or jewelrymaking.
posted by bricoleur at 7:37 PM on July 25

With the advent of LED grow lights and ultra-quiet PC case fans, very-small-scale indoor cannabis gardening for personal use only has never been so easy and cheap. Being a little high off edibles that you know exactly what is in because you made them yourself is a lovely way to make almost any physical activity more engaging and fun, and the plants themselves are rich sources of endless fascination.
posted by flabdablet at 10:31 PM on July 25

Cooking. It can be sweet or savoury, but I recommend finding something that will freeze (pasta sauces, loaf cakes and bread work; note that bread needs a pause in the middle, so line up a podcast, house cleaning or a long FaceTime call with a friend to distract you) and making a batch.

Repeating recipes will improve your ability, but ADHD novelty can be derived from trying related things where the skill (be it eyeballing the oven or simply chef level dicing) can be carried over.
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 11:19 PM on July 25

Best answer: Get the class catalogs from your local parks & rec department, community college extension, makerspace, crafts supply stores, etc. and take a smattering of different classes. They usually provide all the expensive tools equipment and you just need to buy materials. Then if you find something you really enjoy, you can invest in the tools and equipment.
posted by Jacqueline at 1:28 AM on July 26 [1 favorite]

Not necessarily a hobby in the traditional sense, but I've found that adding some intentionality to my consumption of media is engaging. What I mean by that is that instead of just watching, reading, or playing something that happens to be available, I approach it all with a more precise intention.

So for example, I'll decide that I like film noir (or any other genre), so I'll read a few of the key books, watch movies that are available on streaming services, go down a YouTube hole of analysis and video essays, listen to a podcast, and/or play a video game that explores the same themes. When I've had enough, I'll jump to another genre. It gives a deeper appreciation for something that I casually liked before, and it engages my brain a bit more than just having the content wash over me. It also acts as a filter for the absolute wealth of options that are so accessible via streaming/subscription services.

If you're looking for something more active/physical, calisthenics/bodyweight exercises are great: you literally need no equipment for it (or you can get a cheap chin-up bar for a door frame and some resistance bands for cheap) and you can do it all in a small apartment. YouTube is your friend here as well when it comes to learning progression techniques.
posted by slimepuppy at 2:11 AM on July 26 [2 favorites]

Chip carving was mentioned upthread but there are other types of wood carving that you can get cheap kits for that are tons of fun.
posted by saladin at 3:53 AM on July 26

I love my houseplants and right now I'm really into making weird lil animals with sculpey. You can get a few colors, or you can paint them with acrylic paint after they've baked.
posted by Summers at 4:09 AM on July 26 [1 favorite]

It is obvious that hobbies can lead to new friendships, but it also works the other way around. Ask around to see what hobbies are popular with people you know.

Generally speaking, going solo is harder than getting some guidance. You can built an radio-controlled airplane from instructions, but you really need an experienced instructor to teach you to fly.
posted by SemiSalt at 5:03 AM on July 26 [2 favorites]

Ctrl-F "origami"... huh.

Origami! Stop what you're doing, pick up a rectangular sheet of paper (printer paper is ideal), and fold it into a paper boat.

If that leaves you feeling "well, that was five minutes of my life I won't get back" or "right, so now I have a paper boat, so what?" or "ugh, that was annoying" or "yes, but where's the creativity in following instructions?" then it's probably not for you.

But if you found it satisfying manipulating the paper and transforming it into something new, then get yourself a telephone pad or something fancier, browse through some more origami instructions on WikiHow, and see if it sustains your interest enough to keep going.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 5:10 AM on July 26 [1 favorite]

Knot tying.

Extremely cheap, just requires a bit of cord. Combines a whole lot of different aspects: logical, conceptual, tactile, aesthetic (knots can be beautiful to look at, especially highly symmetrical ones), very good cognitive-sensory-motor exercise, has practical value in your everyday life, can be done anywhere anytime, for as short or long as you want, and on your own.

Plenty of books on it, and info online (including forums), and some apps. Maybe start with Youtube videos, they are free and static images in knot books don't always do the best job of showing you how to tie a knot.

Not for everybody. But it can be very interesting and satisfying.
posted by Pouteria at 5:56 AM on July 26 [3 favorites]

Response by poster: You wonderful, lovely people! These are all incredible suggestions and I'm so excited to start trying some of them. There's no possible way to choose a best answer, but I've marked some of the ones that suggest how to try several things, and I fully intend to keep coming back here and working my way through the lists for the foreseeable future.
posted by specialagentwebb at 6:24 AM on July 26 [1 favorite]

Knot-tying and locksport are great ways to keep your hands strong, and mind sharp.

You can buy cheap locks picks online, though locks to practice on are a little harder to find. (Maybe call a local locksmith and ask for cast offs?) Pieces of rope or paracord are available anywhere; when you want to make a bigger project like a dog leash, then you order a bigger piece. Both hobbies store small!
posted by wenestvedt at 7:24 AM on July 26

2nding VCV Rack. Just getting into it and I have done basically nothing else for the past two weeks. It's very engaging.
posted by inexorably_forward at 8:13 AM on July 26

Printmaking! Started as a hobby for me and has turned (mostly) into a full time career. To start, you just need some rubber to carve, a carving tool, and a stamp pad. And whatever paper you have lying around! Message me if you want more specifics!
posted by sucre at 9:17 AM on July 26 [1 favorite]

If you are interested in fiber arts, crochet can be a good starting point. I have found the Woobles amigurumi beginner kits fun and engaging without being overwhelming. (I tend to conceive of giant projects and then get bogged down in the middle and never finish-- these projects have helped get me out of that mindset.) They have written and video instructions, including instructions for left-handers. The kits run $25-30 for a project.

There are other fun ways to get into crochet. If you have a local yarn shop nearby, they would likely offer informal lessons as well as "stitch-n-bitch" sessions where people can meet up to work on their projects and chat. If you are looking to meet people via your hobby, that would be a good route to take.

Also-- I'm going to put a plug in for improv. I don't know where you are located but cities and college towns tend to have improv classes. Find an instructor who has a reputation for running a class in a supportive and safe environment and I guarantee you will have fun. I say this as an introvert-- I gave it a try 9 years ago and I'm still doing it.
posted by tuesdayschild at 10:17 AM on July 26

I also have one other general suggestion, if you don't already do this: focus on exploring hobbies that are different from your day-to-day work and life. For example, if you sit at a computer all day, find a hobby that involves movement or standing or something without a keyboard and computer. Or, if you spend all day in a physical job, find a hobby that involves some stillness or at least one that's not as physically demanding. If you have a job that involves a lot of intellectual engagement, find something that's more focused on art or creativity. The idea is to use your brain and body differently, which gives us more of a break and sense of leisure. It can also challenge us in new ways that might be hard at first, and help us remember that it's okay to not be good at things we are new to doing.

(This comment inspired inspired partly by a friend of mine who is a graphic designer, who realized that volunteering to support organizations by doing graphic design ended up feeling a lot like work, even when she was deeply committed to the organization and its goals.)
posted by bluedaisy at 10:31 AM on July 26 [1 favorite]

birding!! inaturalist! tree id! foraging! just going outside and learning more about the land, the wildlife, going on walks to explore new neighborhoods/cuisines…befriend a local bird, go fishing!!
posted by lightgray at 11:44 AM on July 26 [1 favorite]

Is there anything you couldn't do when you were younger because it was too messy/parents thought it was dumb/supplies were unaffordable type reasons? Adulthood is a great time to explore anything that seemed forbidden or inaccessible as a kid.

I've recently been getting into ice dyeing clothing, a form of tie dye where you sprinkle powder dye over ice over the garment, and the melting ice causes the dye colours to split and form beautiful flowy patterns. My abusive clean freak father would never have let me do something with so much potential for mess and permanent staining, and it feels great to create space in my home and life and budget for a hobby that would have appalled him. Plus I have some sick new clothes with totally unique patterns and colours.
posted by terretu at 1:11 PM on July 26 [2 favorites]

This isn't the cheapest, but any sort of "instant" photography (Instax/Polaroid/etc.). I mean, provided you have any interest in photography.

I went all in on taking Polaroids during the pandemic and it was great! I liked that I got a physical product and it forced me to get out and go places. (I like the Instax cameras too, but obviously a smaller format).

The cameras cost money and the film packs do add up, but for me it was worth it. I don't do it as much now but I still enjoy it on occasion. It was fun to learn how to take good shots!

I'm also quite a dabbler and I've had fun making abstract art with markers in a sketchbook. That's just an anything goes sort of thing but it's so low stakes that I don't care if what I do is good or bad. It's fun for me.
posted by edencosmic at 7:46 PM on July 26

I have learned many many card tricks from YouTube that I usually perform on a day I am reviewing for a test. Just Google Self Working Card Trick. There are lots of tricks that just work as long as you follow the directions. I can verify, from personal experience, that people are impressed by them.
posted by wittgenstein at 8:48 AM on July 27 [1 favorite]

Outdoorsy hobbies are very healthy. Maybe going for walks and taking photographs of specific things to create photo collections?
posted by nouvelle-personne at 1:53 PM on July 27