Ask HN: What are your chill, at-home, non-digital hobbies? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: What are your chill, at-home, non-digital hobbies?

3 pointsmartopix4 comments

I often find myself simultaneously bored and feeling I don't have time for things.

I realised that my life would be better with some nice relaxing occupation to look forward to for when I'm home alone in the evening. These days I just spend a lot of time watching youtube.

What I'm looking for could be sufficiently mindless to be possible while listening to music or to a podcast, or stimulating enough. It should not involve looking into a screen.

At the moment, I read books (but this requires too much concentration and sometimes I'm too tired); I learn Swahili (but this is only a lesson a week and a couple of readings here and there); and I love cooking and experimenting in the kitchen (this is a great example of what I'm looking for, but I can't do that every day for hours).

I thought about learning to sketch but it's something that kind of makes me competitive or self-conscious, so, I will eventually do it but I'd also like something even simpler.

What are yours?

I make experimental electroacoustic instruments. Even when I'm not at my workbench, it gives my mind a constantly unfolding playground to explore.

I can't keep a beat or play conventional instruments at all, so I design my own music systems that let me make music my own way.

Most of these experiments over the past few years have been with a device I call the Electroduochord which is 2 strings with 2 used electric guitar pickups and a rotary magnetic bow.

https://github.com/spDuchamp/OSCRMB

For you specifically, I'd also consider the following:

- breadmaking (artisanal loaves)

- knitting, crocheting, cross-stiching

- figurine painting

- juggling

- slacklining

Here's my list of good "autopilot" activities:

- walking, cycling, driving

- basic cleaning and house chores

- light exercise

- basic landscaping

- doodling

- showering

- waiting in a queue/waiting-room

[1] https://taylor.town/busy-body

Cooking, reading, playing guitar and making music, video games. Hiking. Walking with an audiobook.

Guitar is the one I wish I was good at. I really enjoy more "complicated" music (jazz and fusion) and all of the players I admire are seriously top-tier. But they've put in the work and I only pick up my guitar a few times a week. Perfectionism is tough!

I think perfectionism is a problem for me too. I quit hobbies too soon because I get frustrated if they're not so easy.

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