Introverts: which ones have you enjoyed the most?
This is going to sound a little strange, but playing music on stage works for me. At least in moderation, and provided you aren’t the lead singer/MC who has to interact with people. You just wanna be some guy in the corner jamming on whatever you jam on.
You kind of get the best parts of being in a social situation in terms of seeing new places, having interesting experiences you can ponder for days to come, and occasionally getting free food and/or a green room where you can veg out in isolation and no one expects anything of you. But you can avoid the negatives: having to make small talk, looking awkward with nothing to do and no role to play, being labelled antisocial, getting roped into some horrible activity you did not sign on for, etc.
And it turns out there are a lot of introverted musicians. You only really need one extravert in a band.
I put on headphones (ANC transparency mode enabled) and jam out while bicycling for an hour daily. I put over 3,000 miles on my Trek Verve2 annually
Do the Blender donut tutorial and learn 3D modeling. It’s free. It’s a great time sink. Amazing online community. Personally, I find it very rewarding. I learned during lockdown and it’s one of my favorite accomplishments and I still have so much to learn.
What’s the doughnut tutorial? Been thinking of getting into blender for checks watch years at this point.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjEaoINr3zgFX8ZsChQVQsuDSjEqdWMAD
I believe this is the latest version but it might already be outdated. Blender changes stuff around often so these get outdated pretty quickly. I did the version before that (came out 3 years ago).
edit: if stuff isn’t there or not working like it’s shown you can search “how to do [x] in [current Blender version]”
Definitely +1 on 3D modeling. It’s very cool to just be able to come up with a thing and then just create it :)
I got into leatherworking during the pandemic and it’s been really rewarding. The actual act of cutting and sewing the leather is very zen to me, and in the end you have something new that you can use or give as a gift!
Getting started is fairly cheap (some punches, needles, thread, a sharp knife, and leather is all you really need to get started). I order everything online so no need to interact with people.
Lots of good tutorials online to learn (Carter leather, weaver, are both good YT channels)
I’d anyone is interested in trying it I’d be happy to help get you started 😊
I found about leatherworking some weeks ago and I’d like to get started during the summer :)
This never would have occurred to me, but it looks interesting. Thanks for the suggestion!
@FrostBolt I’m a big fan of plant care! I find it super relaxing to have a little garden in my apartment (plus I love the pop of color in my living room!)
Other hobbies I have are puzzle games (eg sudoku, crosswords, word scrambles), podcasts, and audiobooks
Model plane flying.
If you want, you can do it completely on your own, just you, the plane and a nice meadow.
If you itch for company, you can always join a club where everyone nerds the same way as you.
It’s a bit on the expensive side, but very creative and rewarding.
Programming. I honestly love writing code. I’ve built quite a few useful tools for myself, I’ve toyed around with making games, I regularly play around with new languages and libraries to see how they work, and I’ve also written a bunch of pointless code that has no practical purpose but was fun or enjoyable to create. All of which cost me no money and required very little interaction with other people.
Cooking! I’m not a weird loner with a fire fetish, I’m channeling my inner Francis Mallmann. No really, if you get really serious about it, cooking can be a great solitary, hyperfocus, hobby. From distilling my own sea salt to cataloging where to harvest wild fennel and clams, it’s not something I’d want to do in a group.
And, you do get to have people over in circumstances you completely control!
Climbing/bouldering at a bouldering gym, its sociable but since its often a solo sport you can leave any time.
Also every climber I’ve come across is very chill, and its good exercise.Gaming
Gardening
Hiking
3d printing
Woodworking
ReadingSecond woodworking. I picked up carving during the pandemic and I find it incredibly enjoyable, it’s probably my favourite hobby right now. I just put on Levar Burton Reads or a podcast or an audiobook and work away.
I want to learn how to carve with chainsaws next.
If…. You’re looking for a hobby… what inspires you? When was the last time you felt awe or marveled at something?
For me, I enjoy remote control… stuff… and robots. Which got me into 3d printing (my first printer was a Frankensteinian inkjet cobbled together to spray resin on powder. Dad made the mistake of not asking what I wanted the inkjet for. Fun times.)
Metal detecting, provided it’s legal where you live.
I am ignorant about this, but have had thoughts about taking it up. Why would it be illegal?
Some countries with a wealth of antiquities (like Turkey) have tried to stop looting by banning metal detectors. It doesn’t work. Lots of ancient coins are being taken out of Turkey, despite the illegality.
In contrast, England allows detecting, but has strict laws on reporting if you find significant treasure. Their laws on the sale and ownership of the found treasure are also quite fair and reasonable.
<edit: a word>
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detectorists is a really wholesome show about this
Programming (python), making music/learning instruments and synths.
Music is a good one. Especially electronic instruments, mostly because you can play and record with headphones and it’s easy to get a lot of different sounds to play with.
Even electric guitars sounds great with amp plugins nowadays, so headphones work for that too.
Linux in general. I also enjoy playing sandbox games for fun.
Supermarionation, or puppeteering.
I can spend hours lying on a sofa, hurtling out of my body and settling into the mind of a rich and influential person, where I then enact cruel world policies to further my web of intrigue. After they fight me for control, I tend to fly back into my own body usually just before dinner.
