Hobbies/time killers that don't cost money?

You've gotten some excellent advice from these guys already. Another thing to consider is looking into any free or low-cost "community interest" classes that might be available. Sometimes they have 3- or 4-session classes that teach a certain type of cooking, for example. Those are cheap, a lot of fun, and a way to learn something new or try something you haven't done before.
 
If you have a camera, photography is a great way to relax! Whether it's landscapes, portraits, animals, or architecture you're interested in, photography is an excellent way to express one's artistic side and it can really take the mind away from everyday worries and problems. Over the past year or so, I taught myself closeup nature photography and I haven't found a hobby I love more (except maybe knife collecting :D). Not only does it relieve my stress, it has also allowed me to see the world in a very different way and find beauty in things most people would overlook.

For something less productive, you could try Sudoku puzzles. These are simple logic games and one of the biggest time wasters. :)
 
silvercall said:
IAnd like many have suggested, get involved with your community if you aren't already. I find that in helping others you maybe helping yourself without even realizing it.-Jay
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Exactly.
One good fringe benefit is that you never know where your next
" best friend in the world" is going to come from. Broadening your range puts you close to more people that you would never have met otherwise.
 
Maybe a little off the wall, but have you considered learning a new language?

Comprende vous?
Comprende espainsh?
Spreken de deutchse?
 
bob bowie said:
Also, it might be a good time to do various chores/fix-its(fixing creaking doors, etc....) .
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That's a good idea.

I've suffered from depression for years, and like you have done the alcohol thing and it doesn't help... there's nothing worse than waking up hungover and drepressed.

I've learned to look for new things when I'm feeling down. It may not cure depression and sometimes it doesn't help for long, but it does help for a little while... sometimes it helps just long enough to find something that will make you happy.

Reading always helps me. Or learning new things. I'm at the point in my life right now where I really don't know which way to go and I feel like I'm spiraling down to no end... so I've decided to do some researching on traditional archery and try my hand and making a bow capable of shooting arrows. I've always been interested, and I have nothing to lose... so why not? It's not gonna cost me anything, and I hope to learn something about myself through the process.

When you come to a point where there's nothing left to lose you've got a lot of options in front of you. Grab ahold of one of them and see where it takes you.

Of course, I'm probably not the person you want to listen to... the scars all over my arms will attest to the fact that I don't listen to my own advice.

If you ever want someone else to talk to, send me an email... sometimes I can be helpful, and I've been told that I'm a wonderful listener :)

Ben
 
When you interview for jobs, one question you may very well face is "so, what have you been doing since your last job?" "Just sort of hanging around," isn't a good answer. "I've been volunteering with a local charity," is. It shows initiative, a sense of the value of time, community involvement, and a value for others. So, get out there and find a church or charity where you can get involved.
 
My wife likes to crotchet - she learned it by purchasing a starter kit from Wally World a few years back. Now she's a regular pro. It's an easy way for her to create baby gifts for friends and coworkers, and inexpensive family gifts. All you need is yarn and patterns and the needle (a 1 time purchase for the needle!)

Her favorite pasttime is to sit on the couch, with her kitty curled up on her lap, crochetting while watching football (She loves football! I married a keeper, that's for sure!).

She wants to learn how to knit next, but has too many projects on hand to begin (a friend is having a baby, so she's finishing up a baby blanket, next she will be crotchetting a gift for my mom for Christmas; who knows what is after that)!

My favorite time-waster is typing different types of lanyards and fobs. I'm still learning, so I am not confident enough to post pics of what I've created here yet! ;)
 
I just wanted to say thanks for all the suggestions. :)

I am in my father's office right now; I am unable to use my home computer. You probably will not be hearing from me for a while, since I rarely come here, and I can't really go online at home anymore at the moment.

Thanks again for the ideas. I did read them all.

~ashes
 
Psychopomp, it sure sounds like good advice to me. Life is indeed a ride. It's up to each of us to make it an "A" ticket or "E" ticket ride.
 
collecting custom knives...oh sorry I did not see the word ..."don't"


seriously bicycle ( as in pedal bicycling)...its great. inexpensive and fun....
 
Take some time and start a family history. Put together a family tree and collect as much information about your family as you can. If you having living grandparents, sit down with them and a tape recorder and interview them. You will treasure those tapes forever, and when you have children and grandchildren of your own, they'll thank you for it.
 
Wow there are a lot of excellent ideas in here! Here are some things I do, as well as some things I'd like to do:

  • bicycling
  • jogging
  • take some college classes at a community college
  • take some free community classes
  • geocaching if you have a gps unit
  • hiking and walking nature trails
  • volunteering at a hospital
  • visiting nursing home residents
  • volunteering at a nature reserve
  • trying new places to eat
  • customizing/improving things you own
  • selling old stuff on ebay
  • going new places and making new friends
 
Snow said:
Wow there are a lot of excellent ideas in here! Here are some things I do, as well as some things I'd like to do:

  • bicycling
  • jogging
  • take some college classes at a community college
  • take some free community classes
  • geocaching if you have a gps unit
  • hiking and walking nature trails
  • volunteering at a hospital
  • visiting nursing home residents
  • volunteering at a nature reserve
  • trying new places to eat
  • customizing/improving things you own
  • selling old stuff on ebay
  • going new places and making new friends
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Snow, what's geocaching? :)
 
oz23 said:
Snow, what's geocaching? :)
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Well I've never done it due to my lack of time and GPS, but it's like a big treasure hunt. Basically, people hide things in caches all over the place and post the coordinates on the internet. Then you use your GPS device to get to the location and look for the cache. You can take whatever was in the cache as long as you leave something else behind. Kind of a cool hobby if you ask me.

http://www.geocaching.com/
 
Stress and worry always goes of with good exercise. The last three years I have been running marathons.

Sometimes worrying is unproductive, and exercise gets rid of the chemical worries in your body in a way nothing else can.

If your route is safe, sometimes you can think a bit as you run, and see things in a different or clearer way.

Also catch up with your friends and parents.

Doing some community or church-work also sounds like a great idea. You may also meet somebody there who might offer you a job or new relationship.

Also will look good on your CV, when you next interview, as gollnick said.
 
If you can,draw.If I get depressed I put on my headphones crank some fast loud music and just randomly sketch stuff.Sometimes I hike to a spot with a nice view and sketch there.I tried to sketch my horse but he keeps stealing all my stuff but dogs are a constant sourse of amusement and inspiration for drawing.Good luck anyhow.
Matt
 
Thanks Ashes for asking this. This thread really hit home for me. Sometimes I get depressed in the same sort of way. I can see that I have so much that I can do it's unreal. Sometimes in this day of technology and the internet I forget that I can go do other things. :)

I' think I'm going to start whilttling, drawing, and excersizing. I already read a little but not enough. :)

I also find spending time with my cats reduces stress too :)
 
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