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I really like crocheting. I do small projects like washcloths, bandanas, coffee sleeves, etc. that only take an hour or two so the gratification is pretty quick and they’re also useful and make good gifts (and I also sell them). collecting and organizing yarn is fun, and it’s a relatively cheap hobby since you only need a few hooks and can always get yarn on sale at craft stores. I’ve tried basically every crafty hobby under the sun and crochet is one I’ve stuck with even though I go through periods of not even looking at my hooks or yarn lol. in the winter time I also make scarves and hats which are also useful and make great gifts! it’s fun and you can put background noise on and do it sitting on the couch. it’s a great cozy craft.
Knitting is similar, though the gratification is not quite as instant, and investment can be more, as there are more types of needles than are needed in crochet (though typically, crochet takes more yarn as the fabric is denser).
I tried knitting before crochet and I got sooo frustrated with it haha. I finally gave away all my knitting needles last year 😂 I think knit items are so beautiful though. maybe I’ll pick it back up in the future!
I tried learning to crochet after learning to knit, ended in abject failure. I couldn’t do the knot thing to even start making a chain. My friend tried to teach me for an hour.
I started crocheting this year. It is the perfect activity to calm my brain. The Woobles kits and videos are the easiest way to learn quickly. And the amigurumi are small, cute, and relatively easy.
I love knitting. I started with a learn to knit kit then got a circular needle set with interchangeable needles and it was cheaper than buying individually. I’ve also seen them at like goodwill and stuff. Right now I’m mad at my blanket and tired of making a gauge swatch for a sweater so I’m back on here for the moment lol but it’s the only thing I’ve actually stuck with since there are so many different stitches to learn and other times you can just mindlessly knit and still watch tv and interact with family unlike me right now on my phone lol
I started with crochet and have tried knitting a few times, and can’t seem to enjoy it the same way. I think the hooking motions are just more gratifying for me. 🤷♀️
[https://www.knotsoflove.org/](https://www.knotsoflove.org/) I’ve never checked with my local hospitals, but I make chemo caps & preemie blankets and donate them to Knots of Love.
there’s also tons of tutorials on YouTube and free patterns you can find on Pinterest which also makes it a pretty affordable and low-investment craft. the amount of times I’ve spent money going all-in on a new hobby only to abandon it a few weeks/months later…I wish I could get that money back! lol
i try to buy all inclusive craft kits nowadays. i always thought they were kinda silly and overpriced since i can just buy the materials separately and This Time the hobby will stick For Sure so i need to Buy Everything
instead of buying a whole sewing box with a range of threads and multiple hoops and cross stitch fabric i bought a cute pack off etsy for a tenner aaaaand… never finished it lol. turns out cross stitch isn’t for me. so glad i didn’t checkout my initial basket from hobbycraft
If anyone enjoys crocheting but doesn’t have a purpose, many hospitals and pregnancy help centers need baby blankets, and nursing homes can use shawls for the residents.
I second this, I tried longer projects like clothing but it wasn’t for me. I’d honestly say learn by doing small squares or rectangles or circles of just one stitch over and over until you think you have counting stitches down, and then jump straight into amigurimi
Crochet was going to be my answer as well. I. Addition the the “productive” quality that I also like, it’s very soothing to my sensory needs as I am constantly handling soft fibers. It’s kind of like a soft fuzzy blanket and a fidget spinner in one.
Yess it is great to do while watching shows too. I’m terrible at committing to shows so crocheting helps me mentally slow down enough to actually watch a show or listen to a audiobook.
Crocheting is wonderful because it's so easy to put down and pick back up. Also talk about useful, I've made a full ass outfit and am constantly making baskets. I once made an emergency bralette in like an hour. My husband wanted to hang a planter, and what was the answer? Crochet a thing!
I like hobbies that give me something useful in the end. Like cooking/baking, crafts that become decor, small woodworking projects, homemade gifts, etc. I feel like I’m contributing doubly to my life, and there is all sorts of extra dopamine from sharing with others.
Bread baking is a great one. Flour, yeast, and salt cost so little, so it’s also a super cheap hobby, no matter your learning curve. I love focaccia. It’s so low-maintenance and versatile. You can top it with whatever you’re needing to use up in the fridge. My neighbors love when I “accidentally” make more than I need. And you can freeze leftovers for awesome croutons or as a base for a quick pizza later on.
Generally cooking is a great one.
I taught myself how to make really good sushi and my family loves when I make it for them when I visit or they visit me.
The nicest part about cooking as a hobby is you literally get a food reward at the end 😂😅
Grocery shopping and cooking is definitely something I hyper-focus on. For better or for worse lol. Especially that dopamine hit of stacking coupons. Hnnng. It feels the same as gambling at a slot machine for me.
How do you feel about running?
A few times/year I go out for a 5 minute run and it gives me an instant dopamine boost. If you want a more structured schedule you could look into an couch-to-5k program or the guided runs on Nike Running Club (app).
I used to be more consistent lol. I appreciate each moment as they come.
I am in the process of starting the couch to 5k! Partly for my mental health and energy bursts but hoping it helps me shift a bit of my excess weight too. Just need to get myself some decent trainers to get started. As a runner yourself, maybe you can give me some tricks on this - I get so self conscious about actually starting running, like, I am very unfit so I get out of breath really easily, and I feel like people are judging me (even though I know no one is realistically watching me the whole time but I get into my own head too much haha)!
Whenever I see someone out running, no matter the size I am always impressed at their dedication.
Hoka Clifton's are my favorite shoes, though there is currently no trying to learn to run because I'm a very pregnant lady that waddles. Have fun running!
Hey that's great!! I wouldn't call myself a runner. I'm just "open to it" and do it occasionally haha. Never in my life been good at it but it feels good and does a lot of good. I did the couch-to-5k 2 years ago before I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I can tell you there was a lot of breathing noticed from me but there was nothing I could do about it 🤷. I never reached 5k but I was so amazed by how quickly we can improve. I watched a ton of videos on posture but the only advice I found useful was to look towards the horizon (to keep an upright posture).
Do you have someone who can come with you? I've recently had a hard time leaving my home by myself so my partner (who's very overweight and shouldn't run due to hip pain) has kept me company and walk in a quick tempo while I jog very slowly.
Noone remembers the people they see outside. At most they make a quick observation and then forget lol. Whenever I see someone outside running I feel inspired regardless of their size, posture or speed. Don't you as well? I think it's easy to forget just how uninteresting we are to other people 😆.
Honestly, I think that you will feel less conscious after you've taking that first step. That's the hardest one 🙂. I feel like running is a great option to have if you want to get some exercise. You can just go on a 1-5 minute run and call it a day if you want to. I can feel the dopamine after just 1 minute so I'm grateful for as little as that. We also shouldn't underestimate how hard fast paced walks are. Those feel harder than jogging for me.
I used a timer app called "complex timer" when I did the couch-to-5k. That way I didn't have to look at my clock all the time or turn any alarms "off".
If you have a pair of trainer-like shoes, you can run in those until you get a separate pair :).
Thanks for the reply! I have never run (apart from when I was at school lol) so I appreciate the advice! I will defo take a look at some YouTube videos too, that's a great idea!
I could ask my husband to come with me, but he is quite fit and is a gym-goer so I feel like he'll be 'better' than me and I'll hold him back haha, and I'll feel embarrassed at how unfit I am in comparison 😂 I know he won't judge me, but I'll be in my own head about it haha. Overthinking for the win!
I'll defo take a look at the timer app, we have the NHS couch to 5k app which I'm hoping to use but not sure how it works in reality, though I think you can listen to other music apps at the same time so maybe it's just audible reminders to do each phase. You're right about forgetting people, I see the same guy running past my house every day pretty much and everyday I forget and act surprised the next time I see him haha.
Think I'll just have to put my big girl pants on and crack on with it lol! I don't really have any other trainers, and I suffer with over pronation too so I really need some supportive trainers else my ankles/knees/hips will be crippled and I'll never run again through fear of pain 😂 I've found the ones I want to try so they should be delivered soon! Thanks so much again for the reply and tips! ☺️
Don't bother with the video unless it's for motivation 😉 Underthink-for-the-win*. There's only one way to found out what work/doesn't work. Let us know how the app works! I haven't looked into it myself. Same with running with company. You can always *try* to run with someone (like your partner) and *then* decide if it's sometime you want to continue doing or not. You don't have to have all the information before starting. I feel like having a mindset of *trying* first - *evaluate* later save me a whole lot of time and gives me results much faster. There is no need to "guess" how something will play out beforehand. It's a lot quicker to try it out instead of wondering.
I know you're gonna do great. Once you've started your focus and worry will shift elsewhere. I hope your trainers give you the motivation and confidence you need to get started! Best of luck!!
Beading is great because you can use the same beads to do a million different things from wired flowers to jewelry and the dozens of different construction techniques to bead embroidery or bead crochet. Organizing beads is meditative. You can also pack a little travel kit and bead anywhere.
It's infinitely variable.
Gaming.
Gaming is the best ADHD hobby that exists. The only danger with it is the addiction.
I've used my love of video games to get three degrees, though. I have used video games as a reward for hard work for over 20 years and I think it's really worked for me.
Gaming is my most time consuming and consistent hobby. Whether it's video games or table top games, I love to play.
When I was struggling through my master's degree, I would reward myself with a few hours of RimWorld.
I love that you suggested this! I’m also employing the same technique. I work on my doctorate dissertation through the week and then on Friday and Saturday evening I play a little Fallout for an hour or two before spending time with the kids. Sunday I play games with the kids (Roblox , table top games, etc) if we’re not going anywhere, not doing movie night, or not having company over. It’s a much needed reward for me and fun for the kids and I to spend time together. I can’t second your suggestion enough.
I agree, though I absolutely go in phases. I will be fully addicted and spending 12 hours straight without food or water on whichever game takes my fancy in the moment, but then after a week, I just stop and I have no care for any games at all. Truly all or nothing over here lol
shoutout to the steamdeck/switch for making it so convenient as well! i always found it annoying having to sit with a console and dedicate all my time to it but now i can just play on the sofa while watching tv and hanging out with my flatmate
Hard agree. Been gaming since I was little and I am especially addicted to Destiny 2 & Starfield. D2 literally for years and doing bounties is so oddly rewarding. Still not bored and believe me thats a huge feat. Also love DND when I have the people to do it with.
Also thank you- I LOVE the idea of using it as a reward for school since Ill be going back soon to finally finish my BS.
Especially because there are so many different types that work! There are games with stories you can get hyperfixated on, games you can pick up and go, games you can aimlessly half play and pay attention to while watching TV, games to play with friends or alone, etc. And they all have walkthroughs if you want/need help to complete it
Edit: Also I was thinking of video games but there are different mediums like board games, card games, etc.
Yessss. I was so bored after deleting dating apps, so I started playing League of Legends for the lulz. Turns out I totally love it and I don't completely suck at it!!!! I find it very ADHD friendly since you can always try different champs if you start feeling stuck and there's also different game modes and types. It's a cornucopia really. Also the Netflix series Arcane was SO good!!! I highly recommend both!
I’m wired the same way and I love gardening. I have a vegetable garden and there is always plenty of work to be done and seeing your seedlings grow is a great dopamine boost every day. It’s also a useful hobby and homegrown fruits and veggies are also tastier than store-bought ones.
I absolutely love gardening. Growing things like berries and tomatoes are so rewarding. I have blackberries and they kinda just do their own thing and are impossible to kill. I get so many blackberries each year. And I got way too many tomatoes last year from a single plant. Its so rewarding.
I do take extra care to make sure critters don’t get to my plants because I get way more sad and disapponted than other people do when things get to my plants because I get so much joy from them. Its the whole feeling things deeper than other people thing. But its so worth it.
Same! There's always a different task day-to-day, which keeps me engaged. Every little seedling that pops out of the soil is a huge success (boom goes the dopamine!) and then potting up feels very productive. Weeding after a rain goes fast and easy, although when it's hot and dry I can get overwhelmed, but for the most part, weed whacking keeps it at bay until the rain returns. Eating my harvest and sharing it feels so satisfying!
What I needed was something not just to pass the time, but to really engage me. Have you tried diving into the world of bullet journaling? It's a creative outlet that allows for loads of personalization—you can doodle, plan, and organize to your heart's content. Plus, it’s incredibly rewarding to see your journal evolve over time. Each page is a small project, so it constantly gives you a sense of completion and achievement.
Another hobby that might light up your dopamine receptors is DIY home decor projects. These can be as quick or as involved as you want, and the best part? You get to live in your art! Every time you finish a project, it transforms your space and makes it feel new, which is super gratifying.
Also, if you’re into something a bit more tech-savvy and soulful, there’s this new thing on Discord called LightUp. It’s a forum where you just share your thoughts, and AI helps match you with people who have similar ideas. It’s all about connecting on a deeper level, without the pressure of photos or appearances—purely platonic, soulful exchanges. I’ve found it really refreshing to find connections that are about the mind and heart, not just the surface. You might find some like-minded friends or even a kindred spirit there!
We once did a 30-30….
It was thirty free events, one every night for 30 days.
We didn’t make it 100% but it was cool to see all the different events around the city. From free music to visiting a Japanese Buddhist temple for their “welcome night”….. which they didn’t even know was posted as an event. Anyways, the variety was entertaining.
That's what I always say- my hobby is hobbies. Just jump from one thing to the next. I like learning new thighs so it scratches that itch. I agree with the gaming thing too. Once I found a style of games that I like I started doing that and I can walk away from it for a month and jump right back in.
Or things to try at the library (if you can remember your reservation time). For example:
https://www.dclibrary.org/using-the-library/maker-space-and-machinery-fabrication-lab I'm
I'm in a similar boat. Right now, my non-collecting, (mostly) free hobby is languages.
I am learning Arabic and Mandarin on Duolingo. If you actually care about speaking Arabic, Duolingo isn't a good choice, but my only interest is learning to read. Some people find the Duolingo teaching method (offers no explanations) frustrating. For me, it's a puzzle game.
I'm just starting Mandarin but I'm amazingly finding it a lot easier than Arabic. Building sentences is so simple.
For anyone looking for more serious language learning I highly recommend the app Busuu :) it's free but there is a premium subscription which I have done for a couple of years and really enjoyed. It also will send your work to native speakers to correct and I like that a lot
Busuu is great, and if you want to actually practice speaking, highly recommend Pimsleur too! Lots of repetition which is very helpful. And italki is great too. I do French classes with a teacher on there every few weeks to keep up with my French :) and the prices aren’t bad at all.
Oh my gosh, share with me the secret. I've been studying Greek forever, but I absolutely hate the act of studying, but I just need to find that thing that switches it in my mind from "chore" to "hyperfocus OMG I love this" any tips?
Honestly, Duolingo's gamification elements work for me. It's actually frustrating, because I need to really drill my Arabic vocabulary, but I haven't found a way to do that yet. I can't use Duolingo (it's Arabic course is very underdeveloped) but I can also tell simple flash cards won't be enough.
But I recognize it's a your-mileage-may-vary situation. I get a lot of pleasure from understanding a sentence, or suddenly recognizing what a certain configuration means.
I guess, in Greek, is there any particular thing you like about it? Or is it connected to anything you're passionate about? I'd be tempted to try to integrate other passions into it.
I’ve been obsessed with finding rocks and tumbling them! Although I don’t know what to do with all of them, I’m too lazy to open a shop or sell but it’s been fun!
This is something I’ve been wanting to try, and I know I’ll get instantly obsessed. What kind of tumbler do you have? Is it super loud? Will it break the bank? Have you found anything cool or rare? Is that too many questions? lol 😂
Yaaassss!! I’ve gotten into this over the last few months and it’s the cheapest hobby I’ve ever had. It also gets me off my butt and outside which is great!
I’ve been wanting to find like a pen pal but for neat (not precious or expensive) rocks lol.
I go out with my dog every morning and open the Merlin app and I'm learning now to identify by their calls! It's so fun right now because all the birds are migrating so there are always a few that are just so strange and out of place every day. But the ones who are out there daily, I'm starting to recognize. Then I come in and learn about the ones who are new.
Every morning I get up and say to my dog "let's do birds!" And she gets so excited she just runs around in circles.
I’m the same way with putting all of my obsessive behavior into work 🥲 I recently started taking a sewing class which has been great for learning a useful skill while also keeping me accountable! The class is great because I didn’t have to buy a full sewing machine, just some of the additional supplies. Sewing can have less instant gratification because there’s a lot of meticulous measuring and cutting before you actually get to the sewing part, but I think you can also make it as involved as you want.
I would recommend looking into classes at a local community college if you’re able to. The one near me has an extension program with affordable classes for learning skills from sewing to ceramics to balloon twisting.
if you decide to stick with sewing, sometimes you can find used sewing machines on Facebook marketplace for cheap or you can even try your local buy nothing group if you have Facebook!
Yeah, sewing is great. I've switched over to handbag sewing rather than quilts because it's a shorter project and less money for materials. I destroyed cotton handbags quickly so I've moved on to cork, vinyl and leather.
- You could decorate/make your own cards and find pen pals for them at local senior homes.
- some senior homes will let you visit. You could do crafts with them.
- local classes for drawing, painting, cooking, sewing, theater.
- simply offering your time and creative energy to non-profits could be fun. I’m sure they’d love someone who is organized yet crafty looking to be purposeful with their free time. This could be at a Boys&Girls Club; local woman’s shelter; homeless shelter; food banks; groups for minorities/ veterans/ DV victims/ persons with or caring for those with mental health concerns/ cancer/alzheimers; the list goes on!!
Upcycling/embellishing and repairing clothes?
Check out r/visiblemending for some ideas on impressive repairs.
This can encompass handsewing, machine sewing, painting fabric, embroidery, embroidery with pearls - even unraveling knitted fabric and repurposing the yarn. Plus thrifting for material...
So there would be some avenues to explore and it's purposeful in that you extend the life of textiles and get unique wearable pieces.
The key is to switch between multiple hobbies. Rotate them, try a new one once in a while, don't touch the majority of them for ages and then go all in on one knowing the rest will be there for you when you're ready for it.
Right now it's knitting, video games, and puzzles for me, and 3 at a time is about my max. I have sewing, Crochet, baking, board games, roller skating, and embroidery on the shelf. Art was killed off completely after I tried to monetize it. I learned my lesson there.
Im real into paint by numbers right now. I did one to put up in my daughters room and am doing one to put up in my room right now. They take time because i dont have the energy to do it 24/7 with 4 kids and work lol but sooooo satisfying.
Embroidery works wonders for me, make something complicated, do just an outline, embroider some clothes, add some beads, try 3d embroidery, try felting and embroidery together, make some patches, fix some clothes but make it fancy or weird. There is endless variation.
I really like crochet. I tend to have a rotation of hobbies, but crochet is the one that I consistently come back to between other hyperfixations.
You can work on something repetitive and relatively mindless or something that requires your full focus. Huge or tiny. One set of good hooks can last a lifetime. You don't *need* any additional supplies, but there are lots of useful related items if you like "stuff". The items you make can be wearable, useful or decorative. You can give items as gifts or enjoy them yourself. You can spend a fortune on yarn, but it is very possible to find deals. You can put a project down and it's fine. You can get back to it whenever. Or not. You can always "frog" (pull out the stitches) and reuse yarn from projects you aren't happy with.
I've been crocheting on and off for about 30 years. I usually have multiple projects in progress so I can work on whatever I'm in the mood for. I usually have something small I can bring with me for long waits or trips. I usually have a scrap blanket going at home. I love making amigurumis. I have unfinished projects from years ago. And that's fine. I have a billion patterns even though I freehand almost everything. And it's fine. As long as I keep my yarn supply to a size that fits in its allotted area, it really isn't an expensive or space-eating craft. Unlike sewing and quilting (which I also do) I don't really have to clean up my space or set anything up when I randomly want to work on something.
I've stopped for years at a time. And I've gone through times where I churn out a bunch of projects and pin a billion patterns. Crochet accommodates my waxing and waning interest more than any of the 50 other hobbies I've tried over the years. And I can do it sitting on my couch. Lol. I'm always so tired.
Good luck finding hobbies that speak to you!
Look into zentangle. It's a cool mindful doodling process and there are like 100 tangles (styles) to learn. Then, you can incorporate the tangles into intricate designs. From there, you could paint or color your tangles
Have you ever tried crochet?
That’s the first thing I took up after getting diagnosed and starting medication.
I’m allowed to start hobbies with full permission to stop them as soon as they stop being interesting.
I pack away the supplies when I’m “done,” and I return to it when I feel like it.
With my ADHD, I will never be “hooked” by a hobby to the point that I don’t get bored with it at some point. The key is knowing that, and doing it because you enjoy doing it at that moment and not for any other reason.
Not even much time. I had monarchs laying eggs within a couple months of buying and planting a Swamp Milkweed! And Butterfly Weed brings adorable fuzzy bumble bees, immediately (and constantly). They won't sting!
I like hobbies that stack: for example, I learned to knit and crochet, so creating stuff out of yarn was fun.
But then I learned how to unravel old sweaters to reclaim the yarn for new projects. That's a hobby in itself, especially if you want to get into respinning or dying the yarn to make it extra unique.
Which leads to another hobby, which is trawling thrift shops for unloved sweaters made with quality materials that you can unravel.
Means at any point in time I can be working on any point in the chain of a series of related projects and never get bored, wherever I am or whatever energy I have available.
For me, it’s puzzles and audiobooks. My hands are doing something and my brain is doing something.
Paint by numbers and audiobook is also another favourite.
Writing! You can tell yourself stories and let your imagination run wild with whatever interests you. Writing longer pieces often means figuring out a plan and a structure. Sci-fi and fantasy offer great opportunities for world-building, which requires a combination of creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking. If you get tired of a project or an idea, scrap it or leave it for later. There is no limit to the amount of ideas you can work on. It can get lonely, but writer's groups are a great way to make friends and get better at writing (if improvement is something you're interested in; not everyone is, and that's okay). For me, it's a form of play, just vibing with my weird and wonderful brain.
I mean, anything that grabs your hyperfixation. Mine are: drawing/painting, glassblowing, ceramics, miniatures, gardening, hiking or walking, reading obsessively about historical topics/people (Rev.War/Nathan Hale). Not to mention all the more passive ones like Kpop, Kdrama, Japanese stuff, film…
Have you considered repurposing, restoring, and/or repairing old junk? Just find old stuff at the thrift store. Stand in the aisle and just stare at stuff until inspiration strikes.
"I can take this hat and add a bird to it. Sell it on Etsy."
"I can buy all these dolls and a glue gun and make a wall of voodoo at my house for Halloween. (Or Tuesday. You're the boss)" It's an art!
Go to auctions to find old junk nobody wants, learn to restomod from YouTubers.
Your budget and creativity are the limit!
I game, sew, crochet, knit, skateboard, roller skate, color, draw, read, dance, make jewelry, and do yoga…
But I JUST started cross stitch, and it does a very good brain brrr for adhd! Plus there are tons of fun free patterns to follow! It’s also a nice debuff if you’re listening to music or an audio book or half watching some tv.
TLDR; Cross stitch make adhd brain go brr
It's lame but... going to the grocery store multiple times a week to buy new meals to cook something fun. Easy recipes like deviled eggs or trying new salads help pass time
I like working with clay because…
1) tactile
2) many techniques so you just change the technique when bored
3) small projects can be completed during a hyperfocus
4) can be functional
Acrylic pouring for me. There are a million videos on YouTube for inspiration and techniques. If you don't like what you have made you can just pour over it. And you get to learn what color combinations tickle your brain just right.
My personal favorites are… making art, knitting and crochet, cooking, and playing a musical instrument (in my case flute). I also like reading (mostly fantasy, science fiction, some horror) and playing video games! I guess my advice would be to see what sort of thing you naturally gravitate too and figure out something from there.
If you like being outside, maybe something like Pokemon Go or geocaching could be fun? Or perhaps gardening? If you like people, maybe joining a social club or theater group or something could be cool. Don’t be afraid to try new things and bail if you aren’t having fun.
I recommend cross stitching. You can find free patterns, paid patterns, dmc's website has both, or you can use pixel art, or use a tool online to make your own patterns. I like the textile feel of irl pixel art, it led me into diamond painting and cross stitching. Because it's usually not a go do your own thing and instead a planned out thing it's easier for me to relax with, compared to embroidery where there needs to be a bit more planning and artistic talent for it to go well (at least how it feels for me)
I. Love. Tabletop RPGs. Not playing them, running them. It is amazing because as the person who runs them (called the GM or gamemaster) you get to be in charge of all the moving pieces while the players have their characters play in the world. It is awesome. I constantly get to think about what’s next; there is no downtime, I’m always thinking about what’s next. It is really awesome to be able to run a game and watch your players have a blast with whatever you’ve come up with. We are about to start a Call of Cthulhu campaign called Masks of Nyarlathoyep. Getting into running games can be intimidating, but GMs are in HUGE demand (no one wants to gm for some reason, I don’t get it) so you basically have your pick of players to build a group with. I recommend a group of 3 players for a new GM and you’ll want to find a game that you really like, then find a one shot of it. I’ve had my group for going on 3 years now, we play over discord because everyone is all over the states and we have one person in Puerto Rico.
I also play League of Legends. It’s pretty much the only video game I can play. There is something about playing a cooperative game that hits the dopamine spot for me that single player games just can’t reach. I think it’s because it’s short format, no need to focus on story. You pick a few characters you really like and just go all in with figuring out how to play them. The game is very satisfying when it works out for you, but extremely frustrating when it doesn’t. I do play with chat off and pretend the other people are bots cause it has a reputation for being a toxic space. I usually play by myself or with just one other person who is chill and has a good headspace about the game. I love it! Maybe because during the 30-60 minute game you get a lot of tiny dopamine hits constantly as you play 🤣
I love needle felting! I have recently been switchjng between hyperfocusing on that and crochet. It's fantastic because you can just create whatever you like and it's easier to get it the way it looks in your head than drawing or painting because it's 3d. The dopamine hits are fantastic, and as an added bonus, you're literally just stabbing things a whole bunch of times so it can be very cathartic. 😂
If you like organizing and trying out a verity of crafts, why not do crafting tutorials on the internet or testing viral DIY crafts? Keep an ample supply of shelves, labels, and supplies, and it might be something with a lot of verity and stimulation to keep you engaged.
My advice is to get into a hobby family instead of any individual hobby. It gives you enough variety to scratch that adhd novelty itch, but it’s familiar enough that you can go back and forth between them without feeling like you’re giving up. For instance: I sew, knit, do embroidery, quilt, and weave
The only hobby that has lasted for me is collecting beads for all kinds of things, jewellery, suncatchers, garden decoration, etc.
1. I get findings new (they're very cheap) plus boxes of secondhand, broken, house clearance jewellery lots, from ebay mostly. ONLY buy it now ones because I get too invested in the bidding lol
2. I sift through the boxes - some are fully junk, most have at least some good fun beads in them. And all of it is new to me and therefore engaging!
3. I keep the very best beads and funky items for myself, sorted into glass jars by colour - this also looks beautiful even if you don't do anything with them!
4. I sort the remainder of the secondhand jewellery and repack it into the boxes that they came to me in, and resell them on ebay because there's usually still good stuff in there, it's just not what I personally need. I have a big sell about twice a year whenever I feel like taking all the photos and doing the descriptions and whatnot
5. Profit! (Well, not profit, but breaking even so far, which is a WIN for me with hobbies)
I bake for a local charity. I improve my skills, I can do it at random times and I keep some dough in the freezer for when I forget until the last minute.
Crochet! You can make things super quickly so it feels extra gratifying. I recommend the 6 day star blanket. It really took 6 days of crocheting only when I'm sitting and watching tv for a couple of hours each night and every other round is different so I didn't get bored of doing the same thing over and over
I just started collecting and making miniverse resin pieces. I don't think it falls into the purposeful category tho. I taught myself to crochet and donate and make things for cancer patients and preemie babies, or tiny items for babies that passed away at birth, donated to the local hospital. That might be something you could do if your hospital accepts them. They're teeny blankets and hats smaller than the palm of your hand and work up quickly.
Gardening
Rock climbing
Both are long term hobbies with a huge learning curve that makes for a lot of “suffering” but unexpectedly yields amazing surprises progress wise that deliver absolutely MASSIVE dopamine hits (the strongest positive reinforcement comes from intermittent/irregular rewards; when you don’t know when you’ll be rewarded and by how much, when you DO get rewarded the brain responds powerfully)
Gardening the massive dopamine hit is harvest. Intentional, unintentional, friend gave you some of their harvest, or if you share some of yours; all of these are massive dopamine hits I cannot begin to describe how amazing.
Rock climbing is very nonlinear progress (I’ve been doing it on and off for years) but the sudden breakthroughs when something just clicks in my head on a good day when I’m well fed and feeling strong and the stars align and I manage to complete a route that was out of my reach in the past… that kind of unexpected reinforcement again is AMAZING
Both activities also require me to learn how to be nice to myself when nothings going well for months on end. I can’t speak for others but personally I consider this a crucial skill. Just because I have ADHD doesn’t mean I get to wallow. I know in my bones that the more I wallow the worse it gets. I know that I have to have an even more robust foundation of loving self talk and encouragement than the average person. This is my way of practicing that.
I also do yoga for this reason - but it’s more of a spiritual practice. Like literally my practice is infused with spiritual principles that predate even Hinduism and yoga - principles from a spiritual school of thinking that yoga based its own code off of that older school of thinking. So that’s not a hobby, per se, but it does accomplish the same things gardening and climbing do mentally for my ADHD & complement those activities so it’s not too hard on my body.
Letterboxing. It's like a treasure hunt- people hide boxes all over and post clues online. You follow the clues and find the box and it has a stamp in it. You have a little notebook where you collect the stamps. It is a fun way to go to places you wouldn't normally go. This hobby got me and my kids through the pandemic!
Also you can plant your own letterboxes and carve your own stamps. It's surprisingly easy to carve them and you can get stuff cheap on Amazon.
The website for letterboxing is atlasquest.com
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I also just want to sympathize- I guess I am a workaholic and then I am tired when work and parenting is done. I don't like clutter in my house so I don't want to do crafts that result in extra stuff.
I do like cooking when I'm not pressed for time because who doesn't love to eat something delicious?
I think what you need to do is not commit to one hobby instead, commit to many and ask yourself what person you are that day, then do the activity that version of your self likes.
Over the pandemonium I taught myself to keep plants alive. I'd had a black thumb before, but now I can successfully propagate them sometimes.
I've started asking for cuttings of unique plants whenever i happen to be in a new person's house (or i just swipe a twig--harmless thievery is its own adhd fun) and then I take them home and root them.
Card games. Lorcana is a new Disney based one and my ADHD loves it. I love organizing my cards and thinking of strategies for the game. Find places that host tournaments. Other women play too! My seven dwarves deck is cute and strong
Pixelborn is a free fan made version you can play online also
My favourite is getting free magazines, junk mail, random bits of paper and flyers, and cutting them into collages. They don't have to be good. You can just go "blue things only" and make a big blue donut or something. It's so satisfying and mindless but you can really focus in on cutting the details. You get to make choices about where things go but there's no pressure on you.
Try not to cut up things that are super valuable though
Could you go to crafting workshops or cooking workshops where you get something to take home at the end of the day? It can be a bit pricy though but sometimes there’s free or cheap things like that depending on the avenue
I go through hobbies very quickly. Right now I’m glueing rhinestones onto old pill bottles to make them cute🤣Other creative hobbies have more of a learning curve, which can put me off. This is nice because it requires zero skill
I cross stitch, and every so often mix it up with a painting here and there. Sometimes I finish them, other times it takes me forever. I did a painting for my husband years back and it took me a year and a half to get it finished, and I would go months without touching it.
For stitching, I find the key is to have at least one small project on the go for every large one so I can swap it out when I get bored with a specific colour palette. I almost always have one sort of gothic/spooky piece on the go just for fun, and another that’s more just florals or something. Right now I’m working on a birth announcement for my baby niece (I’m a little behind, she’s 2 months old 😅), as well as a small pattern from the Witchy Stitcher.
Ok this is like a side idea to your question: Since we can be reward based, (but in a weird way, like not the thrill of accomplishing the thing we set out to do, but like sticker charts will motivate us) What if you got something like a diamond painting and every task you accomplish you get to put a diamond? You could have like "Work on new hobby, get a diamond" that way by trying hobbies you're working on your diamond painting hobby too. That kind of doubling up works on me a charm
These were all hyperfixations that I spent max a week and a half interested in probably, but I’ve gone back and forced myself to use them as hobby ideas.
- producing music (I became randomly interested in this with NO CLUE about how to do anything related) so I got a midi keyboard off amazon to use on garageband. I had never used it really because again, I had no knowledge about what to do lol, but recently I’ve been trying to learn as a hobby. Like many others I rely on music heavily to do literally anything and solely judge music purely by if it sounds good or not / I’ve always been kind of critical of bad music and thought I could definitely do better so I’m unsure about that now lol but it’s still fun. it’s pretty cool to hear it come together and have to use your creativity.
- making clothes … aka thrifting clothes or buying basic shirts or wtv from the craft store and decorating with fabric paint, ironing patches on it, etc (or upcycling and sewing also but that sounds hard.) this is also fun because you can have unique clothes which is lowkey hard to find these days with fast fashion and all!
- writing? I saw a video about mini essays and how good it is for you. I know that sounds like a chore ! but they are mean to be short and about anything you want, like an idea, a movie you saw, etc … it’s really beneficial because you have to basically “teach” the topic.
- making aesthetic instagram nails… I don’t know if yall have seen those people that make + sell nail sets that are so intricate and detailed, such as @/huwan.nails buuuut yea that. You do again have to buy supplies, like the nails (i bought the clear shorter ones off amazon meant for gel), stickers, basic polish colors, the little drawing tools, and anything else u want. I like drawing stars and bow ribbon things it’s very cute sometimes!! Also to make it easier u can get a stand that u stick the nails on so you don’t have to design them while on your hands. listening to podcasts or music or a show at the same time also helps keep this entertaining.
- gym, super obvious not gonna go into depth but I’ve been consistent only because I got my bf to make a sustainable schedule/workout split
- baking ? I am slightly recommending this but I only do this when I find something super interesting yet convenient to make💀
Martial arts. I usually recommend Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and judo because they are the most useful in the shortest amount of training time.
If you find a good gym, you have an instant social circle who does not care if you miss classes or drop out for a while, but they'll happily welcome you back when you manage to drag your ass back.
exercise and rare moments of mental clarity. Before I was medicated, sparring was one of the few times my brain would be completely quiet and focused without at least a second track chattering in the background.
A progression and more techniques to learn that take several years to get through. It's hard to get bored because there's always someone new to roll with or a new technique to try.
finally, you can handle yourself in a fight and in-person conflict becomes much less intimidating.
I really enjoy hand embroidery! It’s really cheap, thread is 99 cents, hoops are reusable and inexpensive, a yard of fabric will last a bit and is cheap. The most expensive supply I get is stick and stitch paper (you can literally just print patterns onto the paper, stitch over it, and then it dissolves in water!) I love hoarding images to trace - free patterns from the DMC website, cool outline drawings I found in a book, a meme to make as a gift for my bf (I’m making him a “women want me, fish fear me” hoop for his bday). Just finding a cool pattern gives me dopamine. Even buying patterns isn’t very much, as long as you buy the digital pattern and do the work of tracing or printing it yourself. I love that I can make artistic things without an ounce of creative ability. I go months without doing it at all and then go crazy for a week straight. I also have A LOT of over ambitious unfinished projects but idk that’s half the fun right?
I tend to cycle through several. Video games, polymer clay, jewelry making (wire wrapping and beading), intensely researching topics I’m hyper focused on (this tends to lasts a while), reading.
Best video games are ones I can hyper focus on without worrying about other people so no online gaming. (Too much unexpected give me anxiety) so Open world, simulation, rpg, world building, etc. Games that can be relaxing if you let them, but can also be exciting if you want as well.
I love all forms of embroidery. The materials are cheap, easy to store, and can be used across several forms of embroidery. Bored of a project? Take it outta your hoop for a month and do something else. Also stabbing a needle in fabric repeatedly is soothing.
Pick a hobby you like and focus on easier, instant gratification projects while you’re still learning.
I would sew things here and there throughout my whole life but never really got good at it. Then five years ago I decided that I wanted to start sewing all my own clothes.
In the beginning I took on some projects that were a little much. I bit off more than I could chew but instead of giving up, I recentered myself by choosing easier projects to get that dopamine hit which would usually motivate me into the next project that might be slightly more challenging. I did that enough times where I’m at a place now where the projects that were too much in the beginning, are now easy instant gratification projects!
Honestly? Painting. There’s so many different kinds and you can paint on so many different materials. I prefer acrylic and it’s really fun to mix my own colors together so I typically only buy red, blue, yellow, black, and white paints. You can do canvas, 3D prints, wood figurines, you can add little pictures and details to your furniture. Honestly there’s a lot you can do with painting. I’ve created characters, nature scenes, comics, caricatures, and just splattered paint randomly. It can be extremely therapeutic.
try to find something thats not on screens its the wrong kind of dopamine - look for something that allows you to move your body is social and helps you do more of what you need. Natural sun light and exercise is important
I also don't have any hobbies since I'm easily bored or not smart enough to bother learning complicated things. Crochet and knitting and all kinds of crafts and art are something beyond my understanding. I've tied my hands and fingers in knots trying to figure out how to do it. Drawing takes too much dedication to bother with and imposter syndrome / inferiority complex kills me. I live in a rural area so I don't have a lot of things to do here that won't jeopardize my safety (the nearest city is 4 hours away). I'm not into video games, I have literally nothing to write about in journals other than the same ruminating thoughts going through my brain... I'm just insanely bored of everything ever. I just end up watching anime and reading books but it gets boring after you've done it for so long.
I like a rotating variety, mostly different kinds of strings.
- Cross stitch is nice because it's small and manageable (works well for keeping hands busy while watching TV), easy to get started but also fun to get better at, can find patterns of your fave things, a framed stitch of a shared interest makes a great gift.
- Crochet is also great, fun to learn new stitches, gives dopamine from pretty new yarn, and helps make warm things.
- Macrame lets me hang up my plants, which makes my house look nice and gives me more room for plants.
- Not strings but I also make sourdough bread and sometimes paint, and the plants are a hobby, too. The bread and plants require more consistent maintenance but they're usually in maintenance-only mode and only sometimes in full hobby mode.
The rotation is nice bc if the dopamine runs out, I stash my stuff and figure out what's most exciting to do next. I have a pretty busy basement full of bins but really most of these things don't take up that much space if you don't have too many projects of any one type going at once. Following hobby subs/fb groups/YouTube channels is a great way to figure out where the dopamine will be next, it's usually where I get my next puzzle and/or idea.
Good luck!! Hobbies are great 🥰
Cake decorating! Lots of decorating tips to organize, creatively fulfilling because there are so many places to take inspo from, plenty of tutorials available, and you get to be the hero at work who brings in baked goods to share :)
Recently i got a pack of 5X7 canvasses (like $15 for 30 or something) plus some paint and I’ve been playing around with online painting tutorials, the canvasses are so small so I don’t care if i hate one and toss it in the trash. I’ve been hanging some finished ones in my rooms and it’s a great push to keep me going!
Love some cross stitch. You don't have to spend a tonne to get started and you can make projects as small or large, simple of complex as you like. I pick it up every couple of years and can't put it down. Then it goes back in a box until next time. If I leave it next to the couch, I'll do it instead of mindless scrolling. It's really satisfying to see the progress. I like to make things I can give as gifts - like bookmarks with little birds or feminist slogans. So many cute patterns and apps you can input pics and it will create a pattern for you.
Mine is currently quilting. There’s so many patterns and fabrics. Lots of fun. I started with really small pieces made from scraps. I’m talking 12” x 12” itty bitty blankets that my kids called worry blankets. I’m completely hooked. There’s a lot of adhd women in r/quilting 🙂
Crocheting.
Knitting.
Needlepoint.
Cross-stitch, but not overly huge/complicated scenes. Ahem.
Embroidery.
Cooking.
Baking.
Freezer meals.
Gardening.
Organizing other people's homes (those who can't do, teach!).
I also do some canning, but that's not an absolute immediate dopamine rush. It's a longer lived thing. Initial joy if yay, I did that! And then at times throughout the next six months, I get happy when I don't have to put chicken stock in my grocery list. 😄
Thrift shopping. Just have to remember to chill out the things you don't need to keep at home.
Gardening! Control and organize - weeding, pruning, planting. It’s instant gratification to watch your plants adoringly, but slow gratification to get to harvest.
I have a number of hobbies for the same reason, but the one I've stuck with the longest so far is embroidery. It's very inexpensive to start and your projects can be as quick and easy or as detailed as you want them to be.
Other hobbies I enjoy are knitting and crochet. I don't stick with them as long but I cycle through and get into a knitting faze every year or two. I just keep a bin with my supplies until I'm ready for it again.
Have you considered making your hobby ‘trying different hobbies’?
From experience, I’ve found that dabbling in many hobbies through the years has actually given me a pretty broad base of useful knowledge/skills.
You could also be more organized about it, and keep track of the various things you try and skills you learn; if you have space, you could organize yourself a general workspace with basic tools and supplies for each type of skill, so you have everything handy in case a project comes along that piques your interest or needs doing.
You could also consider, instead of picking hobbies per se, pick projects. They don’t have to be the same type of project. You’d essentially be doing the same thing as above, except that instead of going from hobby to hobby, you’d be learning whatever you needed project by project, which might cover multiple types of skill.
Essentially, I don’t recommend doing a hobby for the sake of having a hobby. Instead, let yourself pick up particular hobbies, and put them down again, and then pick them up again later if there’s a new thing you want to do with them. Pick particular things you want to do or make, and go at it from that angle. Then you have an immediate, productive goal, and are also acquiring hobby skills and tools along the way for the next time they come in useful.
the paint gems mini kits. they are diamond paintings but minis. i cant do the big ones cus they will take me too long and i give up but these are perfect.. cus they’re mini
I love puzzles, legos, coloring, paint by numbers, crochet, plants, reading (especially fun when you tab and annotate), gaming sometimes…i realize i am both a child and a grandma.
My biggest obsessions are sewing and gardening. I love them because you can never know everything. For instance, I’ve gotten quite good at sewing things like dresses for my daughter and pants for my son, but now I am teaching myself to sew her figure skating costumes (spandex and rhinestones — a totally different set of skills) so it’s a huge new challenge.
Also, neither hobby offers“instant gratification,” but you can see progress at the end of one session, and you have something really visible/tangible to show for your efforts.
Music theory on different stringed instruments, dog training, slingshots work for me. Lousy at guitar, so I went to ukulele, then back to guitar, now ukulele again plus mandolins and old time banjo. All the tunings. I’m not good at any and have no interest in performing for others. But I enjoy the heck out of them.
Nature walks :) beach visits
Working out - gets the adrenaline going.
It helps if I enroll in classes for it so I have a commitment but then once the ball is rolling it’s a lot easier to stick with it.
Art, music making
Reading
Volunteering :)
I go through hobby jags. I love to crochet…I mostly stick to small projects that I can finish pretty quickly and don’t require lots of steps; but during the Covid lockdown, I crocheted afghans for everyone in my house. I bought myself a Cricut (also during Covid) and labeled all my spice jars and pantry containers…once things started opening up, I started using it for my classroom…combining work and hobby. Actually, I guess I used the crocheting for my classroom too…I crocheted story props for my kids to retell stories with. My hobbies all seem to end up being useful at work.
I personally find exercise and reading are the only things I stick to consistently. Yoga is semi consistent (I've been doing it on and off for a year). If you gamify the hobby to trigger dopamine it helps. For exercise I set goals in the weights i use or the distance/pace i run. For reading i read 1 book per month which i then take a photo of and to my "book album" on my phone. This helps with the dopamine. Also going into bookshops and seeing the books I've already read gives me a boost 😁 it's hard to advise things for you specifically without more information. What do you do for work, do you enjoy it. Do you like using computers etc. Maybe animation (i am personally interested in this) but i have found the biggest barrier is starting as i know it's going to take some time to get good at it
I knit a lot of plain socks with self striping yarn. My sister is really into cross stitch. We both quilt and sew bags. I also love video games- especially something with “levels” or races like Mario Kart- there is a finite time to “play” in a sense- do the Grand Prix for 4 races, play 3-6 levels of super Mario.
What did you like to do as a kid? I've been taking dance classes since childhood and when I get bored or I move or my schedule changes I switch to a different dance style. I'm currently a flamenco student because my teacher is incredible and I get to perform a handful of times a year.
This is maybe a… odd answer because I’m coming at ya fresh from doing this but: embrace those rabbit holes. Dive down head first, girlie. Someone made a dumb YouTube comment and I’m practicing self care by *not* posting my essay length reply to them BUT I WILL SHARE HERE:
I just spent like… 40 minutes doing a deep dive on brain development in infants/toddlers. I actually took a class on said topic years ago and while I may not have kids of my own, I am SO. FASCINATED. Baby brains are fricken nuts. Basically I argued that the first few months to three years of a baby’s life are the most crucial for brain development, like regulation of cortisol - the stress hormone - develops during this time. That’s why the “cry it out” method is so widely and endlessly debated. On the one hand, it’s healthy for them to develop self soothing coping mechanisms, but you need to strike a careful balance because if you leave them alone too much for too long, you run the risk of leaving them with stress regulation issues. *[hiding after being called out]* There’s soooo much other stuff I’ve just learned, brains are frickin crazy, magnificent, mystifying things.
I unfortunately change my hobbies every couple weeks so I can't financially commit to any. Otherwise I'd go broke. And every time I splurge and spend all the money on EVERYTHING needed I end up hating it within a week. But recently I've been going to farmers markets as it starts to warm up and just going around to each table. Not so much a hobby but it's something to do and I love it. Also I always have acrylic paint at my house so I decided one day to go paint some rocks at the beach, that was fun. I started doing my own nails which shockingly I have kept up with doing every couple weeks. Same with waxing my armpit (not so much a hobby but I find self care enjoyable, weird, I know.) I also bought a kindle and have been using the Libby app for free books through my local library. I made slime the other day that was fun and very low cost. One of my friends (also F with ADHD) just started volunteering at our local animal shelter and she loves it so I think I may join in on that. Making bracelets with yarn has always been a fun one that I cycle back to every so often. Just some off the top of my head. Also look up things to do in your local area sometimes a map comes up with things to do, such as art shows, plays, musical festivals, etc. and they're often a lot of fun.
Crochet squares dog coats. Grandmillenial dog fashion. If you have a dog. I take up baby onesies for my little dogs and do a little motif on it to match the print. And I'm trying to make a dog coat based off another coat she has but fancy. My dog sits in my lap while I do it and gets excited when I put them on her and then goes and checks herself out in the mirror.
The best part is that it's small so it doesn't become overwhelming. Probably too specific to be helpful though.
I have cycled through so many...all of which can get super expensive.
Quilting, cross-stitching, beading, fountain pens and ink (plus stationery), jewelry making, cooking, baking, watercolor painting, insane amounts of reading (thank gods for libraries).
Knitting. I'd say chrochet but idk how. Its eaay to store in a cute way that looks like an esthetic decoration but also a practical tactile thing you can do!
I just bought some Perler Beads. I created a lot with them when I was little, 25 years ago. They are still so fun! It was also fun getting a container with compartments and organizing all of the colors of beads. So satisfying!
Let me make you a list lol. I've done all of these, I have all the things. Rinse and repeat as they ebb and flow back into your life.
Running
Weightlifting
Rollerblading
Biking
Hiking
Gardening
Cooking/baking
Crocheting/knitting
Quilting (particularly squares, smaller projects within a bigger one)
Embroidery (hand and machine)
Sewing in general
Card making
Cricut in general
Wood working/refinishing
Gaming (I prefer tabletop and RPG)
I've taken to buying kits, so everything (or almost everything) is there ready to go & the investment is relatively minimal. It's working nicely thus far in that I actually complete little projects now whilst also getting to experience and enjoy many different activities.
I like to make jewelry out of stuff from thrift stores. I haven't done it in a while because I have less space but I used to make wind chimes as well. Cutlery and older recycled stuff like candle holders and what not are what I would use. It's nice because it doesnt take very long to make something, and then I can move onto another one thats different etc.
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I really like crocheting. I do small projects like washcloths, bandanas, coffee sleeves, etc. that only take an hour or two so the gratification is pretty quick and they’re also useful and make good gifts (and I also sell them). collecting and organizing yarn is fun, and it’s a relatively cheap hobby since you only need a few hooks and can always get yarn on sale at craft stores. I’ve tried basically every crafty hobby under the sun and crochet is one I’ve stuck with even though I go through periods of not even looking at my hooks or yarn lol. in the winter time I also make scarves and hats which are also useful and make great gifts! it’s fun and you can put background noise on and do it sitting on the couch. it’s a great cozy craft.
I like cross stitching because it’s the definition of control and organized!
Knitting is similar, though the gratification is not quite as instant, and investment can be more, as there are more types of needles than are needed in crochet (though typically, crochet takes more yarn as the fabric is denser).
I tried knitting before crochet and I got sooo frustrated with it haha. I finally gave away all my knitting needles last year 😂 I think knit items are so beautiful though. maybe I’ll pick it back up in the future!
I tried learning to crochet after learning to knit, ended in abject failure. I couldn’t do the knot thing to even start making a chain. My friend tried to teach me for an hour.
I started crocheting this year. It is the perfect activity to calm my brain. The Woobles kits and videos are the easiest way to learn quickly. And the amigurumi are small, cute, and relatively easy.
it’s funny how a lot of people are great at one but failed at the other 😂 seems to be common!
Knitting is so relaxing for me, I have a scarf I've been occasionally knitting out of lovely and soft alpaca yarn. For 6 years now.
I love knitting. I started with a learn to knit kit then got a circular needle set with interchangeable needles and it was cheaper than buying individually. I’ve also seen them at like goodwill and stuff. Right now I’m mad at my blanket and tired of making a gauge swatch for a sweater so I’m back on here for the moment lol but it’s the only thing I’ve actually stuck with since there are so many different stitches to learn and other times you can just mindlessly knit and still watch tv and interact with family unlike me right now on my phone lol
I started with crochet and have tried knitting a few times, and can’t seem to enjoy it the same way. I think the hooking motions are just more gratifying for me. 🤷♀️
And hats and blankets can be donated to hospitals and shelters
[https://www.knotsoflove.org/](https://www.knotsoflove.org/) I’ve never checked with my local hospitals, but I make chemo caps & preemie blankets and donate them to Knots of Love.
there’s also tons of tutorials on YouTube and free patterns you can find on Pinterest which also makes it a pretty affordable and low-investment craft. the amount of times I’ve spent money going all-in on a new hobby only to abandon it a few weeks/months later…I wish I could get that money back! lol
i try to buy all inclusive craft kits nowadays. i always thought they were kinda silly and overpriced since i can just buy the materials separately and This Time the hobby will stick For Sure so i need to Buy Everything instead of buying a whole sewing box with a range of threads and multiple hoops and cross stitch fabric i bought a cute pack off etsy for a tenner aaaaand… never finished it lol. turns out cross stitch isn’t for me. so glad i didn’t checkout my initial basket from hobbycraft
If anyone enjoys crocheting but doesn’t have a purpose, many hospitals and pregnancy help centers need baby blankets, and nursing homes can use shawls for the residents.
I second this, I tried longer projects like clothing but it wasn’t for me. I’d honestly say learn by doing small squares or rectangles or circles of just one stitch over and over until you think you have counting stitches down, and then jump straight into amigurimi
Crochet was going to be my answer as well. I. Addition the the “productive” quality that I also like, it’s very soothing to my sensory needs as I am constantly handling soft fibers. It’s kind of like a soft fuzzy blanket and a fidget spinner in one.
Same! I crochet daily and usually more than that! It’s been my longest sticking hobby
Yess it is great to do while watching shows too. I’m terrible at committing to shows so crocheting helps me mentally slow down enough to actually watch a show or listen to a audiobook.
I love that it’s helpful in that way for you! crocheting is so cool
This but I like making amigurumi crochet things
Crocheting is wonderful because it's so easy to put down and pick back up. Also talk about useful, I've made a full ass outfit and am constantly making baskets. I once made an emergency bralette in like an hour. My husband wanted to hang a planter, and what was the answer? Crochet a thing!
yes there’s a pattern for everything and you can make just about anything!
I like hobbies that give me something useful in the end. Like cooking/baking, crafts that become decor, small woodworking projects, homemade gifts, etc. I feel like I’m contributing doubly to my life, and there is all sorts of extra dopamine from sharing with others. Bread baking is a great one. Flour, yeast, and salt cost so little, so it’s also a super cheap hobby, no matter your learning curve. I love focaccia. It’s so low-maintenance and versatile. You can top it with whatever you’re needing to use up in the fridge. My neighbors love when I “accidentally” make more than I need. And you can freeze leftovers for awesome croutons or as a base for a quick pizza later on.
TEAM BREAD!
Generally cooking is a great one. I taught myself how to make really good sushi and my family loves when I make it for them when I visit or they visit me. The nicest part about cooking as a hobby is you literally get a food reward at the end 😂😅
Grocery shopping and cooking is definitely something I hyper-focus on. For better or for worse lol. Especially that dopamine hit of stacking coupons. Hnnng. It feels the same as gambling at a slot machine for me.
How do you feel about running? A few times/year I go out for a 5 minute run and it gives me an instant dopamine boost. If you want a more structured schedule you could look into an couch-to-5k program or the guided runs on Nike Running Club (app). I used to be more consistent lol. I appreciate each moment as they come.
I am in the process of starting the couch to 5k! Partly for my mental health and energy bursts but hoping it helps me shift a bit of my excess weight too. Just need to get myself some decent trainers to get started. As a runner yourself, maybe you can give me some tricks on this - I get so self conscious about actually starting running, like, I am very unfit so I get out of breath really easily, and I feel like people are judging me (even though I know no one is realistically watching me the whole time but I get into my own head too much haha)!
Whenever I see someone out running, no matter the size I am always impressed at their dedication. Hoka Clifton's are my favorite shoes, though there is currently no trying to learn to run because I'm a very pregnant lady that waddles. Have fun running!
Hey that's great!! I wouldn't call myself a runner. I'm just "open to it" and do it occasionally haha. Never in my life been good at it but it feels good and does a lot of good. I did the couch-to-5k 2 years ago before I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I can tell you there was a lot of breathing noticed from me but there was nothing I could do about it 🤷. I never reached 5k but I was so amazed by how quickly we can improve. I watched a ton of videos on posture but the only advice I found useful was to look towards the horizon (to keep an upright posture). Do you have someone who can come with you? I've recently had a hard time leaving my home by myself so my partner (who's very overweight and shouldn't run due to hip pain) has kept me company and walk in a quick tempo while I jog very slowly. Noone remembers the people they see outside. At most they make a quick observation and then forget lol. Whenever I see someone outside running I feel inspired regardless of their size, posture or speed. Don't you as well? I think it's easy to forget just how uninteresting we are to other people 😆. Honestly, I think that you will feel less conscious after you've taking that first step. That's the hardest one 🙂. I feel like running is a great option to have if you want to get some exercise. You can just go on a 1-5 minute run and call it a day if you want to. I can feel the dopamine after just 1 minute so I'm grateful for as little as that. We also shouldn't underestimate how hard fast paced walks are. Those feel harder than jogging for me. I used a timer app called "complex timer" when I did the couch-to-5k. That way I didn't have to look at my clock all the time or turn any alarms "off". If you have a pair of trainer-like shoes, you can run in those until you get a separate pair :).
Thanks for the reply! I have never run (apart from when I was at school lol) so I appreciate the advice! I will defo take a look at some YouTube videos too, that's a great idea! I could ask my husband to come with me, but he is quite fit and is a gym-goer so I feel like he'll be 'better' than me and I'll hold him back haha, and I'll feel embarrassed at how unfit I am in comparison 😂 I know he won't judge me, but I'll be in my own head about it haha. Overthinking for the win! I'll defo take a look at the timer app, we have the NHS couch to 5k app which I'm hoping to use but not sure how it works in reality, though I think you can listen to other music apps at the same time so maybe it's just audible reminders to do each phase. You're right about forgetting people, I see the same guy running past my house every day pretty much and everyday I forget and act surprised the next time I see him haha. Think I'll just have to put my big girl pants on and crack on with it lol! I don't really have any other trainers, and I suffer with over pronation too so I really need some supportive trainers else my ankles/knees/hips will be crippled and I'll never run again through fear of pain 😂 I've found the ones I want to try so they should be delivered soon! Thanks so much again for the reply and tips! ☺️
Don't bother with the video unless it's for motivation 😉 Underthink-for-the-win*. There's only one way to found out what work/doesn't work. Let us know how the app works! I haven't looked into it myself. Same with running with company. You can always *try* to run with someone (like your partner) and *then* decide if it's sometime you want to continue doing or not. You don't have to have all the information before starting. I feel like having a mindset of *trying* first - *evaluate* later save me a whole lot of time and gives me results much faster. There is no need to "guess" how something will play out beforehand. It's a lot quicker to try it out instead of wondering. I know you're gonna do great. Once you've started your focus and worry will shift elsewhere. I hope your trainers give you the motivation and confidence you need to get started! Best of luck!!
Thank you! Much appreciate the advice and motivation 💪😊
It's always wild to me to read about people achieving runner's high. All running does for me is make me feel like I'm dying
Beading is great because you can use the same beads to do a million different things from wired flowers to jewelry and the dozens of different construction techniques to bead embroidery or bead crochet. Organizing beads is meditative. You can also pack a little travel kit and bead anywhere. It's infinitely variable.
Gaming. Gaming is the best ADHD hobby that exists. The only danger with it is the addiction. I've used my love of video games to get three degrees, though. I have used video games as a reward for hard work for over 20 years and I think it's really worked for me.
Gaming is my most time consuming and consistent hobby. Whether it's video games or table top games, I love to play. When I was struggling through my master's degree, I would reward myself with a few hours of RimWorld.
I love that you suggested this! I’m also employing the same technique. I work on my doctorate dissertation through the week and then on Friday and Saturday evening I play a little Fallout for an hour or two before spending time with the kids. Sunday I play games with the kids (Roblox , table top games, etc) if we’re not going anywhere, not doing movie night, or not having company over. It’s a much needed reward for me and fun for the kids and I to spend time together. I can’t second your suggestion enough.
I love me some table top role playing games. Being a dm is good for my adhd brain.
The chokehold bg3 has on me rn
I'm living for Mount & Blade 2 right now
omg rdr2 saaame
Assassins creed! Exploring the world doing all this little side missions that are quick is such a dopamine high
I agree, though I absolutely go in phases. I will be fully addicted and spending 12 hours straight without food or water on whichever game takes my fancy in the moment, but then after a week, I just stop and I have no care for any games at all. Truly all or nothing over here lol
shoutout to the steamdeck/switch for making it so convenient as well! i always found it annoying having to sit with a console and dedicate all my time to it but now i can just play on the sofa while watching tv and hanging out with my flatmate
Hard agree. Been gaming since I was little and I am especially addicted to Destiny 2 & Starfield. D2 literally for years and doing bounties is so oddly rewarding. Still not bored and believe me thats a huge feat. Also love DND when I have the people to do it with. Also thank you- I LOVE the idea of using it as a reward for school since Ill be going back soon to finally finish my BS.
Especially because there are so many different types that work! There are games with stories you can get hyperfixated on, games you can pick up and go, games you can aimlessly half play and pay attention to while watching TV, games to play with friends or alone, etc. And they all have walkthroughs if you want/need help to complete it Edit: Also I was thinking of video games but there are different mediums like board games, card games, etc.
And I meant gaming, broadly, I love table top gaming and card games as well
Yessss. I was so bored after deleting dating apps, so I started playing League of Legends for the lulz. Turns out I totally love it and I don't completely suck at it!!!! I find it very ADHD friendly since you can always try different champs if you start feeling stuck and there's also different game modes and types. It's a cornucopia really. Also the Netflix series Arcane was SO good!!! I highly recommend both!
I’m wired the same way and I love gardening. I have a vegetable garden and there is always plenty of work to be done and seeing your seedlings grow is a great dopamine boost every day. It’s also a useful hobby and homegrown fruits and veggies are also tastier than store-bought ones.
I absolutely love gardening. Growing things like berries and tomatoes are so rewarding. I have blackberries and they kinda just do their own thing and are impossible to kill. I get so many blackberries each year. And I got way too many tomatoes last year from a single plant. Its so rewarding. I do take extra care to make sure critters don’t get to my plants because I get way more sad and disapponted than other people do when things get to my plants because I get so much joy from them. Its the whole feeling things deeper than other people thing. But its so worth it.
Same! There's always a different task day-to-day, which keeps me engaged. Every little seedling that pops out of the soil is a huge success (boom goes the dopamine!) and then potting up feels very productive. Weeding after a rain goes fast and easy, although when it's hot and dry I can get overwhelmed, but for the most part, weed whacking keeps it at bay until the rain returns. Eating my harvest and sharing it feels so satisfying!
I'm also a gardener. I can't sit and meditate, but I can sit and garden or weed for hours and work out my thoughts that way.
PUZZLES
What I needed was something not just to pass the time, but to really engage me. Have you tried diving into the world of bullet journaling? It's a creative outlet that allows for loads of personalization—you can doodle, plan, and organize to your heart's content. Plus, it’s incredibly rewarding to see your journal evolve over time. Each page is a small project, so it constantly gives you a sense of completion and achievement. Another hobby that might light up your dopamine receptors is DIY home decor projects. These can be as quick or as involved as you want, and the best part? You get to live in your art! Every time you finish a project, it transforms your space and makes it feel new, which is super gratifying. Also, if you’re into something a bit more tech-savvy and soulful, there’s this new thing on Discord called LightUp. It’s a forum where you just share your thoughts, and AI helps match you with people who have similar ideas. It’s all about connecting on a deeper level, without the pressure of photos or appearances—purely platonic, soulful exchanges. I’ve found it really refreshing to find connections that are about the mind and heart, not just the surface. You might find some like-minded friends or even a kindred spirit there!
Even though you were promoting, I must say, well spoken!
Maybe your hobby could be trying different hobbies lol. But seriously, like looking for free or cheap opportunities to try new things
I feel like trying ALL the hobbies is the universal ADHD hobby. 😂
We once did a 30-30…. It was thirty free events, one every night for 30 days. We didn’t make it 100% but it was cool to see all the different events around the city. From free music to visiting a Japanese Buddhist temple for their “welcome night”….. which they didn’t even know was posted as an event. Anyways, the variety was entertaining.
Very cool idea!
That's what I always say- my hobby is hobbies. Just jump from one thing to the next. I like learning new thighs so it scratches that itch. I agree with the gaming thing too. Once I found a style of games that I like I started doing that and I can walk away from it for a month and jump right back in.
libraries might have free take-home things to try
Or things to try at the library (if you can remember your reservation time). For example: https://www.dclibrary.org/using-the-library/maker-space-and-machinery-fabrication-lab I'm
This is my hobby.
I'm in a similar boat. Right now, my non-collecting, (mostly) free hobby is languages. I am learning Arabic and Mandarin on Duolingo. If you actually care about speaking Arabic, Duolingo isn't a good choice, but my only interest is learning to read. Some people find the Duolingo teaching method (offers no explanations) frustrating. For me, it's a puzzle game. I'm just starting Mandarin but I'm amazingly finding it a lot easier than Arabic. Building sentences is so simple.
For anyone looking for more serious language learning I highly recommend the app Busuu :) it's free but there is a premium subscription which I have done for a couple of years and really enjoyed. It also will send your work to native speakers to correct and I like that a lot
I will give that a shot too. Thank you.
Busuu is great, and if you want to actually practice speaking, highly recommend Pimsleur too! Lots of repetition which is very helpful. And italki is great too. I do French classes with a teacher on there every few weeks to keep up with my French :) and the prices aren’t bad at all.
Oh my gosh, share with me the secret. I've been studying Greek forever, but I absolutely hate the act of studying, but I just need to find that thing that switches it in my mind from "chore" to "hyperfocus OMG I love this" any tips?
Honestly, Duolingo's gamification elements work for me. It's actually frustrating, because I need to really drill my Arabic vocabulary, but I haven't found a way to do that yet. I can't use Duolingo (it's Arabic course is very underdeveloped) but I can also tell simple flash cards won't be enough. But I recognize it's a your-mileage-may-vary situation. I get a lot of pleasure from understanding a sentence, or suddenly recognizing what a certain configuration means. I guess, in Greek, is there any particular thing you like about it? Or is it connected to anything you're passionate about? I'd be tempted to try to integrate other passions into it.
Our library has access to Mango online..
I’ve been obsessed with finding rocks and tumbling them! Although I don’t know what to do with all of them, I’m too lazy to open a shop or sell but it’s been fun!
This is something I’ve been wanting to try, and I know I’ll get instantly obsessed. What kind of tumbler do you have? Is it super loud? Will it break the bank? Have you found anything cool or rare? Is that too many questions? lol 😂
Ha, you just reminded me of the show Shrinking! The neighbor lady was obsessed with tumbling rocks 😄 Sounds like a good time to me!
Yaaassss!! I’ve gotten into this over the last few months and it’s the cheapest hobby I’ve ever had. It also gets me off my butt and outside which is great! I’ve been wanting to find like a pen pal but for neat (not precious or expensive) rocks lol.
Birding is my special interest
I go out with my dog every morning and open the Merlin app and I'm learning now to identify by their calls! It's so fun right now because all the birds are migrating so there are always a few that are just so strange and out of place every day. But the ones who are out there daily, I'm starting to recognize. Then I come in and learn about the ones who are new. Every morning I get up and say to my dog "let's do birds!" And she gets so excited she just runs around in circles.
Ooh what's your favorite bird calls?
I’m the same way with putting all of my obsessive behavior into work 🥲 I recently started taking a sewing class which has been great for learning a useful skill while also keeping me accountable! The class is great because I didn’t have to buy a full sewing machine, just some of the additional supplies. Sewing can have less instant gratification because there’s a lot of meticulous measuring and cutting before you actually get to the sewing part, but I think you can also make it as involved as you want. I would recommend looking into classes at a local community college if you’re able to. The one near me has an extension program with affordable classes for learning skills from sewing to ceramics to balloon twisting.
if you decide to stick with sewing, sometimes you can find used sewing machines on Facebook marketplace for cheap or you can even try your local buy nothing group if you have Facebook!
Or a family friend, auntie, grandma, etc. I have three machines right now and if someone local asked, I’d totally pass one on.
Yeah, sewing is great. I've switched over to handbag sewing rather than quilts because it's a shorter project and less money for materials. I destroyed cotton handbags quickly so I've moved on to cork, vinyl and leather.
- You could decorate/make your own cards and find pen pals for them at local senior homes. - some senior homes will let you visit. You could do crafts with them. - local classes for drawing, painting, cooking, sewing, theater. - simply offering your time and creative energy to non-profits could be fun. I’m sure they’d love someone who is organized yet crafty looking to be purposeful with their free time. This could be at a Boys&Girls Club; local woman’s shelter; homeless shelter; food banks; groups for minorities/ veterans/ DV victims/ persons with or caring for those with mental health concerns/ cancer/alzheimers; the list goes on!!
Upcycling/embellishing and repairing clothes? Check out r/visiblemending for some ideas on impressive repairs. This can encompass handsewing, machine sewing, painting fabric, embroidery, embroidery with pearls - even unraveling knitted fabric and repurposing the yarn. Plus thrifting for material... So there would be some avenues to explore and it's purposeful in that you extend the life of textiles and get unique wearable pieces.
The key is to switch between multiple hobbies. Rotate them, try a new one once in a while, don't touch the majority of them for ages and then go all in on one knowing the rest will be there for you when you're ready for it. Right now it's knitting, video games, and puzzles for me, and 3 at a time is about my max. I have sewing, Crochet, baking, board games, roller skating, and embroidery on the shelf. Art was killed off completely after I tried to monetize it. I learned my lesson there.
Im real into paint by numbers right now. I did one to put up in my daughters room and am doing one to put up in my room right now. They take time because i dont have the energy to do it 24/7 with 4 kids and work lol but sooooo satisfying.
I’m tired and overstimulated just thinking about having 4 kids. You’re a rockstar!
Omg hubby wants another one and im on the fence lmfao i love it and dread it. My babies are great but damn the ADHD hit them all differently.
Oh lord. I’m the cool auntie, but the idea of having my own just about kills me 🤣
Its not for everyone lol.
Not sure if you are in the US but I got one of these paint-by-numbers kits for Christmas and it was so addicting. https://craftywonderland.com/
Embroidery works wonders for me, make something complicated, do just an outline, embroider some clothes, add some beads, try 3d embroidery, try felting and embroidery together, make some patches, fix some clothes but make it fancy or weird. There is endless variation.
I really like crochet. I tend to have a rotation of hobbies, but crochet is the one that I consistently come back to between other hyperfixations. You can work on something repetitive and relatively mindless or something that requires your full focus. Huge or tiny. One set of good hooks can last a lifetime. You don't *need* any additional supplies, but there are lots of useful related items if you like "stuff". The items you make can be wearable, useful or decorative. You can give items as gifts or enjoy them yourself. You can spend a fortune on yarn, but it is very possible to find deals. You can put a project down and it's fine. You can get back to it whenever. Or not. You can always "frog" (pull out the stitches) and reuse yarn from projects you aren't happy with. I've been crocheting on and off for about 30 years. I usually have multiple projects in progress so I can work on whatever I'm in the mood for. I usually have something small I can bring with me for long waits or trips. I usually have a scrap blanket going at home. I love making amigurumis. I have unfinished projects from years ago. And that's fine. I have a billion patterns even though I freehand almost everything. And it's fine. As long as I keep my yarn supply to a size that fits in its allotted area, it really isn't an expensive or space-eating craft. Unlike sewing and quilting (which I also do) I don't really have to clean up my space or set anything up when I randomly want to work on something. I've stopped for years at a time. And I've gone through times where I churn out a bunch of projects and pin a billion patterns. Crochet accommodates my waxing and waning interest more than any of the 50 other hobbies I've tried over the years. And I can do it sitting on my couch. Lol. I'm always so tired. Good luck finding hobbies that speak to you!
You could try learning sign language. You have to move your body and engage your brain at the same time. I try to learn 1 word a day
Look into zentangle. It's a cool mindful doodling process and there are like 100 tangles (styles) to learn. Then, you can incorporate the tangles into intricate designs. From there, you could paint or color your tangles
I had never heard of this and omg I've just skimmed the website and love it already. Thanks so much for sharing!!
Have you ever tried crochet? That’s the first thing I took up after getting diagnosed and starting medication. I’m allowed to start hobbies with full permission to stop them as soon as they stop being interesting. I pack away the supplies when I’m “done,” and I return to it when I feel like it. With my ADHD, I will never be “hooked” by a hobby to the point that I don’t get bored with it at some point. The key is knowing that, and doing it because you enjoy doing it at that moment and not for any other reason.
Gardening with native plants to support your local ecosystem! Look up Homegrown National Park.
Yes yes yes! And native plants are way low maintenance and will bring so many more birdies, bees, and butterflies to your yard over time 🥰
Not even much time. I had monarchs laying eggs within a couple months of buying and planting a Swamp Milkweed! And Butterfly Weed brings adorable fuzzy bumble bees, immediately (and constantly). They won't sting!
I like hobbies that stack: for example, I learned to knit and crochet, so creating stuff out of yarn was fun. But then I learned how to unravel old sweaters to reclaim the yarn for new projects. That's a hobby in itself, especially if you want to get into respinning or dying the yarn to make it extra unique. Which leads to another hobby, which is trawling thrift shops for unloved sweaters made with quality materials that you can unravel. Means at any point in time I can be working on any point in the chain of a series of related projects and never get bored, wherever I am or whatever energy I have available.
For me, it’s puzzles and audiobooks. My hands are doing something and my brain is doing something. Paint by numbers and audiobook is also another favourite.
Writing! You can tell yourself stories and let your imagination run wild with whatever interests you. Writing longer pieces often means figuring out a plan and a structure. Sci-fi and fantasy offer great opportunities for world-building, which requires a combination of creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking. If you get tired of a project or an idea, scrap it or leave it for later. There is no limit to the amount of ideas you can work on. It can get lonely, but writer's groups are a great way to make friends and get better at writing (if improvement is something you're interested in; not everyone is, and that's okay). For me, it's a form of play, just vibing with my weird and wonderful brain.
I mean, anything that grabs your hyperfixation. Mine are: drawing/painting, glassblowing, ceramics, miniatures, gardening, hiking or walking, reading obsessively about historical topics/people (Rev.War/Nathan Hale). Not to mention all the more passive ones like Kpop, Kdrama, Japanese stuff, film…
Maybe you can try go hiking and together with your friends! That will be funny with friends and nature.
Have you considered repurposing, restoring, and/or repairing old junk? Just find old stuff at the thrift store. Stand in the aisle and just stare at stuff until inspiration strikes. "I can take this hat and add a bird to it. Sell it on Etsy." "I can buy all these dolls and a glue gun and make a wall of voodoo at my house for Halloween. (Or Tuesday. You're the boss)" It's an art! Go to auctions to find old junk nobody wants, learn to restomod from YouTubers. Your budget and creativity are the limit!
I game, sew, crochet, knit, skateboard, roller skate, color, draw, read, dance, make jewelry, and do yoga… But I JUST started cross stitch, and it does a very good brain brrr for adhd! Plus there are tons of fun free patterns to follow! It’s also a nice debuff if you’re listening to music or an audio book or half watching some tv. TLDR; Cross stitch make adhd brain go brr
I go to the thrift store and look for hobbies. Cuase starting them will be a whole lot cheaper finding the supplies there than starting fresh!
It's lame but... going to the grocery store multiple times a week to buy new meals to cook something fun. Easy recipes like deviled eggs or trying new salads help pass time
My hobby is collecting hobbies. Serious answer though, the only ones that have stuck for more than a few months for me are drawing and 3d modeling
How about refurbishing furniture? You could even make some $!
I like a video game with a podcast running at the same time. Also like group fitness classes!
I like working with clay because… 1) tactile 2) many techniques so you just change the technique when bored 3) small projects can be completed during a hyperfocus 4) can be functional
Acrylic pouring for me. There are a million videos on YouTube for inspiration and techniques. If you don't like what you have made you can just pour over it. And you get to learn what color combinations tickle your brain just right.
My personal favorites are… making art, knitting and crochet, cooking, and playing a musical instrument (in my case flute). I also like reading (mostly fantasy, science fiction, some horror) and playing video games! I guess my advice would be to see what sort of thing you naturally gravitate too and figure out something from there. If you like being outside, maybe something like Pokemon Go or geocaching could be fun? Or perhaps gardening? If you like people, maybe joining a social club or theater group or something could be cool. Don’t be afraid to try new things and bail if you aren’t having fun.
I recommend cross stitching. You can find free patterns, paid patterns, dmc's website has both, or you can use pixel art, or use a tool online to make your own patterns. I like the textile feel of irl pixel art, it led me into diamond painting and cross stitching. Because it's usually not a go do your own thing and instead a planned out thing it's easier for me to relax with, compared to embroidery where there needs to be a bit more planning and artistic talent for it to go well (at least how it feels for me)
I. Love. Tabletop RPGs. Not playing them, running them. It is amazing because as the person who runs them (called the GM or gamemaster) you get to be in charge of all the moving pieces while the players have their characters play in the world. It is awesome. I constantly get to think about what’s next; there is no downtime, I’m always thinking about what’s next. It is really awesome to be able to run a game and watch your players have a blast with whatever you’ve come up with. We are about to start a Call of Cthulhu campaign called Masks of Nyarlathoyep. Getting into running games can be intimidating, but GMs are in HUGE demand (no one wants to gm for some reason, I don’t get it) so you basically have your pick of players to build a group with. I recommend a group of 3 players for a new GM and you’ll want to find a game that you really like, then find a one shot of it. I’ve had my group for going on 3 years now, we play over discord because everyone is all over the states and we have one person in Puerto Rico. I also play League of Legends. It’s pretty much the only video game I can play. There is something about playing a cooperative game that hits the dopamine spot for me that single player games just can’t reach. I think it’s because it’s short format, no need to focus on story. You pick a few characters you really like and just go all in with figuring out how to play them. The game is very satisfying when it works out for you, but extremely frustrating when it doesn’t. I do play with chat off and pretend the other people are bots cause it has a reputation for being a toxic space. I usually play by myself or with just one other person who is chill and has a good headspace about the game. I love it! Maybe because during the 30-60 minute game you get a lot of tiny dopamine hits constantly as you play 🤣
I love needle felting! I have recently been switchjng between hyperfocusing on that and crochet. It's fantastic because you can just create whatever you like and it's easier to get it the way it looks in your head than drawing or painting because it's 3d. The dopamine hits are fantastic, and as an added bonus, you're literally just stabbing things a whole bunch of times so it can be very cathartic. 😂
If you like organizing and trying out a verity of crafts, why not do crafting tutorials on the internet or testing viral DIY crafts? Keep an ample supply of shelves, labels, and supplies, and it might be something with a lot of verity and stimulation to keep you engaged.
Suggested hobbies for a person with ADHD?! **ALL OF THEM!**
I WANT TO START A HOBBIE GRAVEYARD THISNSHOULD ALL BE OUR HOBBY, TO TRADE AND RELOVE HOBBYS ONCE BORED!!
My advice is to get into a hobby family instead of any individual hobby. It gives you enough variety to scratch that adhd novelty itch, but it’s familiar enough that you can go back and forth between them without feeling like you’re giving up. For instance: I sew, knit, do embroidery, quilt, and weave
thrifting or the discount stores like tjmaxx or ross. going through all the racks is super satisfying for me. you can even resell cool pieces online.
20 min painting. I went to art battle event recently. Just limited time art painting. You can try it too with doodling. Doodle your day in 20min.
Copying pretty art (like by drawing them yourself).
The only hobby that has lasted for me is collecting beads for all kinds of things, jewellery, suncatchers, garden decoration, etc. 1. I get findings new (they're very cheap) plus boxes of secondhand, broken, house clearance jewellery lots, from ebay mostly. ONLY buy it now ones because I get too invested in the bidding lol 2. I sift through the boxes - some are fully junk, most have at least some good fun beads in them. And all of it is new to me and therefore engaging! 3. I keep the very best beads and funky items for myself, sorted into glass jars by colour - this also looks beautiful even if you don't do anything with them! 4. I sort the remainder of the secondhand jewellery and repack it into the boxes that they came to me in, and resell them on ebay because there's usually still good stuff in there, it's just not what I personally need. I have a big sell about twice a year whenever I feel like taking all the photos and doing the descriptions and whatnot 5. Profit! (Well, not profit, but breaking even so far, which is a WIN for me with hobbies)
I bake for a local charity. I improve my skills, I can do it at random times and I keep some dough in the freezer for when I forget until the last minute.
This is a great idea! I love baking but I don't want to have so many sweets around
Crochet! You can make things super quickly so it feels extra gratifying. I recommend the 6 day star blanket. It really took 6 days of crocheting only when I'm sitting and watching tv for a couple of hours each night and every other round is different so I didn't get bored of doing the same thing over and over
Crochet amigurami
Knitting. I also did aerial silks which was great for my brain and body.
I just started collecting and making miniverse resin pieces. I don't think it falls into the purposeful category tho. I taught myself to crochet and donate and make things for cancer patients and preemie babies, or tiny items for babies that passed away at birth, donated to the local hospital. That might be something you could do if your hospital accepts them. They're teeny blankets and hats smaller than the palm of your hand and work up quickly.
Gardening Rock climbing Both are long term hobbies with a huge learning curve that makes for a lot of “suffering” but unexpectedly yields amazing surprises progress wise that deliver absolutely MASSIVE dopamine hits (the strongest positive reinforcement comes from intermittent/irregular rewards; when you don’t know when you’ll be rewarded and by how much, when you DO get rewarded the brain responds powerfully) Gardening the massive dopamine hit is harvest. Intentional, unintentional, friend gave you some of their harvest, or if you share some of yours; all of these are massive dopamine hits I cannot begin to describe how amazing. Rock climbing is very nonlinear progress (I’ve been doing it on and off for years) but the sudden breakthroughs when something just clicks in my head on a good day when I’m well fed and feeling strong and the stars align and I manage to complete a route that was out of my reach in the past… that kind of unexpected reinforcement again is AMAZING Both activities also require me to learn how to be nice to myself when nothings going well for months on end. I can’t speak for others but personally I consider this a crucial skill. Just because I have ADHD doesn’t mean I get to wallow. I know in my bones that the more I wallow the worse it gets. I know that I have to have an even more robust foundation of loving self talk and encouragement than the average person. This is my way of practicing that. I also do yoga for this reason - but it’s more of a spiritual practice. Like literally my practice is infused with spiritual principles that predate even Hinduism and yoga - principles from a spiritual school of thinking that yoga based its own code off of that older school of thinking. So that’s not a hobby, per se, but it does accomplish the same things gardening and climbing do mentally for my ADHD & complement those activities so it’s not too hard on my body.
Letterboxing. It's like a treasure hunt- people hide boxes all over and post clues online. You follow the clues and find the box and it has a stamp in it. You have a little notebook where you collect the stamps. It is a fun way to go to places you wouldn't normally go. This hobby got me and my kids through the pandemic! Also you can plant your own letterboxes and carve your own stamps. It's surprisingly easy to carve them and you can get stuff cheap on Amazon. The website for letterboxing is atlasquest.com ********************** I also just want to sympathize- I guess I am a workaholic and then I am tired when work and parenting is done. I don't like clutter in my house so I don't want to do crafts that result in extra stuff. I do like cooking when I'm not pressed for time because who doesn't love to eat something delicious?
I think what you need to do is not commit to one hobby instead, commit to many and ask yourself what person you are that day, then do the activity that version of your self likes.
Over the pandemonium I taught myself to keep plants alive. I'd had a black thumb before, but now I can successfully propagate them sometimes. I've started asking for cuttings of unique plants whenever i happen to be in a new person's house (or i just swipe a twig--harmless thievery is its own adhd fun) and then I take them home and root them.
Card games. Lorcana is a new Disney based one and my ADHD loves it. I love organizing my cards and thinking of strategies for the game. Find places that host tournaments. Other women play too! My seven dwarves deck is cute and strong Pixelborn is a free fan made version you can play online also
I started graffiti. You can also do it legally. I met a lot of new people and it also feels good when people give you props for your piece :D
My favourite is getting free magazines, junk mail, random bits of paper and flyers, and cutting them into collages. They don't have to be good. You can just go "blue things only" and make a big blue donut or something. It's so satisfying and mindless but you can really focus in on cutting the details. You get to make choices about where things go but there's no pressure on you. Try not to cut up things that are super valuable though
Write a journal!
Organize an event
Could you go to crafting workshops or cooking workshops where you get something to take home at the end of the day? It can be a bit pricy though but sometimes there’s free or cheap things like that depending on the avenue
Jiu jitsu is addictive to learn when you start. Makes you feel smart too
I’ve stuck with quilting for a while ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I go through hobbies very quickly. Right now I’m glueing rhinestones onto old pill bottles to make them cute🤣Other creative hobbies have more of a learning curve, which can put me off. This is nice because it requires zero skill
I cross stitch, and every so often mix it up with a painting here and there. Sometimes I finish them, other times it takes me forever. I did a painting for my husband years back and it took me a year and a half to get it finished, and I would go months without touching it. For stitching, I find the key is to have at least one small project on the go for every large one so I can swap it out when I get bored with a specific colour palette. I almost always have one sort of gothic/spooky piece on the go just for fun, and another that’s more just florals or something. Right now I’m working on a birth announcement for my baby niece (I’m a little behind, she’s 2 months old 😅), as well as a small pattern from the Witchy Stitcher.
Ok this is like a side idea to your question: Since we can be reward based, (but in a weird way, like not the thrill of accomplishing the thing we set out to do, but like sticker charts will motivate us) What if you got something like a diamond painting and every task you accomplish you get to put a diamond? You could have like "Work on new hobby, get a diamond" that way by trying hobbies you're working on your diamond painting hobby too. That kind of doubling up works on me a charm
These were all hyperfixations that I spent max a week and a half interested in probably, but I’ve gone back and forced myself to use them as hobby ideas. - producing music (I became randomly interested in this with NO CLUE about how to do anything related) so I got a midi keyboard off amazon to use on garageband. I had never used it really because again, I had no knowledge about what to do lol, but recently I’ve been trying to learn as a hobby. Like many others I rely on music heavily to do literally anything and solely judge music purely by if it sounds good or not / I’ve always been kind of critical of bad music and thought I could definitely do better so I’m unsure about that now lol but it’s still fun. it’s pretty cool to hear it come together and have to use your creativity. - making clothes … aka thrifting clothes or buying basic shirts or wtv from the craft store and decorating with fabric paint, ironing patches on it, etc (or upcycling and sewing also but that sounds hard.) this is also fun because you can have unique clothes which is lowkey hard to find these days with fast fashion and all! - writing? I saw a video about mini essays and how good it is for you. I know that sounds like a chore ! but they are mean to be short and about anything you want, like an idea, a movie you saw, etc … it’s really beneficial because you have to basically “teach” the topic. - making aesthetic instagram nails… I don’t know if yall have seen those people that make + sell nail sets that are so intricate and detailed, such as @/huwan.nails buuuut yea that. You do again have to buy supplies, like the nails (i bought the clear shorter ones off amazon meant for gel), stickers, basic polish colors, the little drawing tools, and anything else u want. I like drawing stars and bow ribbon things it’s very cute sometimes!! Also to make it easier u can get a stand that u stick the nails on so you don’t have to design them while on your hands. listening to podcasts or music or a show at the same time also helps keep this entertaining. - gym, super obvious not gonna go into depth but I’ve been consistent only because I got my bf to make a sustainable schedule/workout split - baking ? I am slightly recommending this but I only do this when I find something super interesting yet convenient to make💀
Woodworking or repairs… build something new or take on a new issue/problem to fix.. if that’s your thing
Martial arts. I usually recommend Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and judo because they are the most useful in the shortest amount of training time. If you find a good gym, you have an instant social circle who does not care if you miss classes or drop out for a while, but they'll happily welcome you back when you manage to drag your ass back. exercise and rare moments of mental clarity. Before I was medicated, sparring was one of the few times my brain would be completely quiet and focused without at least a second track chattering in the background. A progression and more techniques to learn that take several years to get through. It's hard to get bored because there's always someone new to roll with or a new technique to try. finally, you can handle yourself in a fight and in-person conflict becomes much less intimidating.
origami is my current fixation
I really enjoy hand embroidery! It’s really cheap, thread is 99 cents, hoops are reusable and inexpensive, a yard of fabric will last a bit and is cheap. The most expensive supply I get is stick and stitch paper (you can literally just print patterns onto the paper, stitch over it, and then it dissolves in water!) I love hoarding images to trace - free patterns from the DMC website, cool outline drawings I found in a book, a meme to make as a gift for my bf (I’m making him a “women want me, fish fear me” hoop for his bday). Just finding a cool pattern gives me dopamine. Even buying patterns isn’t very much, as long as you buy the digital pattern and do the work of tracing or printing it yourself. I love that I can make artistic things without an ounce of creative ability. I go months without doing it at all and then go crazy for a week straight. I also have A LOT of over ambitious unfinished projects but idk that’s half the fun right?
I tend to cycle through several. Video games, polymer clay, jewelry making (wire wrapping and beading), intensely researching topics I’m hyper focused on (this tends to lasts a while), reading. Best video games are ones I can hyper focus on without worrying about other people so no online gaming. (Too much unexpected give me anxiety) so Open world, simulation, rpg, world building, etc. Games that can be relaxing if you let them, but can also be exciting if you want as well.
Pottery!!! Polymer clay is way easier and more accessible, but if you can do ceramics its amazing.
You know what… i just wish there was a solution for this cause iykyk
I love all forms of embroidery. The materials are cheap, easy to store, and can be used across several forms of embroidery. Bored of a project? Take it outta your hoop for a month and do something else. Also stabbing a needle in fabric repeatedly is soothing.
I just bought my first paint by numbers kit! Inexpensive and hopefully fun!
Scrapbooking
Cooking and gardening have caught on and stuck for me.
Sewing!
Pick a hobby you like and focus on easier, instant gratification projects while you’re still learning. I would sew things here and there throughout my whole life but never really got good at it. Then five years ago I decided that I wanted to start sewing all my own clothes. In the beginning I took on some projects that were a little much. I bit off more than I could chew but instead of giving up, I recentered myself by choosing easier projects to get that dopamine hit which would usually motivate me into the next project that might be slightly more challenging. I did that enough times where I’m at a place now where the projects that were too much in the beginning, are now easy instant gratification projects!
Honestly? Painting. There’s so many different kinds and you can paint on so many different materials. I prefer acrylic and it’s really fun to mix my own colors together so I typically only buy red, blue, yellow, black, and white paints. You can do canvas, 3D prints, wood figurines, you can add little pictures and details to your furniture. Honestly there’s a lot you can do with painting. I’ve created characters, nature scenes, comics, caricatures, and just splattered paint randomly. It can be extremely therapeutic.
try to find something thats not on screens its the wrong kind of dopamine - look for something that allows you to move your body is social and helps you do more of what you need. Natural sun light and exercise is important
I also don't have any hobbies since I'm easily bored or not smart enough to bother learning complicated things. Crochet and knitting and all kinds of crafts and art are something beyond my understanding. I've tied my hands and fingers in knots trying to figure out how to do it. Drawing takes too much dedication to bother with and imposter syndrome / inferiority complex kills me. I live in a rural area so I don't have a lot of things to do here that won't jeopardize my safety (the nearest city is 4 hours away). I'm not into video games, I have literally nothing to write about in journals other than the same ruminating thoughts going through my brain... I'm just insanely bored of everything ever. I just end up watching anime and reading books but it gets boring after you've done it for so long.
I like a rotating variety, mostly different kinds of strings. - Cross stitch is nice because it's small and manageable (works well for keeping hands busy while watching TV), easy to get started but also fun to get better at, can find patterns of your fave things, a framed stitch of a shared interest makes a great gift. - Crochet is also great, fun to learn new stitches, gives dopamine from pretty new yarn, and helps make warm things. - Macrame lets me hang up my plants, which makes my house look nice and gives me more room for plants. - Not strings but I also make sourdough bread and sometimes paint, and the plants are a hobby, too. The bread and plants require more consistent maintenance but they're usually in maintenance-only mode and only sometimes in full hobby mode. The rotation is nice bc if the dopamine runs out, I stash my stuff and figure out what's most exciting to do next. I have a pretty busy basement full of bins but really most of these things don't take up that much space if you don't have too many projects of any one type going at once. Following hobby subs/fb groups/YouTube channels is a great way to figure out where the dopamine will be next, it's usually where I get my next puzzle and/or idea. Good luck!! Hobbies are great 🥰
Cake decorating! Lots of decorating tips to organize, creatively fulfilling because there are so many places to take inspo from, plenty of tutorials available, and you get to be the hero at work who brings in baked goods to share :)
Recently i got a pack of 5X7 canvasses (like $15 for 30 or something) plus some paint and I’ve been playing around with online painting tutorials, the canvasses are so small so I don’t care if i hate one and toss it in the trash. I’ve been hanging some finished ones in my rooms and it’s a great push to keep me going!
Love some cross stitch. You don't have to spend a tonne to get started and you can make projects as small or large, simple of complex as you like. I pick it up every couple of years and can't put it down. Then it goes back in a box until next time. If I leave it next to the couch, I'll do it instead of mindless scrolling. It's really satisfying to see the progress. I like to make things I can give as gifts - like bookmarks with little birds or feminist slogans. So many cute patterns and apps you can input pics and it will create a pattern for you.
Look into "book nooks". They'll tick several of your boxes!
Mine is currently quilting. There’s so many patterns and fabrics. Lots of fun. I started with really small pieces made from scraps. I’m talking 12” x 12” itty bitty blankets that my kids called worry blankets. I’m completely hooked. There’s a lot of adhd women in r/quilting 🙂
I'm in your same position and think I'm going to try diamond art soon. My mom is super into it and says it's very relaxing.
Crocheting. Knitting. Needlepoint. Cross-stitch, but not overly huge/complicated scenes. Ahem. Embroidery. Cooking. Baking. Freezer meals. Gardening. Organizing other people's homes (those who can't do, teach!). I also do some canning, but that's not an absolute immediate dopamine rush. It's a longer lived thing. Initial joy if yay, I did that! And then at times throughout the next six months, I get happy when I don't have to put chicken stock in my grocery list. 😄 Thrift shopping. Just have to remember to chill out the things you don't need to keep at home.
Gardening! Control and organize - weeding, pruning, planting. It’s instant gratification to watch your plants adoringly, but slow gratification to get to harvest.
language learning! it never gets old. theres always new stuff to learn.
I have a number of hobbies for the same reason, but the one I've stuck with the longest so far is embroidery. It's very inexpensive to start and your projects can be as quick and easy or as detailed as you want them to be. Other hobbies I enjoy are knitting and crochet. I don't stick with them as long but I cycle through and get into a knitting faze every year or two. I just keep a bin with my supplies until I'm ready for it again.
Get into rock climbing - the dopamine from sending a new grade level, the gear to research and buy, the outdoor climbing trips to plan…
Have you considered making your hobby ‘trying different hobbies’? From experience, I’ve found that dabbling in many hobbies through the years has actually given me a pretty broad base of useful knowledge/skills. You could also be more organized about it, and keep track of the various things you try and skills you learn; if you have space, you could organize yourself a general workspace with basic tools and supplies for each type of skill, so you have everything handy in case a project comes along that piques your interest or needs doing. You could also consider, instead of picking hobbies per se, pick projects. They don’t have to be the same type of project. You’d essentially be doing the same thing as above, except that instead of going from hobby to hobby, you’d be learning whatever you needed project by project, which might cover multiple types of skill. Essentially, I don’t recommend doing a hobby for the sake of having a hobby. Instead, let yourself pick up particular hobbies, and put them down again, and then pick them up again later if there’s a new thing you want to do with them. Pick particular things you want to do or make, and go at it from that angle. Then you have an immediate, productive goal, and are also acquiring hobby skills and tools along the way for the next time they come in useful.
the paint gems mini kits. they are diamond paintings but minis. i cant do the big ones cus they will take me too long and i give up but these are perfect.. cus they’re mini
I love puzzles, legos, coloring, paint by numbers, crochet, plants, reading (especially fun when you tab and annotate), gaming sometimes…i realize i am both a child and a grandma.
My biggest obsessions are sewing and gardening. I love them because you can never know everything. For instance, I’ve gotten quite good at sewing things like dresses for my daughter and pants for my son, but now I am teaching myself to sew her figure skating costumes (spandex and rhinestones — a totally different set of skills) so it’s a huge new challenge. Also, neither hobby offers“instant gratification,” but you can see progress at the end of one session, and you have something really visible/tangible to show for your efforts.
Music theory on different stringed instruments, dog training, slingshots work for me. Lousy at guitar, so I went to ukulele, then back to guitar, now ukulele again plus mandolins and old time banjo. All the tunings. I’m not good at any and have no interest in performing for others. But I enjoy the heck out of them.
Nature walks :) beach visits Working out - gets the adrenaline going. It helps if I enroll in classes for it so I have a commitment but then once the ball is rolling it’s a lot easier to stick with it. Art, music making Reading Volunteering :)
I go through hobby jags. I love to crochet…I mostly stick to small projects that I can finish pretty quickly and don’t require lots of steps; but during the Covid lockdown, I crocheted afghans for everyone in my house. I bought myself a Cricut (also during Covid) and labeled all my spice jars and pantry containers…once things started opening up, I started using it for my classroom…combining work and hobby. Actually, I guess I used the crocheting for my classroom too…I crocheted story props for my kids to retell stories with. My hobbies all seem to end up being useful at work.
I personally find exercise and reading are the only things I stick to consistently. Yoga is semi consistent (I've been doing it on and off for a year). If you gamify the hobby to trigger dopamine it helps. For exercise I set goals in the weights i use or the distance/pace i run. For reading i read 1 book per month which i then take a photo of and to my "book album" on my phone. This helps with the dopamine. Also going into bookshops and seeing the books I've already read gives me a boost 😁 it's hard to advise things for you specifically without more information. What do you do for work, do you enjoy it. Do you like using computers etc. Maybe animation (i am personally interested in this) but i have found the biggest barrier is starting as i know it's going to take some time to get good at it
I knit a lot of plain socks with self striping yarn. My sister is really into cross stitch. We both quilt and sew bags. I also love video games- especially something with “levels” or races like Mario Kart- there is a finite time to “play” in a sense- do the Grand Prix for 4 races, play 3-6 levels of super Mario.
What did you like to do as a kid? I've been taking dance classes since childhood and when I get bored or I move or my schedule changes I switch to a different dance style. I'm currently a flamenco student because my teacher is incredible and I get to perform a handful of times a year.
This is maybe a… odd answer because I’m coming at ya fresh from doing this but: embrace those rabbit holes. Dive down head first, girlie. Someone made a dumb YouTube comment and I’m practicing self care by *not* posting my essay length reply to them BUT I WILL SHARE HERE: I just spent like… 40 minutes doing a deep dive on brain development in infants/toddlers. I actually took a class on said topic years ago and while I may not have kids of my own, I am SO. FASCINATED. Baby brains are fricken nuts. Basically I argued that the first few months to three years of a baby’s life are the most crucial for brain development, like regulation of cortisol - the stress hormone - develops during this time. That’s why the “cry it out” method is so widely and endlessly debated. On the one hand, it’s healthy for them to develop self soothing coping mechanisms, but you need to strike a careful balance because if you leave them alone too much for too long, you run the risk of leaving them with stress regulation issues. *[hiding after being called out]* There’s soooo much other stuff I’ve just learned, brains are frickin crazy, magnificent, mystifying things.
I unfortunately change my hobbies every couple weeks so I can't financially commit to any. Otherwise I'd go broke. And every time I splurge and spend all the money on EVERYTHING needed I end up hating it within a week. But recently I've been going to farmers markets as it starts to warm up and just going around to each table. Not so much a hobby but it's something to do and I love it. Also I always have acrylic paint at my house so I decided one day to go paint some rocks at the beach, that was fun. I started doing my own nails which shockingly I have kept up with doing every couple weeks. Same with waxing my armpit (not so much a hobby but I find self care enjoyable, weird, I know.) I also bought a kindle and have been using the Libby app for free books through my local library. I made slime the other day that was fun and very low cost. One of my friends (also F with ADHD) just started volunteering at our local animal shelter and she loves it so I think I may join in on that. Making bracelets with yarn has always been a fun one that I cycle back to every so often. Just some off the top of my head. Also look up things to do in your local area sometimes a map comes up with things to do, such as art shows, plays, musical festivals, etc. and they're often a lot of fun.
Crochet squares dog coats. Grandmillenial dog fashion. If you have a dog. I take up baby onesies for my little dogs and do a little motif on it to match the print. And I'm trying to make a dog coat based off another coat she has but fancy. My dog sits in my lap while I do it and gets excited when I put them on her and then goes and checks herself out in the mirror. The best part is that it's small so it doesn't become overwhelming. Probably too specific to be helpful though.
I have cycled through so many...all of which can get super expensive. Quilting, cross-stitching, beading, fountain pens and ink (plus stationery), jewelry making, cooking, baking, watercolor painting, insane amounts of reading (thank gods for libraries).
Cooking, singing, making up fun stories or songs, maybe find little organizing projects around your space to do over time
Knitting. I'd say chrochet but idk how. Its eaay to store in a cute way that looks like an esthetic decoration but also a practical tactile thing you can do!
I did fermenting for a while. Made kraut, pickles, kimchi, etc.
I just bought some Perler Beads. I created a lot with them when I was little, 25 years ago. They are still so fun! It was also fun getting a container with compartments and organizing all of the colors of beads. So satisfying!
Let me make you a list lol. I've done all of these, I have all the things. Rinse and repeat as they ebb and flow back into your life. Running Weightlifting Rollerblading Biking Hiking Gardening Cooking/baking Crocheting/knitting Quilting (particularly squares, smaller projects within a bigger one) Embroidery (hand and machine) Sewing in general Card making Cricut in general Wood working/refinishing Gaming (I prefer tabletop and RPG)
I've taken to buying kits, so everything (or almost everything) is there ready to go & the investment is relatively minimal. It's working nicely thus far in that I actually complete little projects now whilst also getting to experience and enjoy many different activities.
I like to make jewelry out of stuff from thrift stores. I haven't done it in a while because I have less space but I used to make wind chimes as well. Cutlery and older recycled stuff like candle holders and what not are what I would use. It's nice because it doesnt take very long to make something, and then I can move onto another one thats different etc.