I’ve been experimenting with air-dry clay and trying a little bit of everything — simple pieces, character-inspired designs, and both 2D and 3D creations.

Since I’m still new to this, I’ve been figuring things out as I go. One thing I’ve realised is how helpful it is to have a detailed sketch before starting. It gives you something to refer to while working with the clay, especially when you’re trying to get the shapes and little details right.

Another thing I’m learning is to plan the colour palette beforehand, even if it’s just a rough version. It makes the whole process feel a lot less confusing once you start painting.

I’m curious to know what other clay artists think! Are there any things you learnt along the way that made your process easier? Would love to hear your tips and experiences. :)

Practicing my craftsmanship

What's a hobby that's made you notice little things around you more?

Could be photography, birdwatching, sketching, gardening, whatever. I like the idea of a hobby that makes everyday places a little more interesting.

I have a few issues and I'd appreciate any advice possible:

1- I really really need a hobby. I've got so much negativity in my life I need to find something to do.

2- I'm a writer and a reader. That's all. And because I've been doing them both exclusively and extensively they've been stressing me out lately and I cannot continue seeking my usual dopamine.

3- I suck at manual things. Like literally. Zero coordination. Zero aptitude. I can't draw, can't paint, can't do makeup, can't cook, can't crochet, can't embroider, can't sew etc because I'm so bad at all of these I haven't been able to sustain learning them since I quit so quickly.

4- I love using my brain. Anything intellectual is for me. I just don't know if that can be turned into a hobby.

5- I'm broke. I've been restarting some areas of my life and that demands money so I can't afford much.

Please please I'd love finding a solution to this, I really need something to keep me sane.

I’ve just gotten into air-dry clay, and I’m figuring things out as I go experimenting with different clay types, playing with colours (soft pastels vs. loud, bold ones), and trying to figure out how to photograph my work.

Everything is still new, and I’m having fun exploring what feels right.

Would love to hear your thoughts, suggestions, or anything you’ve learnt along the way!

I am 56 and need a hobby to stay busy over weekends and keep the depression at bay.

I would like to build metal pipe lamps.

Is it actually as easy as it looks? Any advice or tips before I get going?

I really hate that life has become so expensive I’m trying to find hobbies to get into as a stress reliever or just to get away mentally from things going on in my life this year has been a bad year for me. Earlier this year spent all month of April in the hospital due to my sickle cell before that lost my job as a truck driver decided to change careers and become a A&P mechanic so I enrolled in school. School is going good and got me a part time job while waiting on my disability so I can just focus on school and not have to stress about bills, but with all the doctors appointments exams and me trying to lose weight and get healthier it’s becomes a lot of stress on me mentally. I use to game as a kid I thought about getting a gaming console pc also getting a dog due to me being lonely a lot then I thought about getting a fish tank and getting into cycling as well or finding old bike to turn into a bobber motorcycle and learn how to ride but all the things I just mentioned is soo expensive I do draw from time to time but I only do it when I’m in a mood too it’s not something I can do everyday I’m just looking for something I can escape to gaming has become soo expensive in the past year or two I hate I sold my gaming pc and Xbox now but I had to do those things just to keep bills paid I don’t know what to do but I feel like if I don’t find something soon my mind is going to go crazy

I often take up new interests, make grand plans and buy everything I need only to end up feeling guilty if I don’t engage in them every single day. I’m looking for an activity I can spend just 20 minutes on, without any pressure at all. What works for you?

After a few beginner builds, I’m looking for the most challenging rolife kits or similar miniature projects that are good for advanced builders. I don’t mean frustrating just for the sake of it, but the kind of build where you slow down, dry-fit the parts, think through the wiring, and feel proud when the final scene comes together. I like tricky layering, detailed storefronts, tiny furniture, lighting, and builds that reward patience. Which kits challenged you in a fair way and were still fun to finish?

I'm especially interested in hobbies that became a genuine passion or a meaningful part of your life, rather than something you tried once and abandoned.

Hi everyone,

I'm a 28 year old ladyYyYYyyYy (jenna marbles anyone)

Realizing day by day that I've lost my spark because I don't have hobbies. I have ADHD and autism, so it's difficult for me to stick to a hobby for too long, unfortunately.

If you have any hinged, unhinged, simple, complicated, ANYYY kind of hobbies really, please let me know!!

Thank you!!!

The age itself is not necessary
But I wanted to do new 21 things while being 21 !
This is my list , I’m short in 6
Can you recommend me new stuff to do ?

I keep seeing miniature building called “therapeutic,” but I’d rather test the idea than just repeat it. I’m thinking of working on the same small project for 20 minutes before bed for 30 days and tracking three pretty ordinary things: how much phone time happens afterward, roughly when I actually fall asleep, and a simple 1–10 “how wound up do I feel” score. There’s no productivity goal and no plan to rush through the whole room. What I’m curious about is whether working through tiny, step-by-step pieces changes the rhythm of the evening at all, or whether it’s just another hobby that feels new for a week. I also wouldn’t treat one person’s results as therapy or a health claim either way. For people who regularly build miniatures, what changed first once it became part of your routine: screen habits, bedtime, or just how mentally busy the evening felt?

Approximately 5 cm (2 inches) tall. He is truly tiny and fits perfectly in the palm of your hand.

I have never been athletic in my life, and despise exercising in the gym. Since age 12, I have absolutely loved gymnastics. At 20, I started gymnastics and aerial lessons and did these on and off for the next 12 years. I was progressing quite regularly by the time I was in my 30s with a disposable income when I broke my arm completely in half, requiring two metal plates, 13 screws and 3 months of rehab. I also tore my meniscus in the same time frame.

I tried diving and loved it but it was niche and therefore too expensive and far of a drive. I have tried ballet but it didn't require a lot of upper body strength. Rock climbing is not artistic enough for me and pole dancing is a potential option but pretty risque. I have even considered at-home calisthenics but am unable to motivate myself without a class.

Budget is $100 a month. Okay with a once per week class and supplementation with exercise at home.

I’ve been so busy with school this semester between clubs, job hunting, and my program. Because of this I haven’t had any time to spend with my hobbies, at least not in the way I’ve wanted to. Tbh, I’m way too tired to do much but head straight to bed most days.

Well! Things have finally calmed down a bit, so this weekend I finally get to do them ALL! I’m so excited!!!I already got a head start!

Yesterday I played some played some cozy games, today I knit and read some of my book, I also did a movie night with my siblings, and tomorrow I think I’m gonna color. God I missed this!

I used to be such an anxious person, and that’s something I’m growing out of (shout out going no contact with your tormentor), but my hobby habits stay the same lol. Regardless of how much much more calm and outgoing I get, I’ll always feel deeply recharged by sitting in my house and doing my cozy little things! I also never notice when I have low grade anxiety until I get these days to really chill (with as minimal doomscrolling as possible lol). Then I feel so good after that I’m like “Oh! I don’t think I was 100% okay” lol

I’m feeling motivated to find more ways to squeeze some more hobby time in when I’m busy. I’ve been doing short rounds of knitting at night while I listen to my audio book, but the other hobbies have been so neglected.

Regardless, these are the things that keep me sane! I’m having the best weekend 🥰

Hey everyone,

I'm 27M and have a somewhat unusual problem. I'm hoping to get some advice or hear from people who might have experienced something similar.

A little about me:

I have ADHD/autistic traits and tend to hyperfocus on things that interest me. I love diving deep into something, making progress, improving my skills, and working toward goals. That's what genuinely fulfills and relaxes me. What stresses me out, however, is having nothing to do.

My current situation:

• Work: I work 35 hours a week, partly from home. Some days are stressful with overtime, while others are pretty quiet. Due to certain circumstances, taking on more work or pushing my career harder isn't really an option right now.
• Sports: I train Muay Thai 3 times a week and go to the gym another 3 times. I'd love to add running and more training, but my body simply can't keep up. I'm prone to overuse injuries, and I'm still dealing with ankle problems after a serious accident. Even my current training schedule is sometimes too much. Additional activities like walking or mobility work aren't always possible either.
• Gaming & hobbies: I'm into sim racing (also limited by my ankle), D&D (both as a player and DM), Magic: The Gathering, and video games. However, many of these activities depend on scheduled sessions or other people being available. With video games, I usually get deeply invested in certain titles rather than playing the same multiplayer game every day.
• Reading: Mostly manga and web novels. When I find something I love, I can easily read thousands of pages in a matter of days or weeks. But eventually, I catch up or finish the story and have to find something new.
• Other stuff: I also cook, take care of household chores, spend time with my girlfriend, and have a pretty active social life, especially on weekends.

Here's my actual problem:

Despite all these interests, I regularly end up with 2–6 hours of free time that I genuinely don't know what to do with.

I'd absolutely love to train more or spend that time doing something productive and engaging, but eventually I hit my physical limits. And while I have plenty of other hobbies that I genuinely enjoy, many of them aren't things I can just pick up and do whenever I happen to have a few hours to spare.

So I often end up scrolling through YouTube, social media, or even watching p*rn, simply to pass the time. I've noticed that these habits are becoming increasingly unhealthy and are starting to negatively affect my overall well-being.

When I consciously avoid those things, I'm left with this overwhelming sense of boredom. It's not that I lack motivation or don't want to do anything. Quite the opposite. I desperately want to do something engaging, but I genuinely don't know what.

What I'm looking for:

Ideally, something that:

• Is mentally stimulating, challenging, or gives me a sense of progression.
• Doesn't require much physical activity.
• Can be done alone without relying on other people's schedules.
• Can be picked up spontaneously for 30 minutes or even 2–3 hours at a time.

One thing worth mentioning: Unfortunately, most of the typical suggestions like painting, drawing, crafting, woodworking, learning an instrument, or picking up a new language don't really appeal to me. I've considered these kinds of hobbies, but they just don't spark my interest or give me that sense of excitement I'm looking for. So while I'm definitely open to trying new things, those probably aren't the right direction for me.

The flexibility aspect is particularly important because my downtime is extremely irregular. Sometimes I'm busy for several days straight, while other times I suddenly have hours to fill in the middle of the day. Taking on additional fixed commitments is therefore difficult.

I know that learning to do nothing and simply relaxing is important, too. But for me, doing nothing often feels more stressful than relaxing. I genuinely unwind by engaging in activities I enjoy, learning something, or making progress toward a goal.

So my question is:

Do you have any recommendations for hobbies, personal projects, or activities that you can really dive into without putting additional strain on your body?

I'm not even entirely sure what I'm hoping to get out of this post. Maybe someone has been in a similar situation or has an idea I haven't considered yet.

I'd really appreciate any advice or suggestions! :)

??

I have a lot of different interests and several ongoing projects of different kinds. I don't spend as much time on them as I could though and one reason is I struggle to keep them in mind.

For example, today I had put in my calendar that I was going to work on my video editing project when I was done with work. But work ran longer than I intended and after finishing I felt too frustrated to want to work on such a detailed oriented task. I couldn't think of anything else I wanted to do either so I spent my mostly just half heartedly passing the time. Not until much later I thought of one of my writing projects that's way less mentally demanding.

I've tried previously to have a lists of ongoing and future projects that I check. But when I feel at low capacity I find myself avoid checking the list. Cause it feels overwhelming to look at so many options.

I know one solution is having fewer projects going. But my interest really shifts around. If I force myself to just focusing on a few things I loose my enthusiasm for them. The only hobby I can do daily without getting tired of it is reading.

Probably a silly problem to many. But it's something I realize holds me back.

I’m 21F and currently in nursing school full-time, and I’m trying to find a hobby or something I genuinely enjoy doing outside of school. I go to the gym about 2–3 times a week, but I feel like I need something else to look forward to besides school and working out.The thing is, I genuinely don’t even know what I like 😭 I tried crocheting, but it just didn’t really keep my attention like I thought it would. I feel like whenever I have free time, I automatically end up on TikTok scrolling for HOURS, and I’m honestly getting tired of it. I want to feel like I’m actually doing something with my time instead of just rotting in bed on my phone.My boyfriend and I live together, and he has his own hobby, which is playing video games. I have absolutely no problem with that, but it’s made me realize that I want something of my own, too. Something I can get excited about and enjoy during my free time, whether that’s at home or going out and doing something.Since I’m in nursing school full-time, I don’t have unlimited free time or energy, so I’m looking for something realistic that I can fit into my schedule without feeling overwhelmed.
For the girls around my age, especially those in college or working full-time, how did you find a hobby you actually enjoy? What hobbies do you have, and how did you get into them? I’m open to pretty much anything because I genuinely need ideas lol. I just want to find something that feels like MY thing. 🥹💕