What are some hobbies/activities y’all are doing to fill the space? Brand new or picking back up, either one.
5 Likes
Being outside is where I feel the most spiritually connected so I spend a lot of time hiking, walking the beach, and am slowly getting back into trail running. I love planning weekend day trips to check out new trails. Am slowly getting back into writing and photography as creative outlets. And reconnecting with friends over coffee or dinner or a walk. I find being home alone for extended periods of time is when my depression/anxiety/urge to drink will kick in, so having hobbies that get me out of the house has been an important part of my recovery.
6 Likes
That’s great! I know what you mean about being alone too much. Some is good though, I think.
1 Like
Read, meditate, go on walks, browse bookstores and thrift stores and just enjoy nature.
3 Likes
Painting, gardening, cooking, fishing, rollerblading, biking, going to lakes, streams, ponds and rivers, reading, trying new board games, frisbee and just calling and hanging out with a friend that doesn’t want to drink for every activity they do.
3 Likes
Building things. Working on building a bar which is kind of ironic, stripping an engine block for a coffee table, and out door stereo set up.
1 Like
Crocheting mostly, some metal stamping and jewelry making, too. I love lego and k’nex sets, and those rokr wood projects.
1 Like
You should put some pics up of that coffee table! That sounds amazing.
Lego!
Legos are awesome!
1 Like
Greenwood spoon carving.
1 Like
I’ll have to look that up. Not sure what it is. Sounds really Interesting
1 Like
Helping other alcoholics who want sobriety, playing bass guitar, hiking, reading, meditation, exercise, watching educational videos on spirituality, religion and recovery.
For the most part I give 75 percent of my free time to AA.
2 Likes
Going on a road trip to view the Tulips here in Washington.
3 Likes
When I first started my early attempts at getting sober, I branched into something totally new and foreign to me... Building model airplanes. I managed to string together nine months with this strategy before falling off the wagon!! I noticed my inclination as well as my quality started to decline while drinking. I tried for a year or so to manage both but nearly found myself dead in my final shows down with drinking. I eventually made a lasting effort to get sober and model building became a huge part of my therapy!! I started getting recognition for my work and soon found myself sober and building models from home for income full time. This lead to me networking with some folks in the defense industry and they eventually offered me a job to come work for them in their industrial model shop. I've now been sober eight years and a full time model builder for the last six. I've gained full custody of my kids and had a brand new five bedroom house built last year to give us the room we need to be successful. All thanks to this 'hobby' that I've been blessed withDon't let anyone tell you your hobbies are insignificant! I found that model building allowed me to get in touch with my mind and use my hands for something productive besides grabbing a bottle. I still do it recreationally on the side to keep that link to my brain open and healthy. It also pays for our family vacations every year so there's been nothing but good to come from this journey!! I hope you all find a connection to something that nets you gratification in sobriety!
2 Likes
That’s amazing!
1 Like
Meditation, music, reading and anything in nature.
1 Like
Thanks James. Reading through the comments, seems like a lot of people have found the same solace with building Legos, wood working, painting. I don't think that's coincidence. I know one of the things about my impulses was not being able to always make a threaded connection from my mind to my actions. These days, the correlation falls back to cresting that link in my mind by having an output to my hands in creation. I think a lot of us in recover discover this as well, hence why we're more apt to find hige relief in using our minds and hands to create.
1 Like
Right now I’m working full time as a project coordinator (construction), I’m going to school to get my marketing degree, I started boxing and fell in love with it, I’m reading lots of quit lit, and I’m teaching myself Spanish.
And, alarmingly, I still have lots of extra time to spend with friends and to focus on general self care.
It’s kind of depressing to think of the mountains of time I’ve wasted with being drunk/hungover. At least I can make the most of my time now!
2 Likes
There’s definitely something to that. I’m getting back into playing music and cooking. Again…Mind-Hand connection. Creation. I wonder about the psychology of creating after spending so much time being destructive.