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What is there to do anymore?
I’ve noticed that when I’m not at work, I’m at the house and even when I think of going out, I can’t think of anything to do.
I enjoy going to the movies, but that’s pretty much the only getting out I do. When I hang out with friends, it’s typically to bars, but I’m feeling unfulfilled drinking to drink.
What is there to do?
You might want to consider a hobby that's not going to the bars. It might first be good to establish if you're seeking more social interaction or a more fulfilling way to spend your personal time.
If it's new forms of social interaction, take a look at meetup.com in your area. There's often quite a lot of different get togethers for all sorts of interest. Some other options are group fitness classes at a nearby gym, cooking classes, ultimate frisbee, or even taking community college classes.
If it's more of a solo hobby you'd like to get into, you have a near endless number of choices. Reading, writing/journaling, cooking, drawing, painting, calligraphy, juggling, running, learning a language, hiking, traveling, and the list goes on and on.
Do you currently have any interests or passions outside of work? Maybe you'd like to spend time improving your professional skills? I've often called myself a serial hobbyist and the first step in finding a new one is asking myself these questions. Very recently I've decided to work on improving my penmanship because I've always had notoriously poor handwriting. It's not particularly applicable to my work, but it does strike an interest and yearning to improve.
Spend some time writing down what you enjoy doing and what you would like to get out of your next few months of free time. That might yield some interest you want to delve into deeper.
Adding to this. Check your local library, to see if they have anything going on that might interest you. Libraries typically have something going on that you can do, they are not just for checking books out (at least in the US).
I appreciate these suggestions. I’ve been trying to put pen to paper more—I just bought a nicer entry-level fountain pen, so I’m definitely going to try that.
I’ve tried Meetup, but unfortunately my area isn’t super active. I’ve even looked at doing volunteer work, but I can’t find any place around me. Actually, now that I think about it, I have an orphan highway that I might could adopt.
Fountain pens are great. If you have any bad habits in the way you hold your pens, just using one will train that out of you without you having to go out of your way to practice, because otherwise the pen doesn't make a mark. And once you get used to it it just glides across the paper, almost more like a paint brush than a pen. About the only writing utensils I use anymore are good mechanical pencils (for if I absolutely, positively need to be able to erase), fountain pens, and those super fine point sharpie pens that are effectively simplified disposable fountain pens.
I actually just ordered a Lamy Safari and TWSBI Eco myself this weekend! Both seemed well rated and I wanted to get a sense of differences. Been working on adjusting my grip from paw to dynamic tripod. I've really never paid any attention to my handwriting in the past and it's quite bad right now.
I've seen a lot of discussions in recent times talk about the loss of "third spaces," spaces to socialize that aren't your house or work/school. Depending on where you live, there's really not many options besides bars or paid activities. Just this week a friend and I went out for lunch and then went to a mall just to keep hanging out. Before we passed the mall though, our first thought was to go to the library because we just couldn't think of anywhere else to really go.
On that note, libraries can be a good option. A lot of them will have recurring events that aren't just about reading books. Our library recently got renovated and now has an incredible computer lab with 3D printers and crafting printers, and its site lists all sorts of events.
Overall though... Options really are limited outside of our homes. Malls were on a downturn even before the pandemic and there's a few that are now closed, or else just creepy to wander with how empty they are. A lot of businesses closed in general thanks to the pandemic. There was a board game cafe near my house that had its grand opening scheduled for March 2020, and this year it unfortunately closed for good. There was also a VR place which also seems to be closed.
The limitation varies by city and location. I think if you were in, say, New York City, you could find plenty to do just walking around. Just looking at art installations and street performers would be a decent excuse to go for a walk in NYC. In cities that are more "industrial" like mine though, there's practically nothing to do. And if you live in suburbia (specifically the type that's neighborhoods and subdivisions) or rural areas, your options are further limited. The nearest parks to me have a playground and a well as the main attractions, they're not really places to go hang out as an adult.
I wish I could offer more solutions, but with the current setup of society and businesses, I don't have many suggestions. There's some sort of irony that the more a community grows, the less options people have outside their home.
I know exactly what you mean, so many of the things I used to do have shut down and nothing has come along to replace them.
You’re right, I felt so alive when I went to Washington DC, and I didn’t have to seek things out, I just stumbled across things to do. Living in the suburbs, I’m just passing the time until I go to work again. I thought having a four day work-week would give me more free time, but instead I’m just wasting away that time.
My library isn’t nearby, but I might just have to suck it up and start making that trek.
If you’re renting then making a lifestyle-enhancing short distance move might be something to consider within a year’s time. I live in walking distance to a good movie theater and go regularly.
I picked up Disc Golf last year and quite enjoy it. Easy to start, more approachable than ball golf, relatively cheap as far as hobbies go ($20 for starter discs is all you really need - you won't be spending thousands of dollars a year unless you really want to), you can play alone or with friends, and has some element of socialization as you meet people on the course. Still more of a hobby than a third place though.
Depending on where you are, the current weather and temperatures may not quite be ideal time to start - but something to keep in mind.
Actually, I have a few ball-golf courses near me, but you’re right that it’s not super approachable. My nearest place has an annual membership starting at >$10,000, and just to pay-by-game is at least $300 before you even get your equipment.
I have a fairly large ditch in my neighborhood, could I set up my own disc golf course? Closest place to me that says it has disc golf is an hour with tolls.
Udisc is the main app for finding courses and keeping score - check their website for courses, as it will have way more than google maps or something similar.
Most disc golf courses are free, usually built on public land. There are also private courses, which often range from $5-20 per play, and tend to be higher quality and better maintained. But the majority are free.
For setting up your own course - its definitely possible, though it can vary greatly depending on land, time, money, etc put into it. Portable practice baskets run $80-200ish each. Those aren't meant to be left outside 24/7, but they are cheap and light weight - letting you keep it in your car/garage/house and set it up farily easily. The permanent baskets are in the $300-700 range IIRC, and usually have a metal sleeve cemented into the ground. Maybe a consideration if you really get into the sport and have some land where you can set up some holes. Homemade baskets are a thing, but vary wildly in quality. The ones with decent chains for catching discs tend to be similar price to the practice baskets - so many of the homemade baskets are things like a bike tire mounted on a pole with chains hanging from it.
Your best bet for a nearby course is to talk to your local government and figure out if there is land for a possible course, and then convince them to fund/build one. It can take some research and prep work - especially when it comes to things like insurance, course design, initial setup, and maintenance. Probably a tall task for someone brand new to the sport. But you can maybe find some local players who might help out with pushing the local government to build something.
The simplest way to start though is to go back to the roots of the sport, which would be an "object course". While modern disc golf uses a basket below hanging chains - the sport started by simply seeing who can hit a given tree with a frisbee first. You can use existing trees or fence posts or whatever else is around, or get a traffic cone to set your own hole wherever. The fancier versions would be "tone poles", which are basically any metal pole or object that makes a nice tone sound when hit. I've seen homemade courses using old oxygen tanks and fire extinguishers with the bottoms cut off - basically turning them into big bells. I've seen nicer ones with 4 ft tall hollow obelisks as well.
Wow, that site is pretty incredible, I had no idea Disc Golf was this big. There are a lot more courses around me than I thought, and looking at the pictures/reviews has me excited. I’m definitely going to give this a shot. Thank you!
A quick rec on discs-
I highly recommend just getting a midrange disc and a putter while you learn. One of the ones everyone recommends. You can get real crazy with discs real fast and it’s absolutely not required to have fun.
As with most things it’s mostly about just getting comfortable with it and a decent form and then if you want you can start getting drivers or strange number discs.
Finally it’s a super chill sport usually but also often in parks or near homes/roads, so when in doubt under power. If you decide you love it you can find courses and holes that don’t have those issues
Happy to hear that there are some courses on udisc nearby - I was hoping that would be the case. For some background, disc golf had a huge jump in popularity during the pandemic as an outdoor activity that could be done alone or in small groups in your "bubble".
For getting started, you'd really just want athletic shoes/clothes, a water bottle, the udisc app (for finding teepads/baskets and optionally keeping score), and 1-3 discs.
If any of your friends play, they can likely lend you discs or give you advice on basic discs depending on how you throw. There are tons of different discs to choose from and you can get very in depth. Many players who really like the sport will carry 15-30 discs in a backpack on the course. To start though, you really only need 1 or 2.
The no-thinking solution is buy a starter pack. Basically every company that makes discs will sell a 3-disc starter set for $20-30 - they include a putter, a midrange, and a driver (which you can usually ignore as a beginner). They are usually cheaper plastic and lighter weights, which is good for kids and beginners - but will get chunks taken out of it or even crack after hitting trees. There are also starter sets out there that are not from actual disc manufacturers, which can be confusing - avoid things like franklin or that have no name. The set from Innova is the classic - their starter set isn't very durable, but will last for long enough for you to decide if you like the sport and want to invest in more. They are also the most "mainstream" set, and can be found in places like walmart, dicks, and play-it-again-sports. Other good options are dynamic discs, latitude64, westside, MVP, axiom, streamline, remix, discmania, divergent discs, and many others. If you find a kit and want to know if its decent, feel free to ask. I personally recommend either the Axiom R2 set (made from recycling discs with manufacturing defects, but still is better plastic than most starter sets, downside is black flight plate can sometimes be hard to find after a throw) or the Divergent Discs Max Grip set (company makes discs for beginners only, better plastic than most starter sets, bright colors) to my friends.
If you know you're going to get into the sport, you can skip the starter set and buy 1-5ish discs to cover several slots. To really get good value from this, you need to know a bit about the discs that you want - or you can take recommendations from a friend who plays. If you want to go this route, you can look at the Innova factory store - which sells factory seconds (discs with cosmetic imperfections, but are perfectly functional) for fairly cheap ($10-12 for premium plastic, $6 for base plastic which is good for putters). They also do a code every friday for a free disc if you buy 3+ other discs. Another similar option would be to look at Remix discs on amazon, which are overstock/factory seconds from another of the big companies - and they put them on amazon for $10-12/disc. The third option I'd recommend would be to buy a factory second mid ($15) and putter ($12) from Trash Panda - which make their disc from fully recycled plastic (and they mark their discs so they are technically recyclable as well).
If you're looking for more resources, there are tons of disc golf youtubers out there with various styles. Foundation has a good video on just the basic backhand throw. Overthrow is coaching oriented and has a good video on how to putt. The Disc Golf subreddit will also have some good threads and is one of the 2 subs I still use reddit for.
Let me know if you have any questions, and have fun!
Great suggestion! Ive been playing for almost 10 years now and I always suggest disc golf for people who want something casual but active.
The community is always so accepting and kind, really there's no other sport like it.
For me I live somewhere with excellent access to nature and interesting terrain. So cycling is a major hobby. You can do it alone but it’s also fun to share a ride with a group. There’s the whole mechanical aspect of maintaining your equipment at home which I enjoy. But primarily it’s a way to get outdoors and stay fit while having a blast.
I have kids so often going out means doing things with them, but there are a handful of things I do with kids, friends, and my wife when we have a chance to get out.
Going somewhere nice to walk. Just getting somewhere with a nice ambiance, view, people, etc. Could also be hikes, or paired with other activities, before and after. You can watch birds, stop at a restaurant, etc. Plus, good exercise.
Puzzle/escape rooms. Tons of fun with any group.
Coffee shops. Cliche I know, but get out, read, play some chess, write on a journal.
Plan special meals and go shopping for specialty ingredients. Maybe not what most would think but taking the time to make something new soup to nuts and taking time to hunt everything down is a little luxury.
There are also the more involved weekend activities: camping, going to nearby attractions, hiking further afield, theme parks, etc.
The value of a well-placed comma...
Don't drink and park; accidents cause people. 😂
Learn a new skill. It can be computer related or not, it can take place outside or inside, it can involve other people or not. You can pick and choose what fits you. Some ideas:
Not OP, but I came across this comment earlier, and thought of it again tonight when I was bored in the evening. Ended up killing some time adding locations to OpenStreetMap while listening to some podcasts. Thanks for the suggestions, I can see this being a great new idle activity going forward!
https://www.audubon.org/birding
If interested in birding, I would recommend downloading the Merlin app. It's a project from Cornell University and makes it easy to identify birds as a novice. It will walk you through physical descriptors to give possible species or you can enable your microphone to identify by call.
I don't know if this counts as "out of the house" but I have thought about doing tabletop games over zoom. Either using a digital platform like colonist to (Catan clone) and a zoom alongside it, or playing a game like Dominion, where the shard state is public and easily applicable. (If everyone is using the same cards, and takes a card out of the supply when another does, then your copy should be the same as everyone else's, and the randomization of your own deck is all your own).
If people here are interested, I'd be "game" for trying it out.
For in-person tabletop games, people should check to see if they have a local Warhammer store or comic/collectable store nearby that runs weekly gaming events. If my unincorporated town in rural Ontario has one, then OPs location might as well. IMO they're a great way to meet people... well, if you're also into comics, collectables, tabletop/board/card games, and such.
I get together with my friends and we build crafts together. Some do Gunpla, some Lego, some build tabletop terrain. (I personally build LBX.) This doesn't require a third place, we just get together at one of our places, just need a big cleared-off table. Really nice way to hang out with friends. But it does require lining up schedules and it can be heavy on the budget.
Third places really died over time. Literally every place I used to go hang out has closed. I use MMOs as my third place now. If you can find a guild that matches your playstyle and schedule, I'd join up and get active in events. I'm a part of a guild in GW2 that has events 4 days a week and it really helps me get in that much needed social time when I can't see my IRL friends or partner.
A lot of other posters are suggesting getting a new hobby but if you don't want to put the effort, don't mind spending the money and want to be entertained there's plenty of options (Provided you live in a city that's busy enough). I suggest you try going to different events even if you're not completely sure, you can be surprised sometimes and enjoy things you maybe thought you wouldn't.
If you enjoy live music then find venues playing, you should be able to find one that caters to your music tastes. If you're not able to decide on something you like, then go and try something new. My recommendation would be to go somewhere a jazz band is playing, or go to a classical music/opera performance (Personally I didn't think I liked opera until I went to one last year).
Similarly there's other types of performances that you could try, a few years ago I went to a burlesque show for the first time and now I'm a big fan. I happened to come across one by pure coincidence and decided to give it a go, now when I look I can see there's so many happening all the time whereas before I had no idea they even existed. These are great because they blend multiple things and if they are not exactly what you want, they could lead you to find what you like, whether it's the dancing, the humour, acrobatics, circus, etc.
A few years ago I was in a similar place as you, mainly spending my free time playing videogames but kind of feeling like I could do something else. It was hard as I'm an introvert because the thought of some of those events can make me feel uncomfortable. Even now usually on the day I feel like I'd rather stay home than go out, but afterwards I always feel like it was worth it. In general I feel don't have enough time or money to do all the events that I want.
I like jigsaw puzzles a lot
You need a hobby, it seems. Do something you find gratifying. If you don’t know anything that fits that description, consider exploring.
Honestly, we don’t know anything about your interests. You can’t just ask the internet for things to do because you are bored. Maybe ask someone who knows you instead?
I have hobbies, but they don’t get me out of the house. I’m not asking anyone to assume my interests, but there used to be more to do. All that’s being built around me are more apartments. There used to be malls and shopping as a pastime, now with online shopping many malls have stuttered; there used to be arcades, mine shut down a while ago; hell, there used to be soda shops. Is church the only third place still standing?
If you want to get out of the house, you can try Geocaching. It's free (with a paid premium tier) and it's a global treasure hunt. all you need is a pen and your phone. The geocaching app is free to download.
site
If you're on Android, c:geo will show you the higher difficulty caches that aren't available to free users of the official app.
C:Geo is great. I've used it for treasure hunts with the kids and it's been great fun.
relatable.