Do you have too many hobbies

H

Happy Retiree

Member
Location
Canada
Honestly, I love to do so many hobbies. I have purchased a number of online courses - Vitruvian Studio (drawing), The Five Pencil Method (drawing), Learn to Paint Academy (lifetime member quite expensive), from Annie's Craft Store - EPP and Crochet, Will Kemp Painting, One Stroke Painting Roses (Donna Dewberry), Thread Sketching ( Poppy Treffry), Quilt As You Go (June Tailor). My problem is I work on one hobby for a couple of days and then I'm bored. I mean I come back to all of them but I never really get anywhere because I'm not completing projects. I mean I have completed some projects but not many!! We don't travel or go out for dinner or movies or sports or anything so I'm into my hobbies.

I have read Barbara Sher's book "Refuse to Choose" and another book, I can't remember the title exactly, " The Renaissance Person " or something like that. I would try to follow what the authors suggest and then I'm back to my old habits.

Then I think to myself, well heck, I worked until I was 67 (one third of the time for some real assholes, am I allowed to say that here?) and who cares whether I finish something or not, just that I am having fun doing it.

Does anyone else feel the same way as me, cannot focus too long on one hobby - love so many hobbies??
 

I'm glad I read your post. Now I needn't feel so guilty about all the half-done projects I have. As you say, enjoying it is what matters. I love making things and do a bit of everything. I find I have 'moods' about things though. I'll have an urge to knit and make perhaps three items in a row, then the urge wears off and I want to make a rug. Most of the things I make do get used but I also have at least three cushion fronts which now need making up into cushion covers.
 
Yes I can only focus for so long before I need to Change , Like my FH , I dropped doing it a few years back, and then in December I picked it up again , but rotated it with putting all the loose photos in Albums at the request of my Daughter. They were spread out on my Table for a Couple of Months , working on them a few days at a Time ,

Any Hobby needs full attention to acheive the best , and I gave it for a Couple of Months but now run out of steam so Ive packed both jobs/Hobby away , to give my brain a rest .
 
Lee said:
Northern, what you are doing is soooo self rewarding. I have often thought about an online French course, never too late.

Curious as to what language you are practicing.
Click to expand...
Nowadays there are so many resources for learning French (or anything!). In addition to finding a learning approach that appeals to you, I think it's important to listen to people speaking the language. Especially for French, which isn't written phonetically (to our way of thinking anyway). You can find video offerings like mini soap operas or travelogs, that are especially designed for beginning language learners. After that, you can try songs, movies, etc.

I learned Spanish "in the street" 30+ years ago, in Mexico. I'm too lazy to study grammar, so now I just practice speaking. My current language partners have enriched my life. I also listen to podcasts in Spanish, about topics that interest me.
 
Lady said:
Yes I can only focus for so long before I need to Change , Like my FH , I dropped doing it a few years back, and then in December I picked it up again , but rotated it with putting all the loose photos in Albums at the request of my Daughter. They were spread out on my Table for a Couple of Months , working on them a few days at a Time ,

Any Hobby needs full attention to acheive the best , and I gave it for a Couple of Months but now run out of steam so Ive packed both jobs/Hobby away , to give my brain a rest .
Click to expand...
Hi, nice to hear from you, but what is FH please?
 
That's why you are a "Happy Retiree". I haven't developed nearly enough hobbies and I'm sometimes bored. The gym, walking and grocery shopping isn't cutting it.

I've been online lately looking for continuing education courses. My good friend who is over 70 is taking an online course through Zoom on "views of the news". Sounds fascinating.
 
officerripley said:
No I don't have enough hobbies. Wish I had more but I've given up trying to be interested in things I'm not.
Click to expand...
I understand that! Maybe someday, something will grab your attention.

Today my language partner and I were sharing our excitement over learning about quantum physics and stuff. Nerdly delights.

Last year I was so bored, I bought binoculars so I could watch the birds in a nearby tree.
 
I really don't have Hobbies per se.. in the craft type of sense..

I have never been someone who enjoys crafts, like card making, flower arranging, .. etc.. I don't have that type of Brain..I often wish I did, and further to that I'm highly impatient so I need to see Instant results.
That's why my photography is so much a part of my life. I love to take photos.. it also gets me out of the house too.. when it would be very easy just to stay at home. In summer I drive right out of town, to place many miles away just to capture something different.
I can knit and crochet well, but I now have OA in my fingers, so it would be painful to do it.. and anyhow, again I get fed up with it very quickly..
. My photography is the one thing I've been able to stick at and not get tired of, since I started with it over 2 decades ago..

I used to travel abroad a lot but haven't been anywhere since Covid.. hopefully going to change that this year and get back to it..

When I was younger I used to buy old furniture and renovate it, I like that a lot, but I may take that up again one day..

Like @seadoug recently I've been interested in further education courses.. and am seriously thinking of taking up something new, just to keep the old grey cells oiled...so I've made enquiries to a London College..
 
Yes, I've had many hobbies and interests through out the years. I've always liked photography and journaling and word games of all ,sorts. My last few are weaving wall hangings, painting rocks, jewelry-making (beading). I work at one for a year or two and spend way too much on supplies, then I burn out on it and start something else. As long as I have creative outlets, I feel like I'm expressing myself and I have a purpose. The Sun/Moon design on the left of this post is a celestial design I created for a Graphic Arts class in college. I don't do it to make money... Most of my art I give away to whoever wants it. Anyone want to swap?
 
vintageMo said:
Yes, I've had many hobbies and interests through out the years. I've always liked photography and journaling and word games of all ,sorts. My last few are weaving wall hangings, painting rocks, jewelry-making (beading). I work at one for a year or two and spend way too much on supplies, then I burn out on it and start something else. As long as I have creative outlets, I feel like I'm expressing myself and I have a purpose. The Sun/Moon design on the left of this post is a celestial design I created for a Graphic Arts class in college. I don't do it to make money... Most of my art I give away to whoever wants it. Anyone want to swap?
Click to expand...
No... My hobbies are the same as your first 3... which I've continued to do faithfully and enjoyably for decades.. they are my 3 main hobbies..

I also follow and dabble in Astrology in a small way...

I don't like crafts..like crafts like card making, jewellery making et al... or knitting and crocheting... ..I've tried painting in the past.. no good at that...

I used to play a musical instrument years ago but now I have Arthritis in my fingers so that makes it difficult to do now... but really... I would love to find another hobby...
 
hollydolly said:
No... My hobbies are the same as your first 3... which I've continued to do faithfully and enjoyably for decades.. they are my 3 main hobbies..

I also follow and dabble in Astrology in a small way...

I don't like crafts..like crafts like card making, jewellery making et al... or knitting and crocheting... ..I've tried painting in the past.. no good at that...

I used to play a musical instrument years ago but now I have Arthritis in my fingers so that makes it difficult to do now... but really... I would love to find another hobby...
Click to expand...
Like yourself, I still enjoy those top three also. I used to play guitar and sing with my childhood best friend. We'd do songs like Neil Young, Elton John, James Taylor, The Mamas and Papas, and stuff from the Seventies. I really loved playing and harmonizing with her, but she married and moved to the hills and we seldom get together anymore. Sigh... You know how that goes.
 
Happy Retiree said:
Honestly, I love to do so many hobbies. I have purchased a number of online courses - Vitruvian Studio (drawing), The Five Pencil Method (drawing), Learn to Paint Academy (lifetime member quite expensive), from Annie's Craft Store - EPP and Crochet, Will Kemp Painting, One Stroke Painting Roses (Donna Dewberry), Thread Sketching ( Poppy Treffry), Quilt As You Go (June Tailor). My problem is I work on one hobby for a couple of days and then I'm bored. I mean I come back to all of them but I never really get anywhere because I'm not completing projects. I mean I have completed some projects but not many!! We don't travel or go out for dinner or movies or sports or anything so I'm into my hobbies.

I have read Barbara Sher's book "Refuse to Choose" and another book, I can't remember the title exactly, " The Renaissance Person " or something like that. I would try to follow what the authors suggest and then I'm back to my old habits.

Then I think to myself, well heck, I worked until I was 67 (one third of the time for some real assholes, am I allowed to say that here?) and who cares whether I finish something or not, just that I am having fun doing it.

Does anyone else feel the same way as me, cannot focus too long on one hobby - love so many hobbies??
Click to expand...
And you are so right. You can do what you want, however long you want, it isn't a job anymore. Just enjoy!
 
My list of hobbies has shrunken with age but I still keep my brain and body as busy as possible. Anyone with a healthy amount of curiosity and a computer need never be bored.
 
I am just starting to get into drones. I am learning about them before I purchase my first one. I think too often people buy them and then learn about them. I am going the other way and learn first and then I can make the better choice to buy the one I want. I want to be able to fly at night and I was told by a drone enthusiast that I will need a permit. I don't know if that's true or not, but whatever I have to do, I will.

This is the one I am looing at for now.

DRONE
 
helenbacque said:
My list of hobbies has shrunken with age but I still keep my brain and body as busy as possible. Anyone with a healthy amount of curiosity and a computer need never be bored.
Click to expand...
Tight on! I had a senior suggest Sudoku app. Now, I am getting better at it. Anytime I try something different, it engages a part of my brain and makes it develope better. I didn't say that right, but you get it.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top