Looking for ideas
I too love walking and it was my salvation during my quit.......
But, I also found that doing things I had done BEFORE being a smoker OR things that I rarely smoked while doing were interesting because they had no ties to smoking......
Riding a bike......although I have actually SEEN some crazy people doing this....not many people ride bikes and smoke
Swimming
Rollerblading, ice skating, roller skating or skate boarding (usually done as a child and not while smoking)
jumping rope (same as above)
When I quit smoking...in the evenings I would sit and put cloves into oranges....you press whole cloves into an orange until the whole surface of the orange is covered. It takes a long time.....I would work on it each night(much like people work on sewing or knitting!). It kept my hands busy but I could still watch television. After the orange is all covered with the cloves it smells GREAT!!!! You can use it in a closet or drawer.....lasts a very long time.
I read. Reading is my passion and my biggest hobby except for playing the piano. But when I first quit, I could not read. It was ALMOST the thing that sent me back to smoking. I now read again as much as I ever did.....it was just for about 6 months that I just couldn't....not completely sure why.
Stay Strong.
Vacuuming intricately can be a hobby if you choose it to be. I think whatever pulls our focus for a day and a night could be considered a hobby. Is gardening my hobby in the winter when I can't garden? Now I've suddenly starting practicing my guitar again because of the upcoming Ex reunion. EX 7 WEEKEND REUNION 2019 - Virginia Beach What was a part of my everyday life when I was 18 has now become a part of my life at 69.
Hobby definition: "an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure." Well, that could encompass nail filing to weeding in my book. I guess the thing that occupies most of my leisure time is EX. Helping people quit smoking. That gives me a lot of pleasure and it also teaches me in the process, ergo I never stop learning.
So I guess I'd have to say that BecomeAnEx is my hobby But also my passion. What's your amiray?
Reading and writing are my absolute passion. I love getting lost in a good book.
Right now I'm trying to get the hang of knitting again but it's slow going. I used to enjoy crochet but carpal tunnel put a stop to that. I finally had surgery for it a few months ago so I may try again.
I'm a decent sewer. I can make simple curtains or pillow covers but not clothes. I made a Handmaid's cape for Halloween last year that was passable.
I've never been athletic but I love walking and hiking. It's been a while and I'm reluctant to try until I see the pulmonologist next week about my COPD.
I like yoga but I'm not very disciplined or flexible.
I was a musician about a hundred years ago. Classically trained by this father and son who were a tenor and pianist, respectively. The father died about fifteen years ago, the son is quite famous and respected in the opera world as a world class conductor. I switched from opera to rock diva when I met my husband. We had a band and we tried real hard. But Jimmy quit and Jodi got married...
Yikes! Didn't mean to ramble...
I am not sure epxercise is considered a hobby, but any kind of movement is good for you and good for your quit. Done briskly, it also gives you a hit of dopamine. Even marching in place works. There is also chair yoga on YouTube.
I also consider Ex a hobby, as is gardening in the summer. I bring a lot of potted plants inside for the winter, and they do require a bit of work. In the winter I crochet, do cross stitch and needlepoint. You can get kits for cross stitch and needlepoint at yarn/craft stores, and there are instructional videos on YouTube Walk through a local craft store for other ideas - or search online for crafts. You might paint a birdhouse (they have ones all ready for that in the craft store). Some people work on jigsaw puzzles, or do crosswords or word finds. Look, too, for adult education classes by your county/city or at the local community college. They often offer things like stained glass, drawing, etc .Some folks play games on the computer. I make a lot of gifts I give, and they vary. I did a sketch of her dog for one friend, made a wreath out of wild grapevine and dried flowers for another, and embossed a set of note cards for another. I pass many a winter day reading, too.
Spend some time thinking about what is of interest. You will have extra money now that you aren't spending on cigarettes to buy supplies!
Nancy
I crochet in a straight line, so I make a lot of blankies! But in warmer weather I like to sit outside and read or people watch.
I have too many hobbies is my problem. I love taking photos of wildlife. I knit - can make a cool pair of socks. I love kayaking, fishing; actually, anything that has to do with nature or water. I have some big rocks, smooth ones, that I have found along my travels, so I guess I collect rocks too, along with sea shells. I collect marbles too - have had this collection ever since I was a kid, and just have this fascination for marbles - have no idea why. Maybe, because I have lost a bunch of them upstairs, above my eyebrows, if you get my drift.
I love my buddies here on Ex too, but sometimes, I get really depressed, and I disappear for awhile. I even hide from myself, which is kind of spooky. I always return though, and I am back again now.
Irish Rose
amiray39 , well, thank you for the kind words. So funny, my husband does not say a word to me until I get on the computer. Then, he starts talking and does not stop until I get back off from what I am doing. I kind of think he is on a mission. Way too obvious for me not to notice. ha!
(((((hug))))),
Irish Rose
Hi MY beloved IrishRose in HIS love I love you and miss you- i collect marbles and rocks too- awe that's so cool - all the stuff you do - WOW! beautiful you inside and out- hope you stay longer - i love reading your blogs - EIGHT YEARS we been BEST FRIENDS in MY world - Thank you so much for that honor IrishRose - gentle hug.
I love you too, My Dear, Dear indingrl.01.06.2011 . We have been sharing each other's world for eight years, holding each other's hand in this journey. You are a beautiful Lady, Dear Friend!!!!!
Big and gentle (((((((hug))))))) for you!
Love,
Irish Rose
I like to crochet, do word search, read, swim, walk, feed the birds and bunnies. Puzzle, but I'm not very good at it yet.
I also like to fish. I like to paint abstracts but just getting back into that now. I also love to journal.
It's a tossup between gardening and hiking. I find digging in the dirt and growing beautiful flowers is incredibly therapeutic. My goal in hiking is finding a quiet magic spot that leaves me alone in nature to just absorb and breathe.
I sew and paint rocks. Weird, but yep, that's how I spend spare time if I'm not cooking, working, or sleeping.
Here's my sewing - ScrapStitching & ScrapSewing There's a link on the right to stuff I've made over the years, certainly not everything
Here are my rocks - Kindness Rock Painting from a non-artist images in 2019
Both give me a way to channel "artsy" stuff. Before my hands got a little shaky, I did a lot more in the way of drawing and designing.
I also do a bit of oddball crafting, like making wreaths for Halloween with snakes and eyeballs on them, and creepy Christmas ornaments. Gotta keep people guessing!
Donna
Day 91
Well, I'm impressed, DonnaMarie ! Love the Peter Max totes, Sponge Bob ball, and those are pretty cool Halloween potholders. Nice!!!!!
I sew too. I used to make my own clothes. Seems like I just have too many things going on and not enough time. I do a lot of patching, seems like, nowadays. I also make pillow cases, because I refuse to pay $18, plus, for pillow cases , and that is the low end cost. Geesh!
My favorite hobby is gardening, I like to listen to bird sounds and guess what kind of birds they are. I like to read the bible and other books, I like to listen to music, I like walking with my dogs and playing hide and seek with the youngest, my service dog Rusty. I Cover his eyes and throw the ball and he goes and finds it. This is good exercise for him both physically and mentally. He enjoys this play time. He loves to play ball. I can throw a ball or frisbee and he will catch it or try to and he will bring it back to me.
Not really a hobby but I just love getting out taking long hikes with my dogs.