Did you find a new hobby (or hobbies) ...

[Pboy]

when you quit drinking?

[CarolD]

Here is a list compiled by our SR members

150 Things To Do Instead of Drinking

1. Read a book
2. Take a walk
3. Play a musical instrument
4. Knit
5. Clean your closets
6. Research your genealogy
7. Cook a gourmet dinner
8. Write an article for your local newspaper
9. Go take some pictures
10. Clean the mildew in your bathroom
11. Start writing that book you've been planning
12. Plan a garden
13. Plant a garden
14. Play with a pet
15. Read to a child
16. Visit someone in an old folks' home
17. Watch a news special on TV
18. Set up a family budget
19. Make a web site
20. Take up archery
21. Exercise
22. Go to an online recovery meeting
23. Surf the internet
24. Call your mom
25. Learn a foreign language
26. Write a poem
27. Play golf
28. Take a bubble bath
29. Draw
30. Teach a parakeet to whistle
31. Take a nap
32. Listen to music
33. Paint
34. Clean your desk
35. Start a stamp collection
36. Go window shopping
37. Browse in a book store
38. Go to an art gallery
39. Go for a drive
40. Paint a room
41. Watch the clouds go by
42. Play darts
43. Do target shooting
44. Do home repairs
45. Clean your garage
46. Sort your photographs
47. Make a scrapbook
48. Climb a tree
49. Plant a tree
50. Make marmalade
51. Make a list of things to do
52. Write a letter to the editor
53. Volunteer somewhere
54. Take a hike
55. Take a college class
56. Try yoga
57. Meditate
58. Get a massage
59. Make fruit smoothies
60. Bake cookies
61. Do a crossword puzzle
62. Go to the gym
63. Plant a color bowl
64. Sharpen your pruning tools
65. Change your engine oil
66. Sew
67. Groom your dog
68. Go see a play
69. Write a sonnet
70. Sort your recipes
71. Play solitaire
72. Go bird watching
73. Write a letter to a friend
74. Read a poetry book
75. Repot your houseplants
76. Go to a movie
77. Mow your lawn
78. Put up (or take down) your Christmas lights
79. Make pickles
80. Go jogging
81. Watch sitcoms
82. Plan menus for a diet
83. Do a jigsaw puzzle
84. Play chess
85. Write a country-western song
86. Watch a video
87. Go for a bike ride
88. Plant an herb garden
89. Start an online journal
90. Dye your hair
91. Go to a restaurant
92. Lift weights
93. Bake some bread
94. Learn a martial art
95. Polish the furniture
96. Make a flower arrangement
97. Read the newspaper
98. Start some seeds
99. Sort your magazines
100. Do some laundry.
111. Take a nature walk
112. Play with your kids
113. Volunteer at a homeless shelter
114. Volunteer at a school
115. Pick up garbage in a park
116. Tickle your kids
117. Play basketball
118. Volunteer at an animal shelter
119. Read to a child or pet
120. Sign up for obedience training with your dog
121. Take a walk and pick up litter you see on the way
122. Spend time at the library
123. Sort all your digital photos and make an album to print for holiday gifts to family.
124. Help your kid organize his closet.
125. Figure out the melody and chords to your current favorite tune on the piano.
126. Practice your holiday cookie recipes
127. Make crackers from scratch (that one didn't go so well).
128. Make tortillas from scratch (better).
129. Reread a book you haven't read for years.
130. Tango
131. Learn about someone else’s religion.
132. Reread one of your college textbooks.
133. Key out a wildflower.
134. Do your nails.
135. Do word puzzles.
136. Play a board game.
137. Burn CD’s of some of your favorite music for a friend.
138. Plant a bonsai.
139. Play Mad Libs.
140. Speak only in heroic couplets for an hour.
141. Read poetry online.
142. Ride a stationary bicycle.
143. Set up a domino topple.
144. Play backgammon.
145. Build a house of cards
146. Make an entry in Wikipedia.
147. Read a world almanac.
148. Publish a family newsletter.
149. Throw cards at a hat.
150. Go to bed.
__________________

[CarolD]

For me....
I re-newed my private piolets license
I took courses that interested me
I changed careers
I volunteered at a free medical clinic
I became involved in AA

I was single...in a city...and 52 when I quit drinking.
Just in case you think only young people can
improve their lives with sobriety.

I'm really glad you are thinking about a sober future.
My experience has been fantastic. ....

[StayinAlive]

At first self improvement was a hobby reading every self help book there was. People got tired of me analyzing there behavior so i had to quit that lol. But mostly taking nice pictures and mountain biking now.

[rondfw777]

I'm working on getting my good ole hobbies back,the things I enjoyed sober. This weekend I took my son to the Air show and for the first time in 8 years, I passed up the beer stand and settled for a water and shared a turkey leg with my son. Drove home sober and remembered every minute of the day. Things are so different now and I appreciate things so much more. I love my new hobby,which is not drinking. I don't miss it one single bit. I have my life back,the old me. No! things are not perfect and never will be,but I have my family and you can't replace that!

Ron

[allport]

In the early days of sobriety I found myself unable to do much really I was both mentally and physically worn out.

For me that hasn't changed much yet I still get incredibly tired really easily but what I have been doing is enjoying the things I can do a whole lot more.

I used to read a book simply to pass the time but now I find that I am really able to enjoy and think about it more.

I still have social issues, so joining clubs etc is not a viable option for me, but as I am sober I can work on these issues and one day I will be out there living a full and exciting life

[dgillz]

I have reconnected with my love of the outdoors - fishing, hiking, rock/fossil hunting. It is a lot tougher at 48 than it was at 25, but still a lot of fun and a lot better for me than sitting on a bar stool. I also discovered that I can still enjoy some of my old activities without alcohol. College football comes immediately to mind.

[littlefish]

This weekend I took my son to the Air show and for the first time in 8 years, I passed up the beer stand and settled for a water and shared a turkey leg with my son. Drove home sober and remembered every minute of the day. Things are so different now and I appreciate things so much more. I love my new hobby,which is not drinking.

That is beautiful. Thanks for sharing that. I used to think it was a major accomplishment if I could make it to the gym two times a week and practice my yoga once a week. Now I practice almost every morning. The mornings when I miss my practice is when I am too hungry. And that, is very good too. I didn't eat in the mornings for so many years, I drank.

[william1872]

Photography, takes my mind off everything , although not a cheap hobby at least I have something at the end of it, where drinking there's nothing to show but turmoil

[mirage]

A little too soon for me to tell, tho I am trying to finish up a cross stitch for my sil that I put down for a really long time. Hard to do that kinda work with a buzz.

StayInAlive: Really cool video! Made me dizzy and my bum hurts just watchin it, but dang..looks like fun!!

[Lindsay]

Exercising is my personal favorite. I'm a bit burnt out at the moment, but my love of working out is something that I have re-discovered in sobriety. I managed to workout occasionally while I was still drinking, but it was forced and not nearly as satisfying.

I try to mix things up between gym cardio, lifting weights, and running outside when it's nice out. So refreshing...

[pennylane2009]

Crocheting, at the moment. Everyone in my house is sporting new scarves. Including the kids' stuffed animals.

[LiveLikeGold6]

I will get back into exercising and I really want to try sewing!

[sailorjohn]

Didn't need to find new ones, just re-discovered how much fun I had doing those old things sober, drinking tends to get in the way of any real pleasure I might have derived from doing those things.

Hard to be real passionate about anything when everything revolves around drinking.

[brixkwall]

I think I just need to rediscover my old ones. You can't beat a good book for taking your mind off things. It can kill a few hours and gives you plenty of focus.

[littlebluedog]

The two things that I've really enjoyed since becoming sober is the book club that I've joined with a group of women from my home group, and journaling. Getting stuff out of my head and onto paper seems to help tremendously.

Fall and Winter are my 2 favorite seasons, so I'm really enjoying them, and everything that goes along with them, like I used to before I started drinking. Maybe even a bit more.

[c49999]

Originally Posted by sailorjohn

Didn't need to find new ones, just re-discovered how much fun I had doing those old things sober

Thats something I could attest to as well. It took a while to "lose myself" in projects, exercise, TRYING NEW THINGS <------- unbelievable in my former life.

I really don't have time to drink and definitely don't want to lose another day recovering from a 5 minute buzz.

[trucker]

like john rather than find new interests.....i found myself doing stuff i like when i was much younger.....ie....fishing....hiking......cycling.
i also rekindled a love for the countryside and being amongst nature...

ive gone from being incredibly lonely.......to enjoying solitude.....the more remote the better.

i would quite happily live in a stone cottage in the mountains with my dogs and wife till the end of my days...

but im not sure the tax man would be happy with that.....or my wife come to think of it..lol...lol.

[baldjim]

dgood thread

i have started a gym

plan to see more of old friends from years ago before i started drinking

maybe take some dancing lessons i move like balo the bear treading on an ice cube

i have always wished i could dance instead of propping up the bar

to be honest i will probaly look like big foot havig a fit

[coffeenut]

I'm finally getting to know me...good bad or otherwise. Really is a work in progress, isn't it?

And....the longer it goes....the better I get at NOT focusing on ME. Makes a lot of sense, doesn't it?!

[Pboy]

Originally Posted by brixkwall

I think I just need to rediscover my old ones. You can't beat a good book for taking your mind off things. It can kill a few hours and gives you plenty of focus.

Agreed!

Drinking and depression stole my interest in all my outside interest.

I use to enjoy exercising, following MMA, detailing cars, and playing the piano.

Now all seem less important.

[caleb76]

Sometimes, I just sit in the evenings in my quiet house look at the wall and feel sober. I have hobbies too, but I like just relaxing and not being buzzed. As time goes by you fill up your extra time with stuff to do.

But I do love being sober!

[Boleo]

Originally Posted by Pboy

when you quit drinking?

Oddly enough, when I found the joys of recovery:

peace of mind
equanimity
sense of purpose

I no longer needed anything else (including hobbies).

[barb dwyer]

nothing new (far as hobbies go)

but was able to go back to sidelining in art like I did before.

I didn't create a single thing
the whole time I was drinking.

[karma79]

When I stopped (it's only been 2 months) I found that I had to get out and do SOMETHING. i started hiking, taking photographs of landscapes, started programming an online business thingy, played a few video games, and hung out with old friends. When I drank, I would sit at home and watch TV. Doesn't work for me anymore... I HAVE to get out and do something or I get way too bored.