What new hobbies have you picked up since quitting?
 

This will be my 36th day since my last drink and I’ve dabbled in some workouts here and there, I want to get a dog soon to start to run with this spring/summer/fall. I’ve started really reading again, and done a couple meditation sessions which have been so amazing! I want a bit more time but with two youngsters and a busier month it’s hard to find the time.

I also want to make more connections but again with out lifestyle it’s been a challenge to figure out activities and get out of the house.

Anyway, I’m just waiting here and thought I’d reach out!

Good job on 36 days Readygo 👍

I now attend a fitness class called ((Bounce)) twice a week, one of which is a Sunday morning which pre-sobriety would not have been an option after drinking on Saturdays. We now have a cat which again I'd resisted pre-sobriety because I didn't want to have to worry about getting home to feed the cat if I was out on one of my 15+ hour bottomless brunches!!!! I know a cat isn't a 'hobby' but we have gotten so much enjoyment from her joining our family. Like you I also practice meditation now.

Some that I've tried which didn't stick for me was running (too much time to think) and colouring books for grown ups!

Good topic. For me it wasn't that I found new hobbies but reengaged old ones. I'm playing my guitar and bass again, at the gym daily and am getting back to blogging. None of these was I even near being consistent with before I split up with drinking.

As nova said, good job on the 36 days!

Best.

Checking this forum 100 times a day...lol!

congrats on 36 days!

I go to the gym every day and started to work on nutrition. I also picked up sewing and baking. I love to read too.

Weightlifting, motorcycles.

I started doing jigsaw puzzles, haha life in the fast lane! Maybe skydiving next. I keep a 1000-piece puzzle going on my dining room table now, usually complete one every week or so. It helped me a lot in my early sober days, slowed my mind down in a good way. It takes zero skill just dogged persistence, maybe similar to sobriety in that way, who knows! Also I started reading books again because I can concentrate now that I'm not staying drunk 24/7.

36 days!?!
Seems you've also picked up 'being awesome' as a hobby! :You_Rock_

Spring time is near and the garden centers
are loading up on flowers and bulbs to be
planted in gardens, flower pots, hanging
baskets etc.

Birds are reappearing and will be looking
for suet, seeds and fresh water. Even feeders
for those cute little Hummingbirds. If you
feed them, they will come on a daily bases. :)

Birds, flowers, motorcycle trips, exercising
in the pool, walking, tattoos, baking in early
recovery for meetings and listening to music that
fills the heart and soul.

Everyday sober is a gift to be enjoyed
and treasured and not to be taken for
granted. Live life to the fullest in all
you do. :)

I'm not sure I've picked up new ones, but I've delved into some existing ones.

Fitness-wise, there's martial arts, crossfit, and cycling. I recently joined my police service's Pipe & Drum band (I used to play snare drum when I was a teenager). I read much more regularly now, not just as an aid to sleep but during downtime at home.

I've always had these interests, but it was all too overwhelming when I was stuck in the cycle of drinking-getting over drinking.

I found myself quite busy in the early days. I got into sailing which took up the fine weekends, and there was always plenty of activity in AA other than the meetings. Add a job, and I didn't have all that much spare time.

I have renewed some of my passions, one in particular, writing.

Writing was my life blood before alcoholism flattened every area of my life, most notably, my writing soul. Towards the end of my drinking career, I would sit with pen in hand, aching to write something, anything. But, no words came. I thought the part of me, where my words flowed from, was dead.

But, I am so happy to find, that in sobriety, that part of me is the opposite of dead! Now, I sit with pen in hand (who am I kidding....keyboard in hand :lmao) and it is like a floodgate has opened!

I ♥ sobriety

I am a writer (albeit a technical one). I write articles on software engineering, and also on music theory.

You're right about the drink killing all desire. Well, the desire is there as you say but nothing comes out. All of my best and most popular work online was written when I was sober because writing drunk is impossible.

When I quit for 60 days I was writing quality articles and guides. I started gaining a lot of followers and attention. I was enjoying it so much and it gave me a huge confidence boost in my area of expertise. It could have led me down a new path in life. But, drink put a stop to that.

I've started drafting 3 new articles last night and I'm only day 3 into this. I feel like writing is the one thing that's going to keep me occupied at night.

(It's also possible to make an income from writing online too he he he)

I have picked up reading more, painting, workout more and a few online courses.
:)
I have added to the list of things I would like to do this summer like,
paddle boarding, kayaking, longer distant walks, bike trails, and many more things

I've picked up knitting again. I've been a knitter off and on for many years, but in the last few years I'd drop too many stitches and screw up the project because I was buzzed.

When I picked it up again, my mother reminded me that my grandmother use to knit and drink beer every night. She was an alcoholic who never seemed to drop a stitch.

Man, I'm an old lady, huh?

Spirituality; never heard of it before I got sober and recovering. Now it’s the foundation of my life.

Unicycling! It's difficult to learn but incredibly rewarding. Kind of like surfing but your peddling powers the wave.

It's not a hobby, but I've been more involved than ever with my dogs and cats. My one dog is quite old and recently had his right eye removed due to glaucoma. Had I been drinking I wouldn't have been able to care for him after the surgery.

Wow! Those suckers are heavy too!! ;0)

I'm available for my dogs again. I can read a book and remember it now, so I've burned thru a couple dozen by now. Also, my sister sent me an "adult" coloring book + a pack of colored pencils when I was in the hospital. That's certainly fun. No, you pervs it's not porn, it's just swear words packaged in nice designs.

Between work, AA meetings, the dogs and home I find myself quite occupied.