Many of us don’t like the great outdoors, or even the regular outdoors. Our home is our favorite location to spend our time. Depending on our space and lifestyle, our activities may be limited. We often resort to watching TV, reading, or playing video games. While these activities are fun, they are not always the most fulfilling.
It can be hard to find a good hobby we can enjoy on the couch. Today we are going to discuss a few great hobbies for homebodies.
I am a man of many hobbies, so much in fact that I have tried my hand at every one of the activities we are about to discuss. I love the idea of the Renaissance Man, or the Jack of All Trades. I have found that having proficiency in many skills only serves to enhance my life. I also like to learn these skills in the comfort of my own home.
Couponing
My aunt is great at couponing. I have seen her pantry filled with items she got for pennies, or even for free. She spent a lot of time doing this, but she got a lot of return on said time. While this may not work for everyone, taking time to get the most bang for your buck can be a very rewarding use of time.
Couponing is a hobby that gives back what we put in. There are a plethora of online resources that can help us save money. We no longer have to go to the store every Sunday to get a stack of newspapers. All we need is a computer, a smart phone, and some patience. This is a great activity to do while watching television or listening to podcasts.
Starting A Website/Online Community
Many of us spend a lot of time online. This is especially true if we are homebodies. There can come a point where our regular websites and social media are not as fulfilling as they used to be. While these activities can bring us new friends and a lot of enjoyment, sometimes having a space of our own can be very satisfying.
Technology has made web design accessible for people of any skill level. For just a few dollars per month we can have a site of our own. We can control content and drive conversations with others. The management aspects of running a website can prove to be worthwhile.
There are also options for those who want to manage a space without running their own website. We can be moderators for other people’s websites and message boards. We can run a clan or guild in our favorite game. There are many people looking to share the responsibility of their web space.
Yarn Craft
I first started in yarn craft when I was fifteen. My mother was teaching a friend of mine how to crochet. As a joke, I taught myself how to crochet to show up my friend. The joke quickly faded as I found crocheting to be very relaxing. My mother still tells the story of how her pierced-up and mohawked son fell asleep on the couch with yarn in his hand.
Personally, I prefer smaller projects that I can complete in a week or so. I can crochet for a few days and have an awesome finished product. I do not have the patience to put 30 hours into a giant blanket. I typically stick to scarves and dolls.
There are also economic benefits to yarn craft. There are many things we can make that are more cost-effective than buying them. This includes items such as scarves, hats and oven mitts. This also comes in handy with giving gifts. Homemade gifts are always the best. They show the recipient that you spent your time on them instead of money.
Writing And Drawing
I am not the best visual artists. I have been drawing for a few years now and find it to be a great hobby. It is great for when I have a little bit of downtime. I love telling jokes, and drawing allows me to tell simple jokes in a more entertaining format. Doodling helps me with stressful situations at work. It also helps me pay attention during long meetings.
Having a creative and emotional outlet is very important. Some of us aren’t the best at expressing ourselves vocally. This is where writing and drawing can come in handy. As we increase our writing and drawing skills we can better express ourselves and explore our imaginations. The world inside our homes can seem a lot of bigger when we can put anything we want onto paper.
Cooking And Baking
During my college years I worked at Sears in the electronics department. I am sure many of us are aware of how Sears has been doing over the past decade. Pair this with my store being in a rural area and we have ourselves a very boring job. I spent all day surrounded by televisions with no one there to buy them.
One of the televisions was hooked up to cable. The only problem was that there were parental controls. Food Network was the only station I could watch all day without hitting the parental locks. This was the beginning for my love of cooking. I would go home at night and try some of the things I saw at work.
It can be fun to try new recipes, or modify some of the classics. Pushing ourselves to improve our cooking skills can be very rewarding. This hobby also comes with some health benefits. The search for better ingredients leads us away from processed foods. A well-cooked meal does not need to rely on chemicals and fillers. We all have to eat. Learning how to make good food is no-brainer.
This hobby also pairs well with couponing. Buying fresh and high-quality ingredients can get expensive. This damage to our wallets can be mitigated with a few good saving techniques. In my experience, buying good food and ingredients with coupons costs about the same as regular groceries without them.
Coding
I first started learning to code when I was little. My father ran a few websites and I would help him out from time to time. Most of this was just making HTML edits on websites.
I got my first real coding experience in 8th grade. My friend and I realized we could code games on the TI-83 graphing calculator. I made a text-based skateboarding RPG. It was no Tony Hawk, but it was a fun project. This coding experience has helped me in many aspects of my life ever since.
I don’t code games that much anymore. A few times a year I will get the itch and code for a few weeks. A few years ago, I was able to get Game Maker Studio on a Humble Bundle deal. While this software does have its limitations, it does everything I need it to for my current skill level. I also love that it has a built-in pixel are editor.
Good coding requires logic and rational thinking. Computers can only do what we tell them to. Coding is essentially teaching a complicated set of rules and instructions to a blank slate. It often feels like a puzzle. Overcoming obstacles to create something cool is always an awesome experience. Writing code is no exception.
There are many different types of coding languages and software. Each one has their own strengths and weaknesses. There are many great pieces of coding software that are meant for beginners. They often have built-in tutorials or offer a simple coding language. There are a ton of resources online for coders of all skill levels.
Exercise
I will admit, this is not my best hobby. Exercising feels good, but not as good as my creative outlets. Recently I have been better about working out, but long-term consistency has always been a trouble of mine. While this is my personal experience, exercise is a fulfilling hobby for many people.
Working out provides a variety of benefits to our lives. Better health leads to a higher quality of life. Exercising helps relieve stress. It can teach us resilience and dedication. Not matter what skill we are trying to build; a little exercise will probably help.
We don’t need to go to a gym to exercise. There are many exercises that can be done in our homes without any sort of equipment. There are even work outs that can be done by incorporating common objects in our homes.
Home And Lifestyle Improvement
For homebodies, our lifestyle and habitat are the biggest parts of our lives. While we may prefer to stay home, our homes may not be the best environment for us. Luckily, this can be changed. A little goes a long way when it comes to setting up our living space to meet the demands of our lives.
Building good habits is essential for any lifestyle. For example, regularly doing the dishes or cleaning up can bring a lot of positivity into our households. Organizing our possessions can help save time and cut down on stress.
If our house is our favorite spot, improving our house can only improve our circumstances. We can fix the leaky faucet. We can weatherproof our doors and windows for the cold months. We paint the walls, change the floors and decorate. While some of this may not be possible due to our living constraints, there is almost always something that can be improved in our living space.
Making Music
I started playing guitar when I was thirteen. I quickly moved on to bass because all my friends wanted to play guitar. I started my first band at the age of fifteen and had a great time playing gigs throughout high school. I have played in many bands ever since, but some of my best work has come from making music alone in my house.
This is another area where technology has made things easier. We no longer have to buy expensive instruments and speakers to be creative. We don’t have to disturb our neighbors while we teach ourselves the drums.
Music can be made with nothing more than a computer. There is a plethora of free audio editors available. There are also many digital instruments and controllers to help us expand our creative reach.
Pets and Pet Care
We all love our fur babies. They provide us with comfort and companionship when we need interaction. Currently, my dog is begging me to play while I write this article. Be right back.
Okay, play time is done and I am ready to continue this discussion!
All jokes aside, there is an entire culture built around taking care of pets. Sure, our friends could survive off cuddles and kibble. What is the fun in that? Finding new ways to train and interact with our pets can be extremely rewarding. Interacting with our pets can provide endless love and laughter.
The internet also provides infinite sources of pet knowledge and entertainment. There are pet-based blogs, podcasts and YouTube shows. If you have a pet that you love, there is someone willing to talk to you about it. Anything you want to know about pets is right at your fingertips!
Hobbies For Homebodies: What do you think?
I want to hear about your rewarding hobbies! What do you like to do with your free time? Where there any hobbies for homebodies that I left out? Let me know on social media!
