More on hobbies
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Buy a smaller guitar for children with small hands.
It is easier to hit difficult chords.
one person who lived it
Work out new audio gear using tracks or games you know well to spot shifts in sound quality.
You will recognize what was not reproduced correctly and can confirm it sounds as you prefer.
5 people, independently
Stand tall and look big to deter aggressive geese from charging.
Geese may back off if you appear larger and more intimidating.
- This tactic may fail if the goose has goslings and becomes more protective.
one person who lived it
Check moon cycles and plan your trip for the new moon phase.
You will see way more stars.
2 people, independently
Use subtitles to catch mumbled dialogue, heavy accents, indistinct speech, or plot points missed due to loud soundtracks or effects.
It clarifies misheard words and helps understand difficult accents or quiet dialogue.
8 people, independently
- Turn on subtitles for complicated movies or shows to help understand details and names.2
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Use a red-light source, such as a headlamp or lamp, for illumination.
Wait until after midnight, ideally around 3 AM, to view meteor showers.
At that time, your position on Earth faces head-on into space.
one person who lived it
Use a dog to deter aggressive geese, as they appear predatory to the birds.
Dogs look like predators to geese.
- This may not work if the dog is small, such as a Chihuahua, which a goose might pick up and carry.
one person who lived it
Start learning juggling with the 'cascade' pattern.
It can likely be learned in less than two hours.
one person who lived it
Carry a light jacket to use as a shield against aggressive geese by holding it out like a bullfighter's cape.
The goose will attack the jacket instead of you.
one person who lived it
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Ink using shoulder movements with a straight wrist to get long fluid strokes.
The wrist is wobbly with a smaller range of motion compared to the shoulder.
one person who lived it
Brew coffee at home to increase quality and reduce costs.
Home brewing increases quality and reduces cost.
one person who lived it
Seal scented dried flowers in a jar for about a week to intensify the smell before using them.
Leaving them sealed makes the scent stronger.
one person who lived it
Use a red-light source, such as a headlamp or lamp, for illumination.
It preserves better vision by avoiding glare.
2 people, independently
Learn basic magic or sleight of hand tricks to share with others.
It is fun and allows you to see others enjoy it.
one person who lived it
Listen to new music on headphones the first time to catch subtle details that make the song great.
You won't miss all the subtle details.
one person who lived it
Build Warhammer or Gundam models if you enjoy working with your hands.
Creating things with your own hands can be surprisingly satisfying.
one person who lived it
Do warm-up exercises before drawing to prepare your hands.
One person found this helped them when they had to draw.
one person who lived it
Practice pool with your non-dominant hand to improve your ability to switch if you cannot reach something normally.
It helps your game by allowing you to switch hands when you can't reach a shot normally.
one person who lived it
Use a cheap acoustic guitar with a cutaway to practice solos above the 12th fret if you primarily play standard acoustics.
The body of a standard acoustic gets in the way, making it hard to translate solo practice to electric guitar.
one person who lived it
Use the ending theme from '.Hack//Sign' to test instrument quality.
The instruments in the track are fantastic.
one person who lived it
Learn a basic shuffle dance step.
It is easy to learn, versatile, and can be performed to any song with a distinct, constant rhythm that is not extremely fast or slow.
one person who lived it
Play hacky sack to develop foot agility for catching falling items.
The skills saved money by preventing broken items.
- You may panic and abort the catch, risking injury to your toes.
one person who lived it
Use Steely Dan's album 'Aja' or the song 'Peg' to work out speaker quality.
Good systems will bring out instruments you didn't know were there due to excellent mixing and mastering.
2 people, independently
Use JR alternative golf balls for on-course play or sharing with friends who are not concerned about quality.
They are easy on the wallet.
one person who lived it
Expect learning an instrument to be a nightmare and suffering rather than easy.
Accepting this bases your mind on solid ground.
one person who lived it
Buy stickers and trade them with others.
It is described as super rewarding.
one person who lived it
Purchase eclipse glasses now rather than waiting until closer to the event, when prices rise and stock runs out.
Prices are jacked and items go out of stock closer to the event.
one person who lived it
Adopt a comfortable pinch grip for modern slingshots that allows you to change your hold as needed.
It provides comfort and the liberty to adjust the grip.
one person who lived it
Slow down breathing and hold your breath briefly after exhaling to steady your hand during precise tasks.
This technique helps steady the hand when precision is needed.
one person who lived it
Place a bird feeder and water container outside to watch birds.
Enjoy
one person who lived it
Learn to recite the alphabet backwards quickly as a party trick.
It can win you a beer occasionally.
one person who lived it
Listen to rap music, then occasionally remove headphones while rapping along to detect if you are rushing or dragging the beat.
You can see your tendency: ahead means rushing, behind means dragging.
one person who lived it
Practice with a metronome set slower than the tune, perfecting it at that speed before gradually increasing the pace.
Practicing without a metronome wastes time.
one person who lived it
When using a bare compound bow, release the arrow between heartbeats.
The process relies on muscle memory.
one person who lived it
Use frozen peas as slingshot ammunition to avoid leaving rocks in your yard.
It prevents rocks from accumulating in the yard.
one person who lived it
Use Rage Against the Machine's self-titled album or 'Take the Power Back' to gauge tonal quality and fidelity.
Audio engineers have used these tracks since their release for this purpose.
2 people, independently
Test cheap versions of tools or hobbies first to confirm interest and need before splurging on high-quality versions.
If you use the item frequently and it breaks, then upgrading to a high-quality version is justified.
one person who lived it
Photograph the shadows cast by sunlight filtering through tree leaves to capture pinhole images of the sun.
The source suggests these photos may be more interesting than pictures of the eclipse itself.
one person who lived it
Buy Chinese speed cubes (~$10) instead of American Rubik's cubes ($15-$20) for better performance.
Chinese speed cubes lead the industry for fast solvers, while American versions are described as inferior.
one person who lived it
Use shibari images as references to practice difficult anatomy and poses.
The poses are often very hard, making the practice educational, and it can be more fun if you enjoy the aesthetic.
one person who lived it
Use curved needles and a parallel stitch along a side seam to sew up plush toys, making the repair practically invisible.
Curved needles make sewing up and hiding stitches easier.
one person who lived it
Listen to content at normal speed when human voice inflection and pacing are important.
Pacing and inflection convey subtleties that speed-up distorts, allowing you to accept and contemplate what is spoken.
one person who lived it
Play 'Birdland' by Quincy Jones to test deep bass reproduction and instrument separation.
The recording features 20mhz rumbles that many headphones cannot reproduce and clearly separated instruments.
one person who lived it
Use the highest quality audio output available to you; focus on good speakers over headphones if they are superior, but always prefer headphones over phone speakers.
Better devices preserve subtle details in audio.
one person who lived it
Slightly push your ear toward the camera lens rather than tilting your forehead to avoid minimizing your jawline.
Tilting the forehead down minimizes the jawline.
one person who lived it
Filter an artist's discography by a specific producer you enjoy to quickly find new favorite tracks without listening to their entire catalog.
one person who lived it
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Request that guests contribute food, beverages, or snacks rather than traditional presents.
Learn to swim or improve swimming skills.
It requires 100% engagement with no room to focus on anything else.
one person who lived it
Attend events or social clubs to meet new people.
It is fun.
one person who lived it
Bring blister tape or other blister aids to weddings to help others with sore feet.
You will be seen as a hero by those in pain.
one person who lived it
Create things like art, cooking, or gardening rather than just owning nice things.
Creating is more fulfilling than paying for someone else's labor.
one person who lived it
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If you are unsure what to buy for someone's hobby, give a gift card to a specific shop they have mentioned.
This supports their hobby without risking the scenario where they already own the item you bought.
one person who lived it
Search Eventbrite for events in your area to meet people.
One person reported making more friends by attending local events.
one person who lived it
Assign the best man to shut down unauthorized speeches or announcements, since the groom should not have to enforce boundaries.
The groom shouldn't be the 'asshole' enforcing rules.
one person who lived it
Consider learning sign language as a new hobby or way to pass time.
It may come in handy unexpectedly.
one person who lived it
Dance in front of a mirror when bored or alone to build skill over time.
One person reported receiving compliments and improving through practice despite not being a professional.
one person who lived it
Take a handful of still photos at concerts instead of video for more appealing results.
Still photos are found to be more appealing than concert videos.
one person who lived it
Video friends and family watching an event to capture emotional moments and remember who was there, rather than just filming the event itself.
It serves as a reminder of who you were with and captures the emotional moment.
2 people, independently
Pursue DIY projects if you genuinely find them fun.
The enjoyment makes the time spent worthwhile, and the output is often vastly superior in quality.
one person who lived it
Take up hiking or nature-watching in local parks and trails as a free hobby that provides good exercise.
It is completely free and provides good exercise.
one person who lived it
Pick up a hobby requiring sustained attention and establish daily routines without screens.
This helps push past the gnawing feeling of withdrawal.
one person who lived it
Keep hobbies strictly for fun and resist pressure to monetize them, as turning a hobby into a job removes its charm.
2 people, independently
Visit physical stores related to potential hobbies—such as hobby shops, art stores, fabric shops, pet shops, sporting goods stores, or music shops—to talk to staff and customers for insights.
Interacting with staff and other customers can provide insights that help determine if the hobby interests you.
one person who lived it
Bring small binoculars to large zoos to view animals like zebras, rhinos, elk, and elephants that stay far from observation points.
Many large animals remain far from observation points.
one person who lived it
Request that guests contribute food, beverages, or snacks rather than traditional presents.
- Note allergies or specific wishes if you go this route.
3 people, independently
Create low-cost wedding announcements by copying photo booth strips onto heavier fancy paper using high-definition copiers.
One person found this method produced a nice and clean result.
one person who lived it
If you are officiating a wedding, coordinate with the photographer beforehand to ensure you step aside for the kiss photo.
It helps the videographer/photographer get the shot.
one person who lived it
Try drawing, knitting, crochet, or creating Webtoons.
Suggested as alternatives to cope with distress.
one person who lived it
Try non-social activities like learning an instrument or podcasting to gain experiences without immediate social pressure.
It provides experiences without the pressure of immediate social interaction.
one person who lived it
Volunteer at a rodeo to engage in social activities and potentially see concerts if you secure the right positions.
It is a highly social annual event that can include concert access for certain roles.
one person who lived it
movies, subtitles, watch, buying14
Consider that watching with subtitles may cause you to miss visual details, cinematography, or plot surprises due to focus on text.
Bring candy into movies instead of buying it there to save money.
Candy becomes more valuable (expensive) at the theater.
one person who lived it
If you are a Regal Crown member, look for Tuesday coupons for small popcorn when purchasing tickets on weekdays.
You may get a coupon for a small popcorn for $2 with ticket purchases.
one person who lived it
Avoid videos that explicitly instruct viewers to 'watch to the end' or 'wait for it,' as they are often low-quality or clickbait.
These tags help filter out worthless videos; the content is rarely worth the wait.
2 people, independently
Watch movies on free ad-supported platforms like the Roku Channel to save money.
Accepting commercial breaks is a worthwhile trade-off compared to paying rental fees.
one person who lived it
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Watch 'Croupier' (1998) starring Clive Owen.
It has high ratings and offers something for everyone.
one person who lived it
Replace cable TV with internet, Chromecast, and Ooya.
It eliminates the cable bill.
one person who lived it
Watch shows at a friend's house who has the subscription to make it a social outing rather than paying for individual access.
It provides a better overall experience.
one person who lived it
Keep a list of interesting movies on your phone to check availability on streaming services when you have time.
It allows you to add films from trailers or recommendations and search for them later.
one person who lived it
Recognize that buying digital media from providers like Apple grants access rights rather than true ownership.
Files are often encrypted and tied to specific apps, meaning you are essentially renting the item.
one person who lived it
Compare the cost of buying a TV series directly versus subscribing to the service that carries it to determine the cheaper option.
one person who lived it
Streamline movie selection by choosing based on a favorite actor or actress.
This method is efficient for decision-making.
one person who lived it
Avoid using subtitles while watching comedies.
Subtitles can spoil jokes by appearing too quickly, ruining the element of surprise, timing, and inflection.
4 people, independently
Buy physical media for obscure, niche, or controversial movies to ensure access, as digital licenses can be revoked.
Digital markets can pull licenses to films, and controversial content has been removed from streaming services like Netflix.
one person who lived it
Consider that watching with subtitles may cause you to miss visual details, cinematography, or plot surprises due to focus on text.
- Captions may reveal plot points seconds before they happen visually.
5 people, independently
books, reading, book, avoid19
Record unique musical performances, such as demo songs or premieres, to preserve content that may never be officially released.
Attend Friends of the Public Library book sales.
It is satisfying to fill a bag with books for a low price.
one person who lived it
Avoid reading book jacket summaries or back covers until you are well into the book to prevent spoiling major plot twists that may occur in the final section.
Book jackets can spoil twists that happen late in the story.
one person who lived it
Listen to podcasts or audiobooks while walking.
It is a nice combination and a good time to check out books you want to read.
one person who lived it
Do paint-by-numbers while listening to an audiobook.
It is pretty chill.
one person who lived it
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Start with Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology.
It is really good.
one person who lived it
Look for adult coloring books at Dollar Tree, including those with Barnes & Noble clearance tags.
They retail for higher prices elsewhere.
one person who lived it
Revisit old children's or YA books you loved growing up to kick-start a lost passion for reading.
This approach helped one person regain their love of reading.
one person who lived it
Add orris root to dried flowers to preserve their fragrance and appearance.
It preserves fragrance and appearance.
one person who lived it
Frame photos to include the landmark with the subject in the foreground, rather than filling the frame entirely with their face.
Some people prefer a photo of themselves over one that includes the sight they are visiting.
one person who lived it
Take a few unannounced pictures while subjects get ready to pose, as candid shots sometimes turn out best.
Candid pics sometimes come out best.
one person who lived it
Use a kitchen scale to bake bread by mass ratios rather than volume.
It allows you to replicate successful recipes predictably and tweak them with precision.
one person who lived it
Use the median or mean algorithm in Photoshop's Statistics script to remove moving objects from a photo by taking multiple shots of the same scene.
Pixels present in all photos are kept, while pixels appearing in only one photo are deleted.
one person who lived it
Purchase craft supplies and baking supplies at Dollar Tree.
The quality was reported as very good.
one person who lived it
Read book descriptions weeks before reading the book so you forget the details and avoid spoilers.
Descriptions sometimes give away half the book; forgetting the details prevents spoiling the experience.
one person who lived it
Switch from endlessly consuming content to producing output.
Endless consumption is just input; you need output.
one person who lived it
Ask a florist which flowers dry well, as not everything dries successfully.
Not everything dries well.
one person who lived it
Use a Kindle to borrow library books, share e-books, and download free classics to avoid accumulating physical clutter.
It saves space at home and makes commuting entertaining with long battery life.
one person who lived it
Record unique musical performances, such as demo songs or premieres, to preserve content that may never be officially released.
Without these recordings, unreleased demo or premiere songs would be lost forever.
2 people, independently
Collect cookbooks published by organizations like United Methodist Women or The Junior League.
They serve as culinary snapshots of local history.
one person who lived it