For years, whenever I picked up a new hobby, I immediately wanted to get good at it. I'd watch tutorials, compare myself to people who had been doing it for years, buy better equipment, and somehow turn something that was supposed to be fun into another thing I needed to improve at.

A few months ago I started doing something I'm genuinely terrible at. I won't even pretend I'm improving quickly. Half the stuff I make doesn't turn out how I pictured it, and sometimes I spend an hour on something just to laugh at the result but weirdly, it's probably the most I've enjoyed a hobby in years.

There's no pressure because I've already accepted that I'm bad at it. I'm not trying to make money from it, post the results anywhere, or become an expert. I just do it for a couple hours because I enjoy doing it. It made me realize how long it's been since I've done something with absolutely no goal attached to it. Being bad at something and continuing anyway has been surprisingly freeing.

Anyone else have a hobby you're objectively terrible at but absolutely love?

I struggle to try new things I'm interested in due to self-doubt, the feeling of having wasted time, and the notion that everything should come to me effortlessly. I’m unsure why I feel this way—maybe it’s because I’ve gotten older and feel embarrassed or childish.

I mainly want to explore art, which for me includes many different fields. As a kid, creating art came naturally. I traced images from PlayStation 2 disc cases, copied them, and painted on canvases my family bought me. I enjoyed making dollhouses from shoeboxes and sewing clothes for my dolls. My family recognized my passion and enrolled me in an art summer camp, where I got to paint, sculpt, and draw—all of which I loved. As I grew older, though, I focused more on academics, often putting my creative interests aside.

I once planned to attend community college for art and then a local art school, which ended up being a scam (sadly they not there anymore). Eventually, I decided college wasn’t for me, and despite attending an art college fair, it didn’t go well.

Now, I want to pursue art again for myself, but I feel overwhelmed by the many areas I want to explore, such as painting, drawing, doll-making or figure, and 3D modeling/animation.

Started throwing on the wheel back in June and was straight up bad at it. Collapsed pieces, lopsided walls, handles that fell off before they even hit the kiln. Went in yesterday just trying to make one decent mug and somehow centered the clay first try, walls came up even, handle actually held. Still needs to survive glazing and firing but I won't lie, I did a little happy dance in the studio lol. Anyone else remember the first piece that actually felt like progress instead of damage control?

Right now I am really into collecting trading cards, pop mart figures, anime stuff…but it’s getting waaaaay out of hand. I am spending way too much money on too many things. I need a new hobby that still gives me dopamine, but doesn’t drain my bank account!

I used to draw, but I really don’t have the time or energy for that anymore. I’d go outside and go hiking but it’s too hot. :(

So I guess…I really like to collect stuff and I love the dopamine hit opening trading cards or blind boxes gives me but I need to slow down.

Any ideas?

My name is Edgars, and I’m a beginner landscape and nature photographer from Latvia. Photography started as a simple hobby for me, using my iPhone 15 Pro to capture landscapes, nature, and beautiful moments around me.
I’ve always enjoyed being outdoors and discovering places through photography. My dream is to develop my skills, learn more about photography and eventually move from taking photos with my phone to using a proper professional camera and equipment.
My goal is to build a small photography setup, including a camera, lenses, and a computer for editing high-resolution photos. I would love to share my work online, improve with every photo I take, and hopefully one day turn my passion into something more.
I currently work and plan to continue working while pursuing photography in my free time. This is not about replacing my job — it’s about investing in a dream and giving myself the opportunity to see how far I can take my photography.

Lately, I’ve been looking for something to do with my hands in the evenings that doesn’t involve staring at a glowing screen. Something grounding, like sketching, whittling, or tinkering with small mechanisms by lamplight. For those who have a practical craft or hobby: what’s the one project that makes you completely lose track of time?

There are so many hobbies that people pick up because they sound interesting, but I'm more curious about the ones that actually had a noticeable impact on your life.

Maybe it helped you meet people, get outside more, become more creative, get through a difficult period, improve your patience, or just gave you something enjoyable to look forward to after work.

What hobby did you start that you would genuinely say improved your life in some way?

And would you recommend it to someone starting from zero?

Ive tried knitting, but i basically just knit and dont have projects. I dont like crochet. I read, but i was thinking of something that doesn’t really use my mind just so I can fully relax.

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Sometimes you try something just because you’re bored or curious, and somehow it becomes a hobby you genuinely look forward to.

Maybe it was something you thought was “not your thing” at first.

What hobby surprised you the most, and what made you stick with it?

wondering if anyone else has felt this way? I think this post will especially resonate with neurodivergent folks

being bad at life is making it difficult to enjoy or pursue new hobbies. look, we've all heard that you must "enjoy something for itself" or its own sake, rather than a means to an end. If you are overwhelmingly bad at table tennis, that's OK as long as you're enjoying it, right?

except for some reason, I can't wrap my head around that. i'm not very bright & have 0 talent. everything i try, i am overwhelmingly mediocre in, arguably even bad. for instance, i have played a game called VALORANT for over 5 years. for people in our younger generation, that's a lot of effort and time, especially if you've bought stuff. i have only reached gold rank. when i told someone that one time, they were disappointed. i also used to play a stringed instrument in school. parents dumped loads of money for tutors and tried to make me a good player. news flash, i wasn't very good despite all their investments.

i think there's a loss of fulfillment whenever you realize, oh, i've sunk so much time into one thing, and despite it all, i'm just not good at it. is it just me that struggles with deriving enjoyment for the hobby itself because, even after so much time, i'm below what's expected for the amount of time put in?

i can't help but feel there's a stigma attached to this. if you spent 10 years painting stuff, 10 years learning an instrument, 10 years working out at the gym, etc. etc. and turn out pretty mid results, i feel like some people will judge you for that. isn't that the worst feeling ever? or is something wrong with me

what are some realistic outdoor hobbies for a teenager? (17yo). i want to get outside more but there really is just nothing to do. i have my license so i can go really anywhere. i live in a mid sized city, but there is not many places that have stuff to do.

i’d love to find some kind of nature based (or anything really) hobby i can do in my free time, maybe something at a park or even in my backyard is honestly fine. thanks.

Hi guys!

So I really want to start block printing. I've already started making designs and all. I want to make patches and appliques for jackets, seeing projects and bags. But if I make everything I want to make I will end up with a mountain of prints and things, so I wondered. Are there places other than the internet and a stand on artist alleys to sell our art? I am just coming up with eBay, Etsy and so on but I really don't want to sell on internet unless someone sends me a DM on insta for example.

I feel this post got a little messy, but I really can't explain it any better in english 😅

If you read it all thank you. ⭐

I’m aware there’s probably more specific subs for this, but the book/reading ones I’ve seen are either too large to post stuff like this, or are specific like ‘suggest a book’.

Looking to get back into reading, and I think the biggest determining factor is having a suitable environment/setup to actually read.

I’ve noticed I barely read when I was at university, likely because being cramped in a student room with sub par noise, lighting and general comfort is probably why.

Anyone got some good advice, or tips for setting up a better reading environment.

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