Hobby Farm

I often wonder about the way in which I spend my spare time. Do I waste it? Do I enjoy what I do while not at work? Am I keeping my mind and body sharp and healthy, or am I just turning into a lazy couch potato?

I often think that I should dedicate myself wholeheartedly towards some real hobbies or interests, rather than leading the lifestyle I currently do. Sure, I might read a fair bit, delve into the world of computer gaming, play basketball (when I'm not injured) and... yeah, that's about it. (I'm not including my day-to-day social activities here, like watching tv, listening to music, going to the movies, shopping, going to bars etc etc.). I've realised that sometimes I actually struggle to put down something interesting when presented with some sort of form or document (survey, CV etc.) that asks for hobbies/interests.

What do I do about this dilemma? The obvious answer is to find myself some hobbies. I have a few ideas that I know I would like to pursue more thoroughly, but I find that my willpower and commitment are often somewhat lacking - on a side note, I've found that ever since I finished university, my ability to pay attention to new things and learn them has reduced dramatically... I think I have almost exhausted the "study quota" in my brain. Somehow, I need to find the enthusiasm and dedication to turn some of my hobby ideas into reality.

Here are some of my ideas:

i. I would like to be a better cook. Unfortunately, I am regularly too lazy to try cooking something new each night, and despite my personality pre-disposition to organising and planning the the nth degree, I can never plan my meals ahead of time to get the ingredients for new recipes.

ii. I would like to expand my online presence. This blog has been an entertaining diversion, but I would like to focus my energies more productively; for a start, I think that might involve splitting my blog into 2 or 3... one for the everyday waffle, one more focused on my geek tendencies, and possibly another for my random thoughts and observations. The purpose of all this wouldn't be to try and get to 5, 10, 50 or 1000 readers; it would be more of a personal challenge to force myself to think and use the parts of my brain not normally challenged while at work i.e. the more creative side. Part of this may include developing my own website, but I'm not sure yet - this is all still a work in progress. I'm not so sure about something like Myspace... feels a bit too much like jumping on a bandwagon, and besides, for the moment, this is all just for my personal development rather than networking.

iii. I would like to learn how to produce music. Nothing for commercial release or anything that grandiose; again, this is a personal challenge. I listen to so much music, hours and hours each day, I would like to take all of that exposure and turn it inward, see what I could come up with. I've started this process already... it isn't much, but I am slowly teaching myself Garageband on my Mac. Nothing at all to show for it yet, apart from creases in my training manual.

iv. I would like to take more photographs. I'm not sure this would be a hobby so much as just an activity. Similar to my ideas above, I'm not planning to suddenly announce that I'm "in to photography" or anything like that. After visiting the USA last year, I've managed to collect a few photos that I am quite proud of, and I would like to expand my collection of good photos, eventually with the aim of perhaps printing them in larger formats to use as artwork and fill up the barren walls of the apartment a bit.

v. I would like to re-visit my school days and perhaps do some art classes. At one point in high school, I did art as an elective, and I had a blast (this is coming from someone whose curriculum was loaded to breaking point with maths, more maths, science and more science). I still remember some of my drawings/paintings. I liked the structure of the class environment though, so I don't think I could just start doing something from scratch, I'd definitely need to go to the CAE or something. No people or animals though... I could never get the dimensions right. I prefer inanimate objects.

... I've just skimmed back over what I have written. It all sounds so cliched. Urgh. But at the same time, I have to realise that I am a city dweller through and through, and someone who is quite possibly not going to get back into competitive sport again (unless my ankle heals beautifully, and I can manage the pain of the tendonitis in my knees), so in some ways, my options for hobbies are a little restricted (I'm never going to be a rock climber or a cyclist or something like that). Perhaps I could get into poker and earn millions? Unlikely, as much as I enjoy watching it. My card game of choice was bridge; unfortunately, my partner in crime back in our school days is now working on the other side of the globe.

So there are some of my ideas. Now it is your turn, friendly reader. How can I fill my spare time? What enjoyable pastimes can you recommend for me? And before I forget, if you have any good suggestions for how I can avoid the tv/couch trap and find the willpower to commit to my new hobbies, please add them too.