Biking.

Moving under your own power has so many benefits:

• It's fun
• It's cheap (or can be, to be fair)
• It's good for your health
• It's good for the planet

Thinking of learning sign language....

Crochet

Pros

• Documented mental health benefits
• Cheap to start, can learn from online tutorials
• Easier than knitting
• Make cool toys, clothes, home accessories, whatever you want
• Get to smush yarn into your face on a regular basis

Cons

• Fibre crafts gateway drug

Some form of metal working, and specifically machining. I really enjoy machining, and I've been able to make some genuinely useful things. The tools are actually really quiet and stateful, unlike woodworking power tools which SCREAM at you like horrible demons. Seeing people look at their first top, or pen, or miniature cannon is great. Plus, things made in metal are at least slightly shiny.

For example, you could make dumbbell handles and plates like this: a photo of dumbbell handles and weight plates

Or a metal yarn winder like this: a photo of an all-metal yarn winder

The major downside is that it's not cheap (not as expensive as boats, possibly more expensive than photography), and it requires at least a bit of space that you wouldn't mind getting dirty. Luckily, I feel like makerspaces are starting to have more and more metalworking equipment.

3D printing. Suddenly you are able to fix small plastic shit in your house which would otherwise mean throwing out the whole goddamn thing. Best feeling ever to repair and save stuff.

Cooking is a very nice, relaxing hobby and you also get to eat some good food!

It’s also very useful and an easy way to impress people.

Baking - fresh warm bread is so good!

Sewing - it's nice to add pockets to things 😁

Learning a new language. You learn a bit about how languages work, understand other cultures a bit better, usually learn new vocabulary for your native language, understand the relationship between different languages, learn the roots of loan words and generally helps your brain stay healthy, even by only studying the basics.

Public Speaking

You never know when you'll have to say something in front of a crowd.

Running. Fairly cheap. Can set your own schedule. Improves physical and mental health, increases self confidence, can help with sleep and weight loss.

At work, I have a reputation for being the guy who never shuts up about trying to get new people into scuba diving. If there are 2 or more divers at the lunch table I honestly feel a little bad for everybody else. The cost of getting trained and renting or buying all your gear can scare people away, but I would at least strongly recommend that anybody on an island vacation or cruise at least try a "discover Scuba" class. You'll learn everything you need to know to not die by watching a quick video, and working in a pool, then you get to go have an amazing dive in the ocean with an instructor.

An instrument. It's soul food and extremely therapeutic. Even if you suck, just learn to let it go. I find it's really good for my mental health. I dunno, it's music ya know? Lol

• making bread
• brewing beer (or making wine or cider, as one prefers)
• repair sewing

I suspect I'd feel the same about welding or smithing, but I haven't tried those (yet).

Sewing is useful and satisfying. I'd like to say it's also easy but I have never figured it out myself (which doesn't say much, anything that involves using my hands is... questionable)

Self-hosting. You learn how to use Linux, security, managing services, and after all that you have your own little ship on the internet. After all that you gain a massive understanding of how the internet and the technology you use daily work and run (to an extent).

Everyone should try to regularly do something that lets them 'play' and be creative, like music, singing, writing, acting, etc. Our day to day is largely rule based so I think it's important to have some time operating outside of that.

Also people should try and do something with their hands (no not that). I've been getting into Lego and jigsaw puzzles as a way of reducing my screen time and it's doing me a lot of good. Picked up crochet recently and going to try and make a baby blanket for my incoming niece.

Juggling!

• It can be done dirt cheap

• It's really therapeutic

• You can practice it almost anywhere but especially alone in your room

• If you git gud at it, you have a cool skill to show off

Wood working. Can fix things and build things. It’s very rewarding. Can find second hand tools and slowly build your collection and upgrade them as you develop and hone your skills until your wife surprises you at home with your closest friends and family and they proceed to tell you that you have a problem and have to decide between investing time and energy into a living family or your woodworking hobby.

Juggling is fun and makes you really great at throwing things (but only mildly better at catching them hehe) 👍

Hiking.

Getting up amongst the fells and mountains, mostly in isolation from noise and other people. Sure there's touristy spots where alot head to but there's still plenty of other, maybe slightly more difficult to hike places if you wanted pure zen.

Navigation is important, don't just go up with Google maps expecting her to tell you when the next left is. Get some research done, and head out. Don't overcomplicate things with buying loads of gear that youtubers "recommend", don't send it up a 3000ft hike either. A slight ascent, around a lake - start small, find your feet and grow from there.

The best thing I could ever have started for my mental health.