Hobbies are great for recovering from addiction for a number of reasons. They give you something to do in those moments when you might otherwise feel bored or lonely. They are a convenient distraction from cravings. They give you a sense of purpose and direction. They help you build focus and willpower. And they connect you to a community of people with similar interests. Hobbies are often a creative outlet for people who have trouble expressing themselves verbally and for that reason can actually be a valuable part of healing. However, it’s not always easy to start a new hobby, especially if it’s something complicated. Here are some tips for starting a new hobby when you don’t know where to start.
See what your friends are into.
Perhaps the easiest way to get into a new hobby is to find a friend who is already into it. Your friend can show you the basics and help you avoid a lot of beginners’ mistakes. You probably already know if your long-time friends have hobbies so if any of them do anything interesting, you can just ask if they’ll help you get started. However, you may not know as much about your new sober friends. Asking what they do for hobbies is not only a great way to find resources to help you get started but it’s also a great way to start conversations and build relationships. Also, try to keep an open mind. Try anything that sounds even mildly interesting. Sharing hobbies is a great way to bond with people and you might discover an interest you would have never thought of.
Search YouTube.
There are loads of resources on the internet, including online courses and niche websites, but YouTube is perhaps the richest source of free introductory tutorials and many of them are of excellent quality. Whether you want to get into archery, playing the guitar, creating computer animations, or thousands of other things you never even knew existed, you can probably find a tutorial on YouTube. It’s often a good idea to do a lot of step-by-step tutorials to get a sense of how things work. Before long, you’ll start seeing little ways to improve the process on your own or get ideas for your own projects.
Just get started.
When starting hobbies that are technical, expensive, or potentially dangerous, it’s a good idea to have some kind of expert guidance before you get started, whether it’s an instructor, a friend, or a detailed tutorial. However, for many hobbies, it doesn’t matter much if you mess up a lot at first. If you want to learn to draw, for example, you can just start drawing. You’ll quickly learn what works and what doesn’t and if you need help, you’ll know how to ask better questions.
Tree House Recovery of Orange County, California is a premiere men’s addiction treatment facility that uses eight different modalities to help our men become the best versions of themselves they can be. We teach our men that every day of their journey is something to celebrate and that recovery isn’t a sprint– it’s a marathon. To get started with Tree House Recovery, call us today at (855) 202-2138
