A Long List of Hobby & Skill Ideas

Dear Reader,

Since the point of this blog is to try new things and document them in order to become well-rounded, I need a list of things to try. I’ve made many such lists over the years, and they’re a good starting point, but it’s long past time to take action and check things off, so let’s get this done!

Some of the things I want to do can’t be taken on right now because I have a daughter who I spend all my time with, but I’m dreaming big and hoping I can try them in the future. Also, some of these things will cost money, but I’ll do my best to make them happen. I will start small with things that I can accomplish at home. 

On this list there will be things you will be interested in and some you won’t care for. It might still be entertaining to watch a beginner try them out, so keep an open mind and check out the posts to learn something.

Here is everything I want to try and my current skill level. Beware – there’s a lot I want to do:

Arts & Crafts

• Crochet.

So far I have made one baby blanket! Check out the post HERE.

• Flower Arrangement.

With the help of my bridesmaids and an inspiration picture to copy, I arranged the bouquets for my wedding. They turned out beautiful, but this is something I would like to improve on.

• Gouache Painting.

I discovered this style of painting on Pinterest. It looks like a fun, easy way to get into painting because it has bright colors and clear lines while still being aesthetically pleasing.

• Knit.

I have never knit anything in my life, but I’d like to try!

• Piano.

I took piano lessons for a year or two when I was a kid. When I stopped taking lessons, I stopped playing, so I lost whatever skill I had. I can read the basic notes and play simple songs very slowly with practice, but I need to get a piano to start learning again. 

• Sew.

I can sew on a button. That’s about it. I would love to learn how to sew quilts, professional-looking clothing, and just about anything made of fabric using a sewing machine.

• Singing.

Everyone can sing, but not everyone is good at it. I would love to maximize my range and become a better singer overall.

Sports:

• Archery.

A fun, possibly useful skill that I have little experience with. I have shot a bow maybe twice as a kid.

• Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

I became interested in BJJ since I began listening to the Jocko Podcast. I’d love to learn it for self-defense.

• Gymnastics.

I can kind of do a cartwheel, but that’s it. I would love to learn how to do more moves, just so I can have more control over my body.

• Hockey.

Since I can barely skate, trying to hold and maneuver a hockey stick while on ice is a challenge. I would love to gain some skill in this, because I come from the midwest where hockey is popular and the winters are perfect for cold-weather sports.

• Horse riding.

I have been on a horse twice. The first time I didn’t go faster than a jog (canter?), and the second time was mostly me hanging on for dear life because I got on a horse who knew I was a beginner and took advantage of it. 

• Hunting.

I’ve shot a gun and a bow before, but I didn’t practice enough to be proficient. Although I know tons of people who hunt, I have never gone. Also, I might be squeamish about blood and guts, but I’ve never had to deal with them so I don’t know.

• Parkour.

My skill level might actually be in the negatives on this one based on my absolute terror at the thought of trying it. Also, I have weak ankles that sprain easily. I am in awe of anyone who can do this.

• Riding a motorcycle.

I don’t know how to ride a dirtbike. I have no skills on a four-wheeler. Despite this, I want to learn to ride a terrifying death machine. I have been on the back of a motorcycle, and wow, was it exhilarating! So why shouldn’t I learn to ride one by myself?

• Skating.

Except for the past few years, I’ve skated about once or twice a winter since I was a kid. I can skate forwards, but I’m not confident, and that’s all I can do.

• Skiing.

I went cross-country skiing once, but I’ve never tried downhill. 

• Snowboarding.

I have gone snowboarding twice. The first time, I shakily went down the bunny hill a few times and then, trying to be ballsy, I thought I would attempt the big hill. What a mistake! The ski lift was a nightmare because I held up the line when I couldn’t control where I was going, and snowboarding down the hill was terrifying. Then I belly-flopped, unstrapped my snowboard, and limped down the hill.

The second time was a couple years later and I sort of got the feeling for the back-and-forth of it, but I definitely need more practice.

• Snorkeling & SCUBA diving.

I have never snorkeled or gone SCUBA diving. This will be a tough one for me because I am already uncomfortable in the water and I’d need to get used to the equipment.

• Surfing.

Having rarely been near the ocean, I never got the chance to try surfing. If it’s anything like snowboarding, it will be a struggle for me to learn to balance, but it’s something I have always wanted to try. 

• Swimming & diving.

I can do the basic doggy paddle and stay alive in water, but I have no skills beyond that. I can only float on my back and hold my breath for very short time periods, and my diving is mediocre. Along with learning different strokes, I would like to improve these skills. 

• Volleyball.

I played volleyball in middle school. I was definitely not the best on my team. I can pass, but my serving and spiking needs a lot of work.

• Water skiing.

I never got the chance to go water skiing, but it seems like a blast!

Homesteading Skills:

• Animal raising.

My family had outdoor cats when I was younger. They were simple to take care of, but that’s the extent of my animal experience. I want to raise a variety of farm animals. Obviously that takes land, so that would be something for the future. 

• Butchering.

Hand in hand with raising farm animals and hunting comes butchering. I have never killed, gutted, or cut up an animal or saw it being done. Although it seems disgusting, it would be a useful skill to have.

• Canning & preserving.

Just like butchering the animals I raise, it would be handy to learn to deal with all the plants I produce so they can be stored and eaten. 

• Cooking & Baking.

I can make a decent home-cooked meal if I have a recipe, but I have not learned to be an intuitive cook and there are lots of things I have never tried to make. I would be especially interested in traditional cooking and preparation methods as well as classes on the basic kitchen skills. My baking is at about the same level.

• Gardening.

I’ve never grown anything besides carrots and chives in my parents’ yard and a few potted plants (many of which died). I would love to try out no-till gardening to grow vegetables, fruits, flowers, herbs, and trees. 

• Foraging.

I am fascinated by the idea of living off the land, but I wouldn’t last long since I can identify only a few plants. We are nearing the end of the summer season here in Michigan, but I came up with a great idea to get into this that I can begin now and then really dive into next spring! Post coming soon!

Other Skills:

• Foreign language.

I took a semester of Spanish in high school, but I didn’t learn anything that stuck. This would be such a fun thing to learn especially if I travel out of the country to somewhere I can be immersed in it. It’s also a skill that can be useful even if you only know a little bit. I’m not sure which language I would most like to start with. Maybe Spanish or Latin?

• Sign Language.

I also studied ASL in high school, but of course I forgot most of it. I taught my daughter a few signs when she was 1 and it worked super well, so I think it would be a fun skill to invest in for me and my family!

• Massage.

With massage, I could benefit my family and friends with my skills or earn additional income.

• Write a book.

I have written short books for school. I have also started a few books in my own time, but all of them were left unfinished. At this point, I don’t feel like I have the knowledge, life experience, or imagination to write a useful book. Maybe that’s just an excuse, though.

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I know that many of these things take time and practice to become good or even competent. While I don’t plan on becoming a world champion at any of them, a well-rounded approach would be to put in a solid effort at a variety of things. Also, trying all of these out will be a good way to expose myself to potential hobbies and passions, and even if I end up not loving them, the effort is not wasted because I will have learned something. 

As I try out these activities, I will come back to this post and update it with links to my new posts so you can see my progress!

If anyone has advice for the best way to go about tackling one or even all of these skills, let me know! I plan to come from a variety of angles such as reading books, watching videos, taking courses, and learning from people with experience. All advice and tips are appreciated!

– Madelyn