Mid 30s mom of a baby and a toddler looking for a screen free hobby, ideally one I can do with a friend!

Question

Sarah · Answer

Private reformer Pilates standing date with friends at a local studio: A standing weekly date at a reformer Pilates studio! I go with two friends Friday mornings, it's really great to have a consistent time to catch up and move our bodies. Key to the rec is finding a fun chatty instructor, our teacher Laurie is pictured here and we love her. Sounds fancy, but more affordable than you think when split three or four ways. And since it's private you can gab the whole time.

Wynne · Answer

Puzzling!: This is a great low key hobby. I linked to the first puzzle I did when I started puzzling which I really enjoyed. It’s fun, aesthetic and relaxing. If you’re alone it pairs really well with an audiobook or some music, but I’ve also been having some puzzle dates with a friend of mine and that is really pleasant. It’s also pretty cheap to buy them and many places do puzzle swaps.

Sam Childress · Answer

Knitting: Startups costs are low, it’s easy to learn (I taught myself entirely with youtube videos) and you can make beautiful, useful things. It’s so lovely to have a knitting friend over for coffee and work on your projects together. Plus it’s impossible to doomscroll with needles in hand!!

Christine C · Answer

Local Tennis Lessons: Not as bougie as it seems! I recently decided to get back into tennis, and was introduced to a group of women with the same goals through a mutual friend. Amazing to move your body, chat with others, and learn new things at the same time. And the sense of accomplishment when you are not double faulting on every serve, or you get a good rally going! My friend suggested Play Your Court, where you don't need to be a member of a racquet club to start.

Steve M · Answer

Junk Journaling: I think getting back to hobbies that have tactility and produces something tangible is a great way to keep grounded. Especially in a day and age where technology has everything connected and permanence of "the cloud" makes it a dumping ground of things we no longer sort and just toss into a bin thinking "I'll get back to that eventually."

Junk journaling doesn't have to be as elaborate or require any of the fancy gear and tools as what the article suggests. Do you have scissors? Glue sticks? Journals? Stickers? Markers? Then you're all set. This is a great way to keep memories in a scrapbooking type way but collecting the small things, maybe like a snack your kid particularly enjoyed one day or a receipt of a meal that unlocked or became part of a core memory.

I recommend the /r/junkjournaling subreddit for more inspo.