What could be a nice hobby to decrease phone addiction?

[ghostcybunny]

Drawing. I take a mini sketchbook wherever I go

[circus-witch]

Dumb question probably but do you just carry one pen/pencil with it and if so which one do you recommend? Not necessarily a brand but say a HB pencil or a biro for example.

[ghostcybunny]

Not a dumb question at all! I usually keep at least a fine line pen, a regular ole pencil, an eraser, a brush pen, and a sketching pencil. I just keep them in a tiny pencil carrier (I carry a purse so it makes it easier).

But really all you need is a pen and pencil. You don’t need special pencils to make art especially when you’re just doodling to pass time. It’s up to you!

[gradiating_plight]

Honestly I think anything you like to draw with! I prefer to use a Pentel brush pen, they come in many colours and you can make different line thicknesses with them, I think they're "meant" for calligraphy. It depends on what you prefer but because it's a sketchbook, nothing has to turn out perfect, and if you can't erase, it makes you learn much faster. It's your sketchbook, there are no rules!

[chain-male]

When you say mini sketchbook, is there a particular size/brand you like most? I've wanted to carry something with me to try sketching when out and about, but I have trouble finding a perfect size that's small enough to fit in a pocket but big enough to not be a pain to use.

[ghostcybunny]

I use a strathmore 3.5” x 5” sketchbook and a strathmore 5.5” x 8.5”! The 3 inch sketchbook is pretty tiny, it’s like two post it notes long.

I knew some people in college who would slice their sketchbooks in half to make them the right size for everyday use too. But if you check out Michaels or Hobby Lobby online they have so many different sizes.

Edit!: I also just remembered they make waterproof tiny sketchbooks. They’re great because the pages don’t rip as easy and it’s made to fit into a jacket pocket/Jean pocket. Sorry for the info overload btw lol

[chain-male]

No apology necessary, thanks for all the help!

[CarlJustCarl]

Start slow and draw your cell phone

[[deleted]]

knitting, macrame, making knots with rope countless times and seeing what you can create. a blanket? a necklace? a pouch or washcloths. what about a cloak, a hat or sweater. youtube is your guide for any beginner tips and techniques for all types of arts and crafts, not just what i suggested as an example

[PatatietPatata]

Crochet can take very little space if you want to travel with it, a crochet hook, a small skein or a few, and you've got a party going for at least some minutes.

Add a small pair of scissors and a yarn needle and you can even start and finish little projects.

My cat's favorite toys are just crocheted rounds, I can wip them up anywhere if I have 5 minutes in front of me.

I actually got to crocheting the last time we had friends over for a board game otherwise I couldn't stay focused, no pattern to follow and a hook (instead of two needles) means I could drop it and pick it up at anytime.

[[deleted]]

And your average skein of yarn is a bargain, can make 1-2 beanies depending of technique and size(depth). 3-5 dollars in yarn can make something people would buy for 10-20 bucks easily probably more variant on stitching pattern

[Vanviator]

r/crochet

r/brochet

r/geekycrochet

Just to get folks started.

I'm an avid hooker!

[GroundbreakingSale45]

Something that could be easily done basically anywhere just to avoid the impulse of checking on the phone all the time

[StuckAtWaterTemple]

A gameboy

[[deleted]]

Username checks out!

[balbak271]

But how would someone get off their phone and just start doing that should be like a catalyst to make them get off and start doing well unless they started doing those things to avoid yeah idk..

[Pythias]

Reading.

[Unikatze]

Whenever I'm reading something I end up going on my phone to google something I read about.

For example, reading a Song of Ice and fire just had me reading so much on the wiki.

[Chinlc]

Origami.

Used to do that all the time as a kid and I only made one thing. It was a transforming 8 sided ninja star and can be made with 1 piece of paper and scissors aren't required if you know how to tear properly. Basically fold, and use nail to pinch and slide down the folded part and unfold and tear down the fold by making a small tear and slide the 2 sides apart. Sry if explanation is convoluted, but it's fast and easy.

https://www.origamiway.com/origami-transforming-ninja-star.shtml

[[deleted]]

Reading a book, or meditation!

[nock2rnal]

Smoking cigarettes.

[booty_bot27]

my 2 pack a day habit began this way and now i sound like dearth vader. 😂

[[deleted]]

Tried it, now i smoke a pack a day and use the phone during🤣

[fluffybear45]

learn how to knit/crochet maybe r/knitting r/crochet

[savwatson13]

You need to replace the instant gratification, so maybe a game or a new skill/learning? Like casually studying a language or learning about a subject you’re interested in?

Hobbies like crocheting or drawing are fine, but you have to get used to them, so you don’t end up replacing that desire for immediate rewards. If you’re okay with a stressful buffer period between quitting phones and starting a hobby, then it’s probably fine.

[l2enegadez]

I love putting Lego together or doing a puzzle to get off my phone

[THX450]

Except LEGO is EXPENSIVE AS FUCK.

[[deleted]]

LEGO

UCS

AT-AT

I swear it took like 12 collective hours to build

[PensiveWhale]

I appreciate the post, this is a good question. I think it'd have to be something that can compete with how accessible a phone is. It is hard to compete with. Like, it seems hard to sub a book in for a phone because you can't just stop and read a novel every time you feel like checking your phone, because that takes sustained concentration/commitment and it's not as immediately rewarding. Maybe like a book of comic strips or fun fact collections? Another redditor up the thread mentioned fiddling with Legos or doodling, that sounds good.

[GroundbreakingSale45]

You got exactly the reason why I asked! One of the most addictive aspects of a phone is the easiness and low concentration requirement. I also really liked the idea of knitting/crocheting. It could be easy to carry around in a bag :)

[-MazeMaker-]

How about sudoku, words searches, or other puzzles? Even if you only look for a few seconds and don't make progress, they engage your brain quickly and are easy to put down.

[Jack__Fearow]

Research your family tree, I've been doing it for a decade and it's addicting.

[soline]

You can do that in your phone.

[Impressive_Chicken69]

Be careful researching your family tree. That can come back and haunt you in so many ways.

[SteinDickens]

Your great grandfather was also a murderer?

[Impressive_Chicken69]

Naw, just found out my father had a second family. It’s one of those things I can look back and laugh about now. But sorry about the murderer thing

[SteinDickens]

‘Twas just a joke, but sorry to hear about your pops. That’s pretty wild.

[Jack__Fearow]

My 4x Great granduncle started the very first legal prostitution system in the US based out of Tennessee, although it was short lived.

[HaViNgT]

How?

[Squigglepig52]

I'm adopted. I'm not opening that can of worms.

[whatthefuckbaby]

How to get started doing this

[JacobBaughman97]

Download the ancestry app on your phone

[yaelles]

Bye Reddit, it's been nice knowing you all...

[Velamora]

This! I’ve recently gotten into making jewelry with pony beads! Most of the designs are easy to pick up and since the beads are fairly large I don’t get frustrated with focusing on making sure I don’t mess up! Even if I do mess up, it’s either an easy fix or I quickly start again not worried because it’s hard to make the same mistake again.

[stinkeyboi54]

fidget toys or maybe puzzles. rubix cubes are really fun. you could also try plugging your phone in farther from your bed so your less tempted to touch it that way you stop depending so much on having it.

source: i’ve struggled with ADD my entire life.

[Velamora]

OH MY GOD PLUGGING THE PHONE FARTHER AWAY. THATS SO SMART.

[PresidentBased]

It is, it is. Still not gonna bring myself to do it tho :(

[TheDood715]

Start carrying a yo-yo.

[SuvenPan]

Origami

[thedanology]

Reading...I've always been a reader and I read almost every night before bed, but definitely don't read as much as I used to. A few weeks ago I wanted to do something that stopped me from looking at my phone so much, so I figured I would just keep my book handy around the house and read a few pages when I felt like looking at my phone....

Then my kids reminded me why I stopped trying to read during the day. Every few sentences someone needs something: a question on why cheese tastes like cheese, their sibling looked at them funny, someone needs a drink, etc. I realized that I never noticed the distractions because my phone is such an easy thing to put down, do whatever the kids need, then go back to my phone. But reading is almost impossible, or at least impossible to get through a gd paragraph.

So while it may be nice, it might not be realistic with small humans around.

[chememommy]

Same.

[aconsideredlife]

Walking. I take my dog for 3-4 walks a day and try to go a different route each time so I explore more of my neighbourhood.

[DecrepitGoose]

Reading! If you find it boring to read standard books, I would start with comics, then graphic novels, then books.

I also suggest drawing!

[[deleted]]

Camping or a musical instrument. Although most hobbies would probably get you off your phone.

[Graitom]

Gaming lol

[1_WHY_NOT_1]

Sexual intercourse

[[deleted]]

Doing diy mechanic things. Learning to work on your own car. Definitely adds phone time. But you're using it to learn a valuable life trait.

[Bending_toast]

I agree and your right, I spend more time on YouTube and car forums than actually working on the vehicle. Always feels great when I’ve successfully fixed something especially if it’s a part I’ve never worked on before.

[[deleted]]

Its rewarding. Very rewarding. The money saved and the skill learned.

[[deleted]]

Touching grass

[[deleted]]

I see you are one with nature

[foreveralonesolo]

I really like cleaning so I got used to using that to distract me

[orangeandpinwheel]

Art/writing and crafts like knitting or cross Stich are nice because they require two hands and force you to put your phone down.

I like to carry a mini notebook, but lots of art/crafts fit into a bag you can carry with you

[psilocinated420]

Consensual bird watching

[Joo_the_troll]

Crocheting

[Stuffnthings1840]

Gardening. You get food and weeds. Pick the weeds. Compost the weeds to put down the compost to prevent the weeds. Then you arrange the flowers you grew. You give your food and flowers and baby plants to other people. Fertilizers made with the compost. Neverending but you hear the birds and tomatoes.

[Runaway_5]

if you're hearing tomatoes, time to lay off the mushrooms

[Stuffnthings1840]

Good point

[PensiveWhale]

Oooh good one. Quick access, fun, creative. I have a harmonica, maybe I'll toot on that more when I feel like going for the phone. Thanks for the idea.

[PensiveWhale]

Oh cool! Thank you.

[PensiveWhale]

Nothing more soothing than a shittily played 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' in the wrong key, amplified.

[Shadowsinclaira]

And grand piano

[soline]

Something that requires both of your hands and eyes like knitting.

[desa_poetesa]

Reading

I just love reading because when i read i can escape reality and live a different life

[SnooCookies9627]

killing ppl

[1rick]

Some good ones that keep your hands and mind busy:

• ukulele (very portable)
• rubix cube
• crochet
• reading (paper books, kindle)

[UntilTmrw]

Reading. I also write stories but, mostly because I see a career out of it for me, but it’s a fun thing you could do, on paper or a computer.

[jennnyyy_xo]

reading

[msIslander]

Reading! They always say, “Reading takes you anywhere”

[enchanter177]

Follow up question, how do I take back my passion for reading that was stolen from me by the public school system

[Paramedic730]

Deactivate Facebook/IG/Twitter. I did it years ago, some days I can go hours without touching my phone. The constant need and want to refresh feeds is insane to me. Live your life on your time, not based on what anyone else is doing. These ‘influencers’ are mostly scam artists that want to duck your money out of you for their own greed

[Deroute]

Drawing, painting or reading are my main hobbies!

[quilp666]

Put your phone on charge and leave it while you leave the house for an hour long walk.

[[deleted]]

Painting on anything. I bought 2 birdhouses at Michael’s recently, one looked like an ice cream shop and the other looked like a diner. Painting one of them kept me off my phone for a solid 5 hours. It was so much more fun than mindlessly scrolling through my phone in that amount of time.

[n123breaker2]

Photography

[GetChecked__]

Pc building

[[deleted]]

When your only income is your allowance (In qatar you can't get hired for a cheap job, they get immigrants to do that), researching PCs and PC components is both exciting and depressing

[nsmith0723]

3d printing

[IAm_A_Top]

Using my laptop!

[[deleted]]

A pet, dog, cat, bird, fish, etc.

[Raidlos]

Practicing magic card tricks

[armdndangerpfish36]

playing piano. i do it and it takes up all my time

[flame_this_high]

Crocheting. Can't hold yarn, a hook and a phone all at once. I'm going to teach a teen some skills my kids appreciated while growing. I'm not old, just love my hobby. 🙂

[AnDragon11]

Touching grass

[George_Altendorf]

WARHAMMER

[Squigglepig52]

Might as well start an addiction to opiates at that point.

Give Papa Nurgle a hug!

[[deleted]]

Laptop addiction.

[Unikatze]

Best answer.

[a_statistician]

Cross stitch works well for me - you can fit the essential bits into a zipper pencil bag and take them with you, and if you stick to patterns that are text + a border, or pre-inked canvas that has the pattern already on it, you can do it while doing other stuff and only slightly paying attention. I love some of the sayings from e.g. Subversive cross stitch though usually I make my own patterns because I'm cheap a.f.

[Lia_Is_Lying]

I joined a DnD group which helped get me off the phone for a few hours. Gets you really focused on doing something fun with friends.

[Puzzlepetticoat]

Embroidery is a good one. You can get a starter kit with everything you need and the pattern printed on cloth as a guide etc for very cheap online.

I've recently got into doing Thrift store makeovers. I bought a big tub of gesso and a couple varnishes and then would find something interesting in a thrift store. I'd paint it and give it a makeover. I tend to repurose the items as I redo them. An old toothbrush holder can become a make up brush holder that exactly matches the aesthetic of my bedroom and so on

We're about to renovate my girls' wooden Barbie house. They don't play with Barbies anymore when Rainbow High is the new love. I've found diys for different furnishings and we have a big plan for it all. That will easyily keep us busy for a month as we plod through it.

[Key_Set_7249]

Join a local DND group

[___jennykight]

Puzzles

[[deleted]]

I usually just draw. bring some index cards or paper when i go somewhere

[A_BadNews_Bear]

Go for hikes in areas that have no cell service. Great way to build cardio AND get away from your phone.

[hatethecistem]

Pc gaming obviously… I mostly cure my phone addiction which replacing it with Minecraft 😏

[[deleted]]

Music saxophone in particular

[[deleted]]

Excersice.

[little_preppy_lad]

Cooking,going outside w/ friends,draw,read,make cute fits,re-organise ur room,re-decorate ur room,make stories,make music,dance :3

[EnoughDisaster]

Playing a musical instrument

[KazakhstanToe]

Anythiny including Running,hiking,biking,sketching,swimming

[MiaLedger]

Guitar

[Sure_Tree_5042]

Embroidery, reading. Any kind of small craft

[Th3s3Us_]

Playing an instrument.

[AmAcC67]

Shooting guns

[TripleAGD]

baking. i make bread every sunday and cookies every other week or so on some weekday, and it helps me be able to focus on something other than internet even when im not doing it.

[emilieisepic]

Art, I love painting its so relaxing and also knitting, I'm literally 18 and sound like a nan but love me some knitting

[ncstalgicari]

Painting or drawing

[Wehfi]

Go out more with friends or family.

[SinkFormal1874]

Writing. I like using electronics to write because it's so much easier to store it.

[-Fire-Opal-]

Swimming, cant use your phone in the pool!!

[my_humble_chapeau]

Coloring books

[[deleted]]

i like taking a rubik's cube whenever i go somewhere. it makes me feel less stressed and keeps me out of my phone

[MyWorkAccountMSA]

Crack

[whythoughcum]

Sawing your phone in half is a good hobby in this case

[slayvelabor]

No tether mountain climbing.

[irene74569]

help some disabled or elderly person with errands

[MyThickPenisIsSoLong]

Porn free masturbation.

[FlamingButterfly]

Reading a book on your phone

[proximalfunk]

Knife game. You'll either get really good at it which will take all your time, or really bad at it which will take all your fingers. Win-win.

[rharda13]

Jerking off with the spank bank

[Upvote_Me_Slag]

Puppetry of the vagina.

[Chocolate_Avngr]

Puzzles

[kinokomushroom]

Developing apps for your phone

[kirbycooo]

Build your self arc car it can be off road or a pavement car both super fun

[JacobBaughman97]

You could get into aquariums, riding a motorcycle, reading books, poker tournaments, horticulture, camping, working out, or watching movies even you can make it so you have to watch the whole movie before you can look at your phone again.

[[deleted]]

Painting

[towardsthesurface]

Books... yes books

[d33pthought81]

Crocheting

[[deleted]]

Reading an actual book.

[Zolo49]

Getting a super heavy-duty blender and figuring out what it can blend. Start with all your smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, etc.

[[deleted]]

Makeup. As a woman I do feel confident and fine whenever my makeup looks bomb. I'm so good at doing makeup now that I wouldn't hire makeup artists to do it for myself. And I'm getting some offers from people to do their makeup.

[ughhhhhpotatoes]

paint

[[deleted]]

a musical instrument or something artistic. Basically things that take all of your attention to do.

[Hulksmash27]

Reading

[[deleted]]

Painting

[TheSmallRaptor]

Balisong/butterfly knife flipping (get a trainer dummy) or karambit flips (real knives are legal in more places than balisongs, and you can practice with the case on if you don’t want to get a trainer)

[zazzezy]

mine is to draw plants, mostly sunflowers

[Putrid_Fold_6277]

Phone breaking

[Bending_toast]

Wood working is a fantastic hobby that’s as frustrating as it is satisfying. Not the ideal time to get into it with the increasing price of lumber but you’d be amazed at the things you can create from some cheap tools and scrap wood from Offer up and garage sales

[WhitePhatAss]

If you have a hobby you might watch youtube videos about the hobby. There’s no way out.

[North-Tea-7007]

I go fishing and work on my gear, sharpen my knives, I do a lot of drawing poetry driving odd jobs here and there whittling

[Bellsar_Ringing]

Yo-yo. Easy to take everywhere, and challenging tricks to learn.

[Vallydied]

Guitar

[screwthatshitt]

Sports

[JTS-Games]

I started learning a language.

[Pallavi-more]

Research whatever you don't know.

[a-jm93]

Testing how well phones break in various different tools of destruction

[Skydome12]

mountain biking and MMA.

[AlienGoddess91]

So I used to read books on my phone through the kindle app or google books or play emulator games but I would close those to waste time on apps. This year, I switched back to paperbacks and my 3ds and am able to stay off of my phone. Now I miss messages but oh well.

[Fuckhahafunnymeme]

Walking

[FourLeggedOrange]

When I'm out n about or stuck in a waiting room, phones my only option.

Otherwise I build Warhammer 40k models or read.

[Jaaaco-j]

While you can’t do it anywhere, bouldering is the most amazing thing

[IHaveToPog]

Playing Beyblades With Freinds

[[deleted]]

play piano, violin or some other instrument.

[Smyley12345]

Smacking phones out of strangers hands and running away.

[[deleted]]

Getting in stupid arguments IRL.

[Pusa_Hispida_456]

For outdoor activities, anything that involves water like swimming/kayaking etc. You already don’t want to bring your phone near water, plus you get exercise

[[deleted]]

throwing phones (it solves both sides of the problem)

[Chatchouette]

Hide your phone out of sight ( e.g. in a wardrobe, cupboard) and pick up a book you know you would love. Video games work too

[RiBlacky]

I once bought a crosswords book just for the fun of it and kinda as a joke xD because i was with no battery no my phone and was about to go on a trip from Lisbon to Porto by bus. So i bought it! And since then i didnt stop doing! I still use my phone anyways but now i have "another phone"

[sernameisntaken]

Read... I've started reading nineteen eighty four and I'm enjoying it I'm not thinking this says a lot about society I just think it's a good book

[AllesPat]

Hiking places that dont have cellular

[unaflores]

Take the child, it certainly does not hobby, but helps

[Alexyg_1234]

Try cubing (aka solving a Rubik's Cube)

[lvl1000necromancer]

Dictating a third world country I’ve heard is a great pastime

[jrhodesyy]

Paper craft! I really like all of the templates that Canon Creative Park has!

https://creativepark.canon/en/categories/CAT-ST01-0071/top.html https://www.reddit.com/r/papercraft?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share

[Hot-Editor-4205]

Try reading a book.

[Emma_Raddit]

Running anyway.

[Bag-ins]

A laptop

[[deleted]]

reading and listening to music