I've been doing some self reflection lately and realised that I didn't really have any hobbies besides programming and writing code (which is also my way to make a living). As a result of this I spend most of my time on the computer either writing code or scanning HN almost mechanically so I was wondering what you guys do to take a break from all the "nerdiness"
Cheers
Any of them (or any combination of those) would be a great hobby. It will help you become healthier and balance out health risks from your job which requires you to sit in front of a computer most of the day.
+ Scientifically proven to be good for your brain + Quantifiable progress every time you workout + Relatively low cost in terms of time and money
How is it that a middle aged person one can smoothly lift weights that 2 months prior would have been too heavy for them to lift even if their life depended on it?
It's not because they learned a neat trick or found some short cut. There can be nothing gained in knowledge or experience that can account for this. Muscle growth might be a factor but that takes a while.
The change that's occurred is at the level of the nervous system. In order for this to happen, chemicals and hormones were released to give new vitality to a system which was just going to rest and decay until death.
But here's the kicker, why would these changes stop at your motor neurons? Could it be that the rush of chemical activity doesn't just help change behavior of motor neurons, but also the neurons in your head?
Think about all the cognitive benefits associated with strength training exercise and you will see it's much more than a hobby to keep yourself busy.
Modern life is incredibly sedentary compared to what humans have evolved for and this problem is especially bad for programmers. Without pushing yourself physically, your mental fitness will decline too.
But recently I have picked up a new hobby that I would say is fitness for brain. It is listening to music with mindfulness. Not as a critic.
When listening music, I actively pay attention to each note and word. This usually lead me into trance sort of state. It might be ASMR, Frisson, or a meditative trance. The thing is after actively listening to music, I feel relaxed and energized. I know our community is big on meditation but I could never sit still long enough when meditating on breath. Listening to music may not be same but I feel like it gives me a lot of benefits that people claim about meditation.
Another thing is you can listen to music anywhere. I listen to music 1. in backyard while drinking beer, 2. in family room, while everyone is doing their thing, 3. in plane, of course 4. bathing in tub (without headphones though).
Lastly, the music I listen to is sort of chill like Lana Del Ray.
Another complementary hobby to electronics is 3d printing+CAD skills. It changed my thinking process permanently. It can give you an 'anything is possible' mindset, it's a rush.
I've also been having a great time starting a container garden and growing exotic plants like this soviet melon http://www.rareseeds.com/rich-sweetness-132-melon/
There is actually a lot of this going on in the niche, with some custom cases even progressing from one-offs to a limited production run so it can be a fun little business if you put the time into it.
Otherwise bit of photography seems popular to combine some walky with your inner tech!
It's a pretty deep rabbit hole, that's as rewarding as the effort you put in. You can just play pop music covers and that's perfectly fine, or you can go full-tilt into theory and compose your own music.
Good luck!
Also generally getting into this hobby alone seems hard.
Camping is a great weekend activity with friends and family.
Climbing as others have mentioned. Most metro areas have an indoor climbing gym where you can give it a go, meet people to go on outdoor climbs.
I spend lots of time in front of the screen programming too, even taking a walk a couple times per day helps you unplug and reflect on other things. Getting outside seems key for me.
More hobby related, I play guitar, enjoy building lego sets, getting out with family and friends.
Also looking forward to the NFL kicking off and fantasy football starting.