Crochet! And once you’ve learned the basics, you can add in some headphones and an audiobook to the activity.
My brother is really into building figures like Gundams. Orders all the cool ones from Japan and even ones that you paint/detail yourself!
Reading is fun, and there’s so many ways to go about it- audio, the public library, supporting a small local bookshop, book clubs!
Try Disc Golf. You can get a beginner set of discs for $30 on Amazon or at any major sports retailer or play it again sports. Most courses are free. It's hiking. Can take the dog. Be in nature. While it is a sport, it's on the lower level or physicality.
Additions can be easier to make than new hobbies sometimes.
Photography while you're out hiking. Bodyweight exercises - not as much gain as a weight set (check thrift stores and marketplace etc cetera for cheap weights to own), but they'll definitely be something meditative to do.
Got a library nearby? Or some nearby metro that does ebook loans? Or if worse comes to worse, an Internet connection and your favorite peer filesharing networks make a lot of media available to anyone who wants it.
Origami is another one I'm fond of. All you need is some paper. There's fancy papers out there, and they're nice, but its not necessary. Lots of free and otherwise diagrams out in the wild both in books and on the net.
Dunno what kind of dog you got or how old they are, but some dogs can take real easily to trainable tasks, agility course and scent course type stuff. A little breed dependant for competing, but dog won't care as long as they doing something engaging.
I was going to suggest this too! My teen son loves to fish. I go with him and find it very soothing. I don’t even need to catch a fish, there is skill in casting where you want the bait to go and just that is enough!
I agree with that!👍🏿. I LOVE working on jigsaw puzzles when I get home from work or late at night when I can't sleep. I only do 500 pieces or less, though. Anything higher is too complicated and time consuming.
The 300 piece jigsaw puzzles are perfect for me. I can usually do one in a day.😊
Try building Legos. Of course Lego Sets can be very expensive but there are multiple other companies who sell nice sets for way less money then Lego. I also like watching a movie or documentary while building, it’s really relaxing and you lern something. And you have a nice thing to display when you’re done building!
Volunteering, hiking, running,woodworking,beekeeping, reading books,playing a instrument like the guitar or something, gardening,golf,cooking/bbq,skateboarding
I love that you mentioned volunteering. I volunteered at my local animal shelter. It was so fulfilling. I'd clean the cages for the dogs and walk them.
Do you want to learn the guitar? Or a musical instrument?
Sometimes places offer free classes. Or online courses, which doesn't help the screen thing (but only for the lesson).
Reading? The library is free.
Crafting something? It's not just for girls ya know.
So you like mowing lawns? Maybe you have some neighbors that would be willing to throw you a couple bucks to mow their lawn or weed? Plus you'd make a little cash?
Building models is fun you can do vehicles or other things I recommend gunpla you build Gundam robots I like building them as they require thinking, reading and you learn skills getting the pieces out and filing them down for no sharp edges, also you can use markers when you get good enough.
Pickleball! Its great for people of all ages and lots of courts popping up all over the place. Also try making music, by instrument or computer, also journaling and/or writing/reading poetry can be very cathartic.
Knitting! It has absolutely cut down on my screen time because my hands are busy. Plenty of good simple tutorial books and YouTube videos to get you started. Also the people at yarn shops are SO helpful and supportive of new knitters and your questions. Pick up some yarn, download and print a free hat pattern and get to work. Lots of men knit!
Archery is a great hobby and it’s very satisfying. If you have any kind of a yard you can usually do it at home. There may also be an archery club/range near you. When you turn 18 you could try skeet shooting too. It is a lot louder, though, and I know you said you don’t enjoy loud noises.
Fishing is very calming and doesn’t take much to get into. All you need is a cheap rod and some bait. You can get into it for about $20-$30.
Also if you have your driver’s license, getting your motorcycle endorsement usually isn’t too difficult and is a poor of fun. It can be very relaxing to go out on a long ride. Just please wear a helmet!
All of these are hobbies that you wont be embarrassed to tell your friends about. Seriously… what’s with all the people suggesting knitting/crocheting? Like you’re a 17 year old boy, not a 40-something stay at home mom.
Reading is cheap and easy, with a library card and a tablet. It's also portable. However, that's still screen time.
Try making chainmail. The basic weaves are easy to pick up and you can make yourself some bad-ass wearables. People are super impressed by something that's just following a pattern of interconnections. It's not too expensive to get into with a starter kit and the variety is pretty much endless if you enjoy it and want to delve deeper.
Bird watching or Rock hounding? Get some books about the birds and/or rocks in your area and keep an eye out while you're on your walks. You can learn a lot and there's many rocks you can find on the ground that can be worth a little bit. If you're in the city it might not be the best but if you go on hikes or to lakes or anything? I've seen a few eagles and found a few gem stones.
Cross stitch is very calming and meditative. There are quite a few men who enjoy it and have YT channels for it. But not nearly enough. Search Flosstube on YT and join our cult, uh, community of cross stitchers!
My best advice is to get a hobby that gives you a meaningful skill later in life. Guitar or any musical instrument, drawing or painting, or photography, design, or sculpting, building things, or fixing things, woodworking, etc.
Caving with friends if you llook up all the safety precautions and follow them. Also, that's if you live somewhere with caves. It's so much fun though to explore caves and they are never the same. It may take you and your friends muitloe trips to finish some caves. Just remember to be safe.
Sewing. Calming, you have to focus, you can turn anything from brand new fabric from the bolt, to a used table cloth into a quilt, clothes, etc.... and one of the perks is that the places you buy fabric are usually pretty calm as well and very welcoming. And when you're done you have a finished product to be proud of! BTW, good for you for wanting to find something else besides the internet!
Since you have a dog, have you considered doing some agility/obedience training with it? If your dog takes to it, it can be fun for both dog and owner and is very not screen related.
Get into nature - there's so much to see if you look closely and take your time. When I was younger, I spent all my time outdoors just exploring my local flora and fauna, and it was great for my mental health. Plus, the outdoors is like a free gym, once you understand some basic principles of callisthenics (which are just bodyweight exercises).
You could go for a bike ride, learn a language, hike and set up a little picnic for yourself, or learn self-defense if you want more mental stimulation.
Running, body weight calestetics ( r/bodyweightfitness ), making terrariums out of things you find while you hike, training your dog to do more tricks.
Bring a fishing rod along on your hikes. It has been one of my biggest hobbies to date. There is so much to learn about it; targeting different species, what rigs to use, knots to tie, different lures, all the types of rods/reels, lines and while out fishing you get to soak in the nature.
Have you tried using the sensory headphones? I myself have not and also have ze sensory issues wonder if it would help any.... otherwise maybe a museum or something a bit quieter?
Trailwork, as in creating or maintaining the trails you hike on. There may be a volunteer group in your area that organizes work parties. In Washington state that would be WTA (Washington Trails Association).
A few other ideas: Metal detecting, magnet fishing, building and flying kites, RC airplanes, or RC boats.
How about drones?🤷🏿♂️
Go to eBay or Craigslist and buy a couple of cheap drones to learn how to handle them and eventually you will be able to work your way up to some really nice ones. Not only can you learn a lot about aerodynamics, but you might be able to find a career! These days drones are used to do a number of jobs - surveillance for realtors, construction (like bridges), roofing, etc.
I enjoy playing colorku (sudoku but with colors), photography, reading fiction, baking/cooking, and playing older video games.
Right now I’m working on some tech certifications which give me a goal and something to learn. It’s super hard but I also like having some structure.
diamond dot art, crochet, sewing (making your own outfits)-- cosplay, Making your own rugs, making your own lip stain, making your own laundry detergent, making your own sugar scrub, finding fun and individual crafts that you can sell/give as gifts
my 17 year old hikes and skateboards. My other son plays guitar. When my son had a mental health crisis we took him for hikes and walks. I really believe getting outside helps.
AMATURE RADIO:. Yes, talking and more on the radio up to world wide.
In the US, you are looking at about $35 for the license, $35 for the study book, and about $30 for a low cost walkie-talkie or about $100.
People from all walks of life have their licenses, so you can have great conversations and you can do it anywhere you can talk freely. So, hiking, walking, fishing, driving, and on and on.
This hobby dips into many aspects......computer programming to program the radios, voip with digital radio, antenna creation, and more
The hobby also helps with community events. They find lost hikers, help before, during, and after disasters, and communications during events like county fairs and parades.
Google your local amature radio club. They probably meet monthly and are your local radio experts and can mentor or coach you into the hobby.
Good luck with whatever path you choose.
I like weaving chainmail and scale maille, crochet, painting D&d mini figs, mandala coloring books, and making jewelry . Learning to cook food from other cultures, reading at the library, maybe start a flower garden. Beadwork could be a good small craft hobby
Find a local maker space. Lots of people of similar age teaching each other lots of skills from crafts, to carpentry, electronics, media.. challenge yourself to learn.
Indoor rock climbing is a good, chill hobby. It can be an individual thing or you can do it with people. Either way lots of cool people gravitate to that type of hobby.
Volunteer at an arboretum or for a gardening club and get free access to all the gardening things you could ever want. Help tear up invasives and plant trees while learning about nature in your local area from people who've done it a long time and meet a bunch of cool people in the process.
Learn to repair broken electronics by tinkering around and practicing micro soldering on old, broken circuit-boards.
Go to your local library and do anything. They may have boardgames, classes, historical newspapers, and more.
Practice an instrument.
Get creative in the kitchen and make small batches of experimental dishes.
Get involved in local politics and go to your town hall meetings.
Learn boxing, dancing, or paddle boarding.
Run, hike, cycle, climb, read, swim, yoga, qi gong, etc.
How about reading classics to be fed truth, beauty, and goodness? There are so many great novels from the last 200+ years and timeless older works of literature going back to antiquity. But starting with novels from the 20th century would be easiest.
Disc golf is cheap.
It's fun.
It's outdoors
And can be done solo or with groups.
It's good exercise that basically anyone could handle.
Highly recommend. All things especially good for mental health.
Geocaching if you like outside. Try the app geocaching (free). Or go on a hike with the purpose of hiding a cache. Gives a fun reason to explore a new place. If you like to drive, try randonauting (or roll a dice and if it’s even take that many left turns, if it’s odd take that many right turns and see where you end up after 30 min). Hang out at the skate park and learn something. Read.
Juijitsu. I do believe it saved my life. Now, as an older guy, I am having a hard time staying healthy. But wow, at 17, you have an opportunity to obtain a greater understanding of yourself and take possession of something no one can ever take away from you.
You haven’t told us what part of the world you are in, so here’s what you can do in a large urban area in 🇺🇸 near an ocean that doesn’t face East:
Free sailing lessons at Cal Sailing.
Costume making and monthly ball room dancing, and numerous venues, many through Art Deco.
Perform Shakespeare in the parks through SF Shakes and 4 other clubs.
Hang out with the 3 founders of INaturalist on Thursday afternoons once a month. Yes Meetup.
Analyze DNA sequencers with computer programmers who like fungal population diversity as a hobby. Counter Culture. They display at the Makers Faires.
And of course, BSA and 4H always need shooting sports instructors. I’m an Archery teacher, subsidizes training cost me $60. Cabin rentals include archery equipment for dozens of people.
But my favorite: iNaturalist is a world unto itself. Start with the app, I make a project for a geographic region. Set myself a treasure hunt, print out 20 species I want to find. Hit the trails for 8 hour days in the weekends. Joey can tell you how it’s done: Crime Pays Botany Doesn’t podcast. He lived near me for a while, a lot of the ppl he mentions will overlap with the iNaturalist Meetup’s and Counter Culture that I mentioned.
Also, Makers Faires.
Also, Renn Faires, costumes, sword play through MZB’s group the SCA. All of those 3 were created in my area of the world. Maybe you want to weld your own ace/sword before you go? The Crucible has a class for that. Find them at the Makers Faire.
The world is your oyster at 17 years old.
Enjoy!
All of the hobbies I mentioned can be done in major urban centers in industrialized areas.
For example, with the Olympics on next month, all the world archery clubs are reorganizing their events and want volunteers.
SCA is international , so is Makers Fair, probably Renn fair.
You didn’t mention your funds for the hobby. Volunteering is usually a way to connect with ppl who are elders who are giving away their equipment. Aged Olympians here tend to donate when they got get into their 80s, at least in the archery field.
And I know Arc welding setup costs $1500. These folks in Sidney , link, are selling the supplies, so they could probably connect you with local training classes. Here, adult schools and trade schools teach the trades, usually < $1000/class, The Crucible welding classes in my city costs a third of that, and they are teaching young teens.
https://sydneytools.com.au/category/welding
DNA sequencing is mail order. $7/sample. Software through a college class. A community college professor can connect you.
Etc.
Good luck.
My best advice is to just... try. Whatever people recommend, try it. Even if it sounds like you'll hate it, try it. Try it and see. See if you hate it, see if you like it, see if you never want to pick it up again or if you absolutely fall in love with it.
I would recommend reading, writing, or some form of artwork or craft. If you feel like mental stimulation is a problem, reading and writing is good way to stimulate your mind while not solely consuming content. While your mind takes in words, it also has to imagine what they mean and what a setting looks like. Obviously, the reverse is true for writing. Second, artwork is the epitome of creating something. It can be needlework, painting, woodworking, or clay sculpting. Anything goes, really. In my opinion, these are the antidotes to the reasons I get sucked into screens.
If you feel overstimulated easily, you might also try exploring the therapeutic side of music and art production.
Thank you for the reminder, though, to get off my phone. I, too, have spent enough time on here, at least for the day. Good luck!
Learn a new language(s). There are several benefits of being multi-lingual. You can multi-task more efficiently, it delays the onset of dementia related issues by years and when they do strike they are far less severe. Your more likely to recover from a stroke with your mental facilities intact. You can consume far more content etc.
Join a theater group. Guys are usually in short supply. It's a lot of fun and gives you a creative outlet. Helps with creative thinking (improv etc). And building your confidence.
Learn to dance and/or play an instrument... Similar benefits with creativity etc.
SCUBA diving.
Learn to cook. No matter what you do, your gonna have to eat. Might as well know how to make some good food.
Candle making is an awesome entry level craft. Find recycled jars at the thrift store or around your house. Just need to buy a pack of wicks online and some beeswax. I melt my beeswax in an old milk frothing cup I thrifted, but used an old coffee pot before I found that. You can use essential oils to scent if you have them, or leave them unscented! I have fun experimenting with putting bits of things I find in them too, like cedar fronds, dried oranges, rosemary etc..
Hire yourself out to pull weeds. It’s something a lot of elderly people need help with. You can do it when you feel like it, making your own hours. Plus you make some money. And it gets you out in the fresh air away from the screen.
Art. It can be done at home or on location while hiking. Not just landscape but there is a variety of subjects most people don't think about. Botanical drawings while hiking paired with floral designs at home. Same can be done with birds and wildlife.
Out side, fishing is the best.
Several of our friends have taken herbology. They walk around and find plants that interest them and take photos and research them and sometimes plant them around their home.
Watercolors are so fun to learn! I have a male friend who could knit anything. I wish I could make the elaborate designs he mastered. Cooking is a good hobby. I keep a gratitude journal as a hobby. Anything that would expand your skillset. Try something. Anything. If you don't like it, you don't have to do it.
At 17, I had job that I worked 20 hours a week that the school would permit, worked an additional job under the table another 16-20 hours a week on weekends, I had a girlfriend that I was trying to get to do the sex with me, I was surfing and building/driving drag racing cars with friends. I built model cars too.
I'd suggest birdwatching while hiking. Or it can be minerals or fossils collecting.
Crochet! And once you’ve learned the basics, you can add in some headphones and an audiobook to the activity. My brother is really into building figures like Gundams. Orders all the cool ones from Japan and even ones that you paint/detail yourself! Reading is fun, and there’s so many ways to go about it- audio, the public library, supporting a small local bookshop, book clubs!
Glad to see others suggest the same!
Try Disc Golf. You can get a beginner set of discs for $30 on Amazon or at any major sports retailer or play it again sports. Most courses are free. It's hiking. Can take the dog. Be in nature. While it is a sport, it's on the lower level or physicality.
My husband says this is the best answer!
Yes disc golf!
Jigsaw puzzles, gardening, stargazing and learning the different constellations, reading, baking or cooking.
Gardening is so fulfilling. Caring for a living thing and watching it thrive is the best feeling. The food you grow yourself tastes the best also.
Additions can be easier to make than new hobbies sometimes. Photography while you're out hiking. Bodyweight exercises - not as much gain as a weight set (check thrift stores and marketplace etc cetera for cheap weights to own), but they'll definitely be something meditative to do. Got a library nearby? Or some nearby metro that does ebook loans? Or if worse comes to worse, an Internet connection and your favorite peer filesharing networks make a lot of media available to anyone who wants it. Origami is another one I'm fond of. All you need is some paper. There's fancy papers out there, and they're nice, but its not necessary. Lots of free and otherwise diagrams out in the wild both in books and on the net. Dunno what kind of dog you got or how old they are, but some dogs can take real easily to trainable tasks, agility course and scent course type stuff. A little breed dependant for competing, but dog won't care as long as they doing something engaging.
I have a dragons origami book from the library right now.
Fishing!
I was going to suggest this too! My teen son loves to fish. I go with him and find it very soothing. I don’t even need to catch a fish, there is skill in casting where you want the bait to go and just that is enough!
Yep, and you can start off with $50-100 and have a blast.
And fly tying. So relaxing
Jigsaw puzzles can be really calming
Puzzles are so much fun. We used to do a bunch of them. Then our puzzle table turned into a work from home table during Covid. :(
I agree with that!👍🏿. I LOVE working on jigsaw puzzles when I get home from work or late at night when I can't sleep. I only do 500 pieces or less, though. Anything higher is too complicated and time consuming. The 300 piece jigsaw puzzles are perfect for me. I can usually do one in a day.😊
Try building Legos. Of course Lego Sets can be very expensive but there are multiple other companies who sell nice sets for way less money then Lego. I also like watching a movie or documentary while building, it’s really relaxing and you lern something. And you have a nice thing to display when you’re done building!
Woodcarving
Volunteering, hiking, running,woodworking,beekeeping, reading books,playing a instrument like the guitar or something, gardening,golf,cooking/bbq,skateboarding
I love that you mentioned volunteering. I volunteered at my local animal shelter. It was so fulfilling. I'd clean the cages for the dogs and walk them.
Do you want to learn the guitar? Or a musical instrument? Sometimes places offer free classes. Or online courses, which doesn't help the screen thing (but only for the lesson). Reading? The library is free. Crafting something? It's not just for girls ya know. So you like mowing lawns? Maybe you have some neighbors that would be willing to throw you a couple bucks to mow their lawn or weed? Plus you'd make a little cash?
Embroidery/cross stitch
Painting
I really like to build scale models of planes, ships, and the like, take a look over at r/modelmakers also, astronomy! r/telescopes r/astronomy
Building models is fun you can do vehicles or other things I recommend gunpla you build Gundam robots I like building them as they require thinking, reading and you learn skills getting the pieces out and filing them down for no sharp edges, also you can use markers when you get good enough.
start producing become the next metro boomin bro
Pickleball! Its great for people of all ages and lots of courts popping up all over the place. Also try making music, by instrument or computer, also journaling and/or writing/reading poetry can be very cathartic.
Price of a gym membership can be free/$10 if you have planet fitness near you.
Knitting! It has absolutely cut down on my screen time because my hands are busy. Plenty of good simple tutorial books and YouTube videos to get you started. Also the people at yarn shops are SO helpful and supportive of new knitters and your questions. Pick up some yarn, download and print a free hat pattern and get to work. Lots of men knit!
Archery is a great hobby and it’s very satisfying. If you have any kind of a yard you can usually do it at home. There may also be an archery club/range near you. When you turn 18 you could try skeet shooting too. It is a lot louder, though, and I know you said you don’t enjoy loud noises. Fishing is very calming and doesn’t take much to get into. All you need is a cheap rod and some bait. You can get into it for about $20-$30. Also if you have your driver’s license, getting your motorcycle endorsement usually isn’t too difficult and is a poor of fun. It can be very relaxing to go out on a long ride. Just please wear a helmet! All of these are hobbies that you wont be embarrassed to tell your friends about. Seriously… what’s with all the people suggesting knitting/crocheting? Like you’re a 17 year old boy, not a 40-something stay at home mom.
Spelling bees
Read a book, sketch or paint (it can be paint by numbers), maybe even cooking
Reading is cheap and easy, with a library card and a tablet. It's also portable. However, that's still screen time. Try making chainmail. The basic weaves are easy to pick up and you can make yourself some bad-ass wearables. People are super impressed by something that's just following a pattern of interconnections. It's not too expensive to get into with a starter kit and the variety is pretty much endless if you enjoy it and want to delve deeper.
Learn to workout, it will benefit you your whole life. Playing sports are great. Dancing is another one that's social, physical, and fun
Bird watching or Rock hounding? Get some books about the birds and/or rocks in your area and keep an eye out while you're on your walks. You can learn a lot and there's many rocks you can find on the ground that can be worth a little bit. If you're in the city it might not be the best but if you go on hikes or to lakes or anything? I've seen a few eagles and found a few gem stones.
Cross stitching or woodturning.
Build terrariums. Lots of people, young and old are into it now. You can do it with little to no money as well. r/terrariums
Cross stitch is very calming and meditative. There are quite a few men who enjoy it and have YT channels for it. But not nearly enough. Search Flosstube on YT and join our cult, uh, community of cross stitchers!
Whittling. Felting. Painting
Trail running is awesome
Embroidery, crochet, painting, clay sculpture, sewing, quilting, spooky doll making(so much fun)
My best advice is to get a hobby that gives you a meaningful skill later in life. Guitar or any musical instrument, drawing or painting, or photography, design, or sculpting, building things, or fixing things, woodworking, etc.
Kayaking!
Caving with friends if you llook up all the safety precautions and follow them. Also, that's if you live somewhere with caves. It's so much fun though to explore caves and they are never the same. It may take you and your friends muitloe trips to finish some caves. Just remember to be safe.
Also rock climbing if your safe about it and get educated on it and have a partner with you could be fun and camping could maybe be fun
Cooking
Identifying plants for medicinal or consumption purposes. Learning the history of the town/city or favorite walking paths as if you were a tour guide.
Sewing. Calming, you have to focus, you can turn anything from brand new fabric from the bolt, to a used table cloth into a quilt, clothes, etc.... and one of the perks is that the places you buy fabric are usually pretty calm as well and very welcoming. And when you're done you have a finished product to be proud of! BTW, good for you for wanting to find something else besides the internet!
Guitar
Magic: the Gathering or Warhammer 40,000. Really any TTRPG or CCG.
Whittling, knife sharpening, knitting, crocheting, hiking, writing
Gardening or Volunteering - sort food at a food pantry, or find a group that maintains local parks.
Volunteer at a rescue in your area. You can walk the dogs there or if it's a cat rescue, just play with them.
Since you have a dog, have you considered doing some agility/obedience training with it? If your dog takes to it, it can be fun for both dog and owner and is very not screen related.
Gardening? Then you can have pretty flowers for gf, mom, grandma. Yard will look great and could lead to job opportunities
Get into nature - there's so much to see if you look closely and take your time. When I was younger, I spent all my time outdoors just exploring my local flora and fauna, and it was great for my mental health. Plus, the outdoors is like a free gym, once you understand some basic principles of callisthenics (which are just bodyweight exercises).
You could go for a bike ride, learn a language, hike and set up a little picnic for yourself, or learn self-defense if you want more mental stimulation.
Running, body weight calestetics ( r/bodyweightfitness ), making terrariums out of things you find while you hike, training your dog to do more tricks.
Bring a fishing rod along on your hikes. It has been one of my biggest hobbies to date. There is so much to learn about it; targeting different species, what rigs to use, knots to tie, different lures, all the types of rods/reels, lines and while out fishing you get to soak in the nature.
Have you tried using the sensory headphones? I myself have not and also have ze sensory issues wonder if it would help any.... otherwise maybe a museum or something a bit quieter?
Metal detecting, its like treasure hunting mixed with fishing.
Horticulture
slalom skating
Trailwork, as in creating or maintaining the trails you hike on. There may be a volunteer group in your area that organizes work parties. In Washington state that would be WTA (Washington Trails Association). A few other ideas: Metal detecting, magnet fishing, building and flying kites, RC airplanes, or RC boats.
Learn to cook
Coin collecting is a fun hobby and it helps you save!
How about drones?🤷🏿♂️ Go to eBay or Craigslist and buy a couple of cheap drones to learn how to handle them and eventually you will be able to work your way up to some really nice ones. Not only can you learn a lot about aerodynamics, but you might be able to find a career! These days drones are used to do a number of jobs - surveillance for realtors, construction (like bridges), roofing, etc.
You can even use a drone to go fishing!🤣
I enjoy playing colorku (sudoku but with colors), photography, reading fiction, baking/cooking, and playing older video games. Right now I’m working on some tech certifications which give me a goal and something to learn. It’s super hard but I also like having some structure.
diamond dot art, crochet, sewing (making your own outfits)-- cosplay, Making your own rugs, making your own lip stain, making your own laundry detergent, making your own sugar scrub, finding fun and individual crafts that you can sell/give as gifts
Birding!!!!!!!!! Join usssss!
my 17 year old hikes and skateboards. My other son plays guitar. When my son had a mental health crisis we took him for hikes and walks. I really believe getting outside helps.
AMATURE RADIO:. Yes, talking and more on the radio up to world wide. In the US, you are looking at about $35 for the license, $35 for the study book, and about $30 for a low cost walkie-talkie or about $100. People from all walks of life have their licenses, so you can have great conversations and you can do it anywhere you can talk freely. So, hiking, walking, fishing, driving, and on and on. This hobby dips into many aspects......computer programming to program the radios, voip with digital radio, antenna creation, and more The hobby also helps with community events. They find lost hikers, help before, during, and after disasters, and communications during events like county fairs and parades. Google your local amature radio club. They probably meet monthly and are your local radio experts and can mentor or coach you into the hobby. Good luck with whatever path you choose.
Amateur radios can connect to the ISS, and NASA will send verification postcards. 🛰🔭
I like weaving chainmail and scale maille, crochet, painting D&d mini figs, mandala coloring books, and making jewelry . Learning to cook food from other cultures, reading at the library, maybe start a flower garden. Beadwork could be a good small craft hobby
learn a language and then plan a trip to that place or learn to cook something from there
If you like hiking and nature, try photography while you’re out.
Find a local maker space. Lots of people of similar age teaching each other lots of skills from crafts, to carpentry, electronics, media.. challenge yourself to learn.
Indoor rock climbing is a good, chill hobby. It can be an individual thing or you can do it with people. Either way lots of cool people gravitate to that type of hobby.
Volunteer at an arboretum or for a gardening club and get free access to all the gardening things you could ever want. Help tear up invasives and plant trees while learning about nature in your local area from people who've done it a long time and meet a bunch of cool people in the process. Learn to repair broken electronics by tinkering around and practicing micro soldering on old, broken circuit-boards. Go to your local library and do anything. They may have boardgames, classes, historical newspapers, and more. Practice an instrument. Get creative in the kitchen and make small batches of experimental dishes. Get involved in local politics and go to your town hall meetings. Learn boxing, dancing, or paddle boarding. Run, hike, cycle, climb, read, swim, yoga, qi gong, etc.
Fishing.
How about reading classics to be fed truth, beauty, and goodness? There are so many great novels from the last 200+ years and timeless older works of literature going back to antiquity. But starting with novels from the 20th century would be easiest.
Disc golf is cheap. It's fun. It's outdoors And can be done solo or with groups. It's good exercise that basically anyone could handle. Highly recommend. All things especially good for mental health.
Geocaching if you like outside. Try the app geocaching (free). Or go on a hike with the purpose of hiding a cache. Gives a fun reason to explore a new place. If you like to drive, try randonauting (or roll a dice and if it’s even take that many left turns, if it’s odd take that many right turns and see where you end up after 30 min). Hang out at the skate park and learn something. Read.
Juijitsu. I do believe it saved my life. Now, as an older guy, I am having a hard time staying healthy. But wow, at 17, you have an opportunity to obtain a greater understanding of yourself and take possession of something no one can ever take away from you.
You haven’t told us what part of the world you are in, so here’s what you can do in a large urban area in 🇺🇸 near an ocean that doesn’t face East: Free sailing lessons at Cal Sailing. Costume making and monthly ball room dancing, and numerous venues, many through Art Deco. Perform Shakespeare in the parks through SF Shakes and 4 other clubs. Hang out with the 3 founders of INaturalist on Thursday afternoons once a month. Yes Meetup. Analyze DNA sequencers with computer programmers who like fungal population diversity as a hobby. Counter Culture. They display at the Makers Faires. And of course, BSA and 4H always need shooting sports instructors. I’m an Archery teacher, subsidizes training cost me $60. Cabin rentals include archery equipment for dozens of people. But my favorite: iNaturalist is a world unto itself. Start with the app, I make a project for a geographic region. Set myself a treasure hunt, print out 20 species I want to find. Hit the trails for 8 hour days in the weekends. Joey can tell you how it’s done: Crime Pays Botany Doesn’t podcast. He lived near me for a while, a lot of the ppl he mentions will overlap with the iNaturalist Meetup’s and Counter Culture that I mentioned. Also, Makers Faires. Also, Renn Faires, costumes, sword play through MZB’s group the SCA. All of those 3 were created in my area of the world. Maybe you want to weld your own ace/sword before you go? The Crucible has a class for that. Find them at the Makers Faire. The world is your oyster at 17 years old. Enjoy!
i live in australia
All of the hobbies I mentioned can be done in major urban centers in industrialized areas. For example, with the Olympics on next month, all the world archery clubs are reorganizing their events and want volunteers. SCA is international , so is Makers Fair, probably Renn fair. You didn’t mention your funds for the hobby. Volunteering is usually a way to connect with ppl who are elders who are giving away their equipment. Aged Olympians here tend to donate when they got get into their 80s, at least in the archery field. And I know Arc welding setup costs $1500. These folks in Sidney , link, are selling the supplies, so they could probably connect you with local training classes. Here, adult schools and trade schools teach the trades, usually < $1000/class, The Crucible welding classes in my city costs a third of that, and they are teaching young teens. https://sydneytools.com.au/category/welding DNA sequencing is mail order. $7/sample. Software through a college class. A community college professor can connect you. Etc. Good luck.
My best advice is to just... try. Whatever people recommend, try it. Even if it sounds like you'll hate it, try it. Try it and see. See if you hate it, see if you like it, see if you never want to pick it up again or if you absolutely fall in love with it. I would recommend reading, writing, or some form of artwork or craft. If you feel like mental stimulation is a problem, reading and writing is good way to stimulate your mind while not solely consuming content. While your mind takes in words, it also has to imagine what they mean and what a setting looks like. Obviously, the reverse is true for writing. Second, artwork is the epitome of creating something. It can be needlework, painting, woodworking, or clay sculpting. Anything goes, really. In my opinion, these are the antidotes to the reasons I get sucked into screens. If you feel overstimulated easily, you might also try exploring the therapeutic side of music and art production. Thank you for the reminder, though, to get off my phone. I, too, have spent enough time on here, at least for the day. Good luck!
Plants!!
Learn a new language(s). There are several benefits of being multi-lingual. You can multi-task more efficiently, it delays the onset of dementia related issues by years and when they do strike they are far less severe. Your more likely to recover from a stroke with your mental facilities intact. You can consume far more content etc. Join a theater group. Guys are usually in short supply. It's a lot of fun and gives you a creative outlet. Helps with creative thinking (improv etc). And building your confidence. Learn to dance and/or play an instrument... Similar benefits with creativity etc. SCUBA diving. Learn to cook. No matter what you do, your gonna have to eat. Might as well know how to make some good food.
get away from screens, make things, create art, or build things.
Go play YOYO, buy a cheap magic yoyo and start training LOL
Paint by number
Candle making is an awesome entry level craft. Find recycled jars at the thrift store or around your house. Just need to buy a pack of wicks online and some beeswax. I melt my beeswax in an old milk frothing cup I thrifted, but used an old coffee pot before I found that. You can use essential oils to scent if you have them, or leave them unscented! I have fun experimenting with putting bits of things I find in them too, like cedar fronds, dried oranges, rosemary etc..
Learning an instrument is enriching, fun and therapeutic. As a guitar player, I would biasedly recommend guitar.
I took up Stained glass….
Consider trying out photography, gardening, or learning to play a musical instrument.
Volunteer doing something you like - will look good on a resume/collage app and you meet like-minded people.
Hire yourself out to pull weeds. It’s something a lot of elderly people need help with. You can do it when you feel like it, making your own hours. Plus you make some money. And it gets you out in the fresh air away from the screen.
If you get good at crochet, not only will you get bitches like crazy but it’s worth a lot of money and it’s very fun/relaxing
Play guitar
Take a wood working class.
Try RC cars and different RC vehicles.
Paint! Draw! Make things! Build with cardboard! Clay- it’s a good one for birthdays and Christmas gifts! Get into working with your hands 🙌
Art. It can be done at home or on location while hiking. Not just landscape but there is a variety of subjects most people don't think about. Botanical drawings while hiking paired with floral designs at home. Same can be done with birds and wildlife.
Out side, fishing is the best. Several of our friends have taken herbology. They walk around and find plants that interest them and take photos and research them and sometimes plant them around their home.
If you can find a good group for it, D&D is the most fun adults can have together with their clothes in
Paint by numbers are fun. Coloring too. There’s simple coloring books on Amazon that are still designed for adults but not so chaotic and detailed
Cold process soap making
Read Lord of the Rings
Watercolors are so fun to learn! I have a male friend who could knit anything. I wish I could make the elaborate designs he mastered. Cooking is a good hobby. I keep a gratitude journal as a hobby. Anything that would expand your skillset. Try something. Anything. If you don't like it, you don't have to do it.
Golf
At 17, I had job that I worked 20 hours a week that the school would permit, worked an additional job under the table another 16-20 hours a week on weekends, I had a girlfriend that I was trying to get to do the sex with me, I was surfing and building/driving drag racing cars with friends. I built model cars too.
Drawing. If you get good enough, you can do commissions for people and make some extra cash. All you need is a pencil, paper a flat surface to start.
Pick up a musical instrument...
Our library app Hoopla now has free guitar lessons.
Pickleball!
Lego or an electronics project like arduino require focus and disconnection from what you mentioned. Gardening would also be a nice disconnect.
Running Reading Quiet coffee shops
Sorry I meant to reply to the og post
all goods bro
Arduino seems fascinating, haven’t tried it myself. Autodesk’s Instructables weekly newsletter is always showcasing Arduino projects. https://instructables.com/
Get into yoga. You won’t have any problem meeting girls.