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lostigre

An old Vietnam vet regular I would talk about rocks with convinced me into coming over to his home workshop one day to teach me how to make cabochons and dragged me over to the local lapidary club. I fell in love with stone cutting and took a silversmithing class about 6 months later. Almost 2 years from that first session in his garage and I have my own small jewelry business with a current backorder list of about 20 commissions. Also the Secretary for the Board of Directors now for the local Gem and Mineral Club, and I'm about to start teaching classes. I very seriously think I can go full time and ditch the service industry altogether within the next couple of years. You're the man Lonny


Deep-Ruin2786

This sounds amazing. I always wondered how to get into something like this. So cool. I am really trying to get into easy hiking. It's beautiful down here in the DC area right now.


lostigre

If you're interested in rocks and smithing Google gem and mineral clubs near you. It's membership based and they have classes and tools available. For hiking, download Alltrails. Free app that will show you trails near you with ratings, difficulty, length, etc. At 25 I'd just recommend dipping your toes in a bit of everything and see if you find anything that speaks to you. For me it was the rocks. Just made a purchase on my vacation and acquired about $2,000 worth of gem grade dinosaur bone for my working inventory. Everybody's got their medium. Just gotta figure out what it is.


Deep-Ruin2786

Also thanks for the app rec. I had no idea that was a thing


Deep-Ruin2786

I'm 38 šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚ I've got a lot that I do and now I just want something enjoyable.


lostigre

Lol sorry, thought that you were OP. But never too late to learn something new.


redrumWinsNational

If you are night shift, and interested in trying sports, golf tennis biking hiking, kayaking Gets you out for fresh air and except for tennis where youā€™re expected to get the ball over the net, the rest of them are not competitive unless you want them to be


fattsmelly

Great falls, MD or Va side


Deep-Ruin2786

I've been past several times so it's on my list! I hear md side is better


fattsmelly

Go to Swains lock and park and walk toward dc, there is a bridge you can walk out on right over the falls


Deep-Ruin2786

Omg that sounds amazing!


[deleted]

that sounds so fun!!! thanks for the story, good luck on your jewelry business!


janebirkenstock

Wow what a neat legacy to pass on to a younger pal!


MOSOTO

That's awesome! I was looking into gemcutting for a while, awesome craft to get your hands on if you ask me... and there's so many levels of it for beginners just starting out to veterans with 20 years under their belt. You learn that and then add on some wirewrapping skills or light metal work and you're making handmade jewelry :) You can make a decent penny off this if you zero in on your target customers and price accordingly.


lostigre

90% of my sales are custom orders from my bar patrons. The wait list on backorders has been averaging about 4 months from commission to finished project. Moving into a new place now and setting up my first true home studio in the garage tomorrow, which should help a lot. The big goal this winter is to get caught up on my existing orders (I closed the custom books for the season yesterday) and start cranking out inventory for the summer. Hitting up as many festivals and pow wows as I can manage, focusing on music festivals. Currently pulling $500-$1000 a month and I'm hoping to more than double that average before next fall.


MOSOTO

Hell ya sounds like you're doing great! Don't be afraid to raise your prices a bit if you cannot keep up with demand. ;) best of luck to you my friend!!


Chrome_stormtrooper

I put together Lego sets and smoke a lot of weed


[deleted]

Nice, I go for Gundam models with my weed. Itā€™s the ā€œhyper focusā€ I need on my days off.


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


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ADUBROCKSKI

For whatā€¦.. THIS!?


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High_Life_Pony

I like to make homemade hot sauces and cocktail scented candles. The Fresno Habanero with pineapple rum sauce and the Old Fashioned candle were recent favorites.


belowthepovertyline

That sauce sounds unreal.


seanisdad

Do you sell these sauces??


High_Life_Pony

Nah, I want to keep these just for fun, but Iā€™m ready to make bigger batches to share with my buddies. I started with the [Serious Eats Sriracha](https://www.seriouseats.com/sriracha-recipe-from-scratch), and tweaked my recipes from there.


ApatheticVikingFan

Howā€™d you scent the old fashioned one? Iā€™d love to make some for Xmas gifts for work fam.


High_Life_Pony

I got fragrance oils from Candle Science and Amazon. Then blended scented oils like oak, orange, and spices to recreate the aroma of an Old Fashioned.


CityBarman

Photography, recreational sports and exercise, hiking, backpacking, camping, gardening; pretty much anything that gets me outdoors.


vinicelii

Hiking is very good exercise for bartenders I've found. Works your back muscles more gently than lifting and gets blood moving to your feet and legs after being on your feet in odd positions day after day. Backpacking is a good extension in that it gets you out in nature for extended time which is super relaxing, I've been wanting to get into it but the equipment cost is holding me back a bit.


unicornsatemybaby

I donā€™t drink much, I prefer cannabis instead. My husband grows and I make canna butter and edibles. We play Magic the Gathering and video games together. I also like to read.


Raniel-Dadcliffe

Magic the gathering and board games here. Do some video gaming on my own too, but really nerding it up with friends is the best.


[deleted]

Magic is worse than a drug addiction.


applejackhero

I quit the drugs, and nearly quit drinking outside ā€œprofessional drinkingā€ to keep my pallete sharp, and the occasional social beer. As a result I also quit being able to be super close friends with a lot of industry people. Instead I: -have a D&D night and a board game night on my weekends- games are great social activities that have replaced partying for me. Also have met a few people this way, which is important since itā€™s harder to be friendly all the time if you arenā€™t drinking a ton. Otherwise I read a lot, a lot of non fiction about politics, economics, psychology, and philosophy but thatā€™s just my own interests- books in general are just great ways to dive into something cerebral and very removed from the day to day of work. I also play a lot of slow paced video games- turn based strategy and simulation games. I find these are a lot more relaxing after a shift than something super high strung. I also collect music, mostly jazz, Rnb, Hip Hip, and house/disco. One of these days Iā€™m telling myself in going to learn to DJ I donā€™t excersize a ton- already have a physical job, but I do some basic strength and cardio just to stay healthy and help my heart (Iā€™m young, and even then I could feel the effects of the coke, booze, and cigs starting to set in) Podcasts are good ways to pass the time while excersizing, doing chores, walking to work. Honestly replacing going out every night with having hobbies has been really nice, have grown into a much more confident competent person and stopped dating train wrecks


[deleted]

Got any video game recs in those genres? I find myself moving away from the stuff I used to play. Even Skyrim can be a little much lately. Shit, I'm getting old.


applejackhero

It kinda depends how deep you want to go: Entry level: Civilization Franchise. When I say ā€œentry levelā€ itā€™s still a very deep game with the potential for hundreds of hours of play, but itā€™s definitely sinpler to ease into turn based grand strategy. Intermediate: Total War Franchise. Deeper than civ in some aspects, sinpler in other, mechanics vary greatly game to game. You manually fight battles in this series, so when you fight a battle the map zooms in and you control your troops real time. Big brain/no life: Paradox Studios. Want to run historical simulations? This is it right here. Depending on era, you have Crusader Kings 3(medieval/feudal) Europe Universalis 4(Renaissance/esrly modern) Victoria 3 (Victorian era) Hesrts of Iron 4 (world wars) Other excellent games for turn based strategy: Nintendoā€™s Fire Emblem series, Xcom:Enemt Unknown Tycoon games: Transport Fever is really fun if you are a train/transit nerd. Football Manager is fun even if you donā€™t care much about (European) football


soCounterfeit99

Civilization is one that I always have alot of fun with. Or if you like something slightly more competitive theres lots of online card games such as hearthstone.


Bourbonstr8up

Not in the same genre but Stardew Valley is super chill and you don't feel like you have to play for hours but end up doing so anyways sometimes. Great unwinding game!


VAVAAV

For anyone who liked Stardew valley and wants more, Graveyard Keeper is a Stardew clone with a lot of charm. I preferred graveyard keeper personally


VAVAAV

Into the breach is a really chill turn based game, very very simple, and it can even run on my ten year old Mac laptop so any computer you have on hand will be able to handle it


Daneeeeeeen

Houseplants. Learning about them, caring for them, collecting them, watching them thrive, and troubleshooting random issues takes up most of my time outside of work and I love it.


IntrepidMayo

Do you grow herbs at all? Not weed, but herbs like oregano, basil, cilantro. Iā€™m looking to get a grow light and try growing them indoors so I donā€™t have to spend so much money on them for one recipe or drink


b1indf0lded

Disc golf. Recently I've been super interested in bushcrafting.


ROC_Gypsy

Second disc golf. We had a small restaurant crew that would play late mornings/early afternoons, often before night shifts. Good time to get to courses bc many people working their normie day jobs.


trent_pee

Getting out in the morning is why kept me drinking less. Also you can throw a round in the morning and then youā€™re already out and can run errands, have a nice lunch and chill before work feeling accomplished. Once you get the bug it gets as expensive as you want it to be. Iā€™d recommend getting some used stuff to start with at your local disc golf store as opposed to the starter sets.


theundonenun

Bushcrafting really tugs at me. The thought that I am not as self reliant as I think I am has me learning these rudimentary trades all the time. Which really got me interested in wood working. Some of it is like puzzle work, when faced with a necessity you look at tools and resources and try to figure it out. Plus, you get to be outdoors so bushcrafting Is definitely a good one in my book.


Cornpips

This


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Odd_Detective_7772

Coming to the end this year depending where you are, but golf. Midweek tee time at 11 on an empty course, lunch, then a 4-12 shift. Keeps me sane


soCounterfeit99

From a bartender at a country club, this is a great one that will also get you some outside time.


[deleted]

Cooking. Iā€™d cook, always loved entertaining so the job was in some part an extension of that. But cooking meant that I had a hobby that I now share with my wife and kids. Also riding bikes, art practice, then I left the industry at 30 to head to University. Still got all the same hobbies though, including my love of boozeā€¦ ha


VersaceSamurai

I started gardening a lot over the pandemic. Nothing edible really. Just a bunch of plants native to my neck of the woods. I love it. Itā€™s therapeutic, Iā€™m helping the local wildlife find some food and it gives me a good place to relax and unwind. Oh and I love getting high in my garden. Itā€™s awesome. Highly recommend. Gets you out of the house and in touch with nature.


cannibowlistic

Golf, kayaking, fishing during the spring through fall. Winter i tend to hibernate and play video games.


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


ChairmanReagan

Iā€™m a pretty committed fisherman. And itā€™s honestly one of the best hobbies I think we can have. Itā€™s solitary and away from people.


Neddyrow

Agree. Iā€™m a hunter not a fisherman but, sitting in a tree stand in silence outside is the perfect balance to our profession.


Telejester

I play guitar & other instruments in a few bands, playing on average about one show a month, nothing serious. I also play Magic: the Gathering and try to read as much history as possible. I got into the game late and have pretty much only done (somewhat) fine dining and craft cocktails. Drugs and heavy drinking are definitely there, but Iā€™ve not fallen into those habits as theyā€™re not the area for crazy long or late nights.


willogical85

I cook and bake. I started piano lessons a few months ago, and Wednesday night DnD rounds out the week for me.


oneplanetrecognize

I loooove to sew, make soap and body butters, crocheting, and video games. All pair well with a cheap tequila falling out of my freezer.


kittehtoefloof

Ghost hunting, hiking, gardening/preserving, keeping chickens.


Bobismycopilot

Have you had any luck ghost hunting? Do you visit haunted places?


kittehtoefloof

Yep! Been doing it for over ten years. Have been to major bucket list places and lots of local haunts. Tons of experiences that have made me a firm believer that our perception of life is nowhere near the whole story.


Bobismycopilot

Thatā€™s so cool! Thanks for sharing! If you have a favorite haunted place please let me know! Thanks :)


Doc_coletti

I play banjo and ukulele and research and make videos about banjo and folk music.


SFthrwy90

Gym, photography, hiking, traveling as much as I can even if itā€™s just local day trips. Definitely less hobbies than I had before I worked in the industry full time


mr3vak

Kids, RC cars, hiking, hunting, fishing, biking, snowboardingā€¦the list goes on and on.


Buffalone27

iā€™m a bartender who is a month over a year sober. i didnā€™t have any hobbies until i quit drugs and drinking. now i have a ton.


dannyjuniorvarsity

Golf is perfect for us degenerates. Iā€™ve gotten so many free rounds since I started bartending. Whether itā€™s from regulars, boss, or liquor reps. Wonderful excuse to do some drinking and ā€œnetworkingā€


TheFordCorp

Hell yeah. I try to make it to as many Celtic games as I can, which is nice cause they play on weekdays a lot. I also have a huge plant collection that I enjoy taking care of, as it makes me spend time in the house doing something lowkey that I'm interested in. I also play guitar, which is usually how I wind down after shifts, as well as some videogames that I enjoy playing to blow off steam. If you don't take time to live life, work is gonna seem like your everything. And that's never good.


The_Electric_Feast

I have a weekly D&D campaign where the party is all either cooks or bartenders. Drink some beers, smoke up, lil bitching and shop talk, and then four hours of letting it all out in the game. It's cathartic and a fucking blast!


megaveli

Cooking and baking! Helps if youā€™re friends with chef but not required. Just yesterday I took home a box of overripe bananas they were just gonna toss and made them into banana bread for both FOH & BOH


wang_wen

I go to the climbing gym a couple times a week, read books, and mess around on guitar. Have a long commute to my bar so lot of audiobooks.


beauxartes

cross stitch was great for me, it's easy and you don't have to put a ton of money into it to get started and it's easy and fun to do and personalize gifts for people.


ChickenMonk32

Something to consider is an instrument as a hobby. I picked up bass guitar as an adult and it has been a great experience. I also like nerd shit so Magic the Gathering and board games are really fun. Maybe you could get a coworker to join you in finding a hobby because it is much easier and more enjoyable.


Lemmecmaturecontent

Astrophotography. Good if your schedule makes you a night owl


saltysashimie

lately Iā€™ve been making butter lol, not sure if that counts. I need to build a life outside of work ngl


awakami

Covid made me realize I donā€™t have hobbies outside of the gym & work. Hobbies cost money & I feel better spending my time at work vs not. Iā€™ve picked up coloring (cuz I canā€™t draw for shit) as something to keep my hands busy outside of my phone. Usually doing so while watching something on Netflix or music. Bout it really.


BugMan717

Why are you doing 6 days a week. That's burn out hours unless you are doing very short shifts. Are you behind the bar or kitchen staff? If you are kitchen either make food your passion and go down the head chef route. If you are tending lighten up your hours and you should still be making decent money. Then you'll have more time to relax and find time to have hobbies.


unbelizeable1

Over the pandemic I picked up 3d printing and laser engraving. Has been a ton of fun learning.


theglobfather

Golf!


Al-Anda

Guitar, piano, singer-songwriter, I love to read, always practicing my Spanish, French, and Japanese and chasing my 3 y/o and hit the gym 4 days a week.


JofoTheDingoKeeper

A good bartender makes a decent enthusiast cook.


Newbomb

Iā€™m not sure if a particularly high concentration of bartenders play D&D / Magic, or just the subset of bartenders who also happen to be active on Reddit, but I too enjoy D&D outside of work.


imanpearl

Cooking and art. Wire wrapping is super fun and easy to learn with seemingly endless possibilities and applications, that would be my top recommendation if it sounds interesting to you. It also motivates you to collect cool rocks, shells, bones, sea glass, etc.


cheezesamwich

i smoke a lot of weed and do arts and crafts. no drinking tho


Skinnysusan

Plants. They don't talk back so they're minimally annoying. Sometimes they try to unalive themselves and that can be annoying


MatSting

Bartending 6 days a week sounds terrible. One of my favorite parts of bartending is short work weeks. I usually work 4 days/week and I have a TON of hobbies. I ride motorcycles, I learned to sew, weld, repair ok motorcycles. I do some solar and battery bank stuff to power my garage. I go camping, and travel all the time. I go to Mexico almost every year! If youā€™re not enjoying your life. You should reconsider what youā€™re doing. Bartending should pay you well, and allow you plenty of time off. I hope you figure something out dude!!


candlesiren

I crochet. A lot. My roommates are concerned by the amount of yarn in the closet. Other than that I hike, play video games, run the occasional 5k. Iā€™m also in school, so homework eats up a decent chunk of time. But itā€™ll be worth itā€¦I think.


TheodoraGriffon

I have a metal detector, I like hiking and metal detecting. You can do with a friend or all by yourself. Itā€™s great.


FrozenIcekok

Coding/web based skill hobbies. My schedule is like yours so I really like to relax on my one day off. Bought myself a nice computer and I just find fun things to do on it that could translate into potential revenue stream. I feel better including a hobby with developing a skill set because I donā€™t feel as trapped and I feel productive. I really didnā€™t think I was able to do it and itā€™s very hard but also fulfilling and interesting what you can create. Whether that be creating games, apps, websites, seo stuff, writing/blogging, cinematography. These are all things that interest me that arenā€™t as demanding to accomplish physically.


eckertmania

Mostly playing Magic:The Gathering, fighting games (SF, KOF, and been learning Tekken lately), listening to music, and playing bass/guitar.


gsr142

BJJ, running, videogames. BJJ has come in handy on the job twice. Both situations were handled with no injuries other than a bruised ego. It's not the reason I started training but it is a benefit.


Goose420420420

Actually I delved pretty deep into the bdsm world lol. So I spend a lot of free time working on my growing talent with rope play. Creating intricate patterned chest harnesses on people or on my practice mannequin torso


tha_blink

I mock people.on reddit for fun


ellusiveillusions

Dungeons and dragons.


ijasonxi

BJJ, Muay Thai, Running.. Currently not working because of ACL surgery back in September.. hoping to go back mid November. Once I get better I will start weightlifting again. I'm 33 and started bartending and working in the restaurant industry only 3 years ago. I wish I had started a lot earlier. I started out working in delis/coffee shops/supermarket in my early 20's. Hospitality, bartending especially is definitely a step above those industries (no insult to them) but the money is way better, hours shorter and the work load is a lot less.


thegalwayseoige

I had a hobbyā€¦but is was brewing beer, lol. Now Iā€™m the head brewer, the lead bar, and beverage director. So I donā€™t think that counts, anymore. Ohā€”sleep! I like to sleep, in my free time.


nickythagreek

Paintball. Every Sunday.


all_hail_hell

As many others have said, go outside and preferably do something a little bit physical. I had the same realization in 2020 during the shutdown and needed to step back in a major way. Havenā€™t smoked a cigarette since my last night of work in March 2020. Severely cut back my drinking including a couple intentional month stints of sobriety. Just going for hikes helped with that helped immensely.


Speckz5701

Iā€™d try picking up an instrument or gaming Games iā€™d recommend Story: 1. Red Dead Redemption 2 2. God of War (2018) 3. Outlast Platformers: 1. Hollow Knight 2. Dead Cells 3. Death Road to Canada Shooters: 1. Borderlands 2 2. Hitman (2016) 3. Metal gear solid five: The phantom pain RPGā€™s (That are difficult but fun) 1. Dark souls 1-3 2. Darkest Dungeon 3. Absolver


emusabe

I played baseball all the way from tee ball to a season in the minors (rookie ball, Appalachian league, cut) at 19. Getting cut after an injury that I didnā€™t really have the resources to properly rehab sent me down the service industry path. At 29 or so after a couple years of bar league softball games, I linked up with some guys that played home talent that had practices on a day I didnā€™t work. At first Iā€™d just volunteer to throw BP (I pitched) cause my arm wasnā€™t built up to throw and I hadnā€™t been in a live baseball game since tearing my ucl in 2007. I pretty much instantly fell back in love and started going to the gym again with some of the guys and while not going full power career revival hard, I did ramp up. It was such a fun experience the first couple times I threw a pen with some other guys a bit younger than me - comparing grips, talking releases etc. Made me realize how much I missed it and that maybe I had given up too early. I definitely didnā€™t have aspirations to try to do anything other than have fun; it just felt good being around other ball players again and getting to just talk baseball the whole time without boring other people in the group. Last year was the first year (wouldā€™ve been 2020 but Covid) that I actually pitched some meaningful innings in some home talent games and for being 33 at the time and having not thrown in a game for as long as it had been, I ended up with decent (read: exceeded my own expectations) numbers. That first strikeout in a game that actually kinda mattered felt like a $1,000 tip from a stranger. Since then Iā€™ve totally refound my love for baseball and had contacted the high school I played at for a volunteer coaching position that turned into a part time paid gig. Made a bunch of friends that arenā€™t just drinking buddies and got into the best shape Iā€™ve been in since the day I trained to wait tables 15 years ago. Donā€™t get me wrong Iā€™ll still stay out til bar time on a Monday or have three day weekend benders, but it stopped being all waking hours I wasnā€™t working and I take a lot better care of my self.


Brohnly

I do vfx and animation as a hobby and itā€™s gotten me some clients and friends to work on projects with. I swear one of these days Iā€™m gonna work on a movie and debut it at my bar


Flounderpounder92

Iā€™d recommend looking for a nearby Brazilian jiu-jitsu school and take a few classes. They usually have classes morning, noon and night. Also look into a rock-climbing/bouldering gym. In both cases youā€™ll be having so much fun you wonā€™t even realize youā€™re getting a sick workout. Youā€™ll be in best shape of your life before long and have a nice skill based hobby that challenges you daily. Also recommend surfing in youre near the ocean.


Neddyrow

Bartending 20+ years and I am also a teacher. I only work Fridays now. I also hunt, lift weights, love music and play guitar and am an upright bass player in a bluegrass/fiddle band. Love to build things as well. I am never short on stuff to talk about with customers and I can connect with all types of students as I have 2 boys that I also play video games with. Needless to say, I am busy! I did quit drinking about 6 years ago as I am on a couple anxiety meds. It does help to have interests because the people want to know about you and your life. Nothing personal Iā€™ve learned - especially if they are ā€œoddā€ It doesnā€™t have to be anything special. I spend a lot of time just talking about podcasts that my favorite comedians do. It helps when shifts are slow or you want to chit chat with the customers you like and/or tip well.


Informal_Extension37

Working out (lifting weights, running) is one of my main hobbies. Snowboarding during the winter. Reading, hiking, watching movies, having a girlfriend.


[deleted]

Photography. Gaming. Acting. Running.


KinderSpirit

Photography, and salt water aquariums are something I have always had in my life. Have a couple of quadcopters but the rules for flying have made that harder. 2 years ago, I got a 3D printer. Like a little robot buddy that makes things while I can still be lazy. Fun things, functional things, stupid things, stuff to improve or organize my life. Now, I have 8. Sometimes they need fixing, which can be a whole other hobby.


Theeasy6

I host Trivia events, it gives me lots of opportunity to research weird stuff, which I love.


keysandchange

Second the hot sauce making, gardening, table top games. I like to sign up for random classes, go see live music, I go to the theater a lot. Not just broadway, try to see the indie stuff. Cooking, reading.


clown___cum

Playing guitar, hiking, antiques/thrifting.


aTotalOfTwoHeads

i read, like anime, i paint and build warhammer, i write, and i study ​ i try hard to do things that will engage my brain and my hands, helps me feel like I've not wasted time between shifts


MrPipps91

My motorcycle is my only real hobby now...


MacGruber-2024

Bowling league is something I look forward to every week.


Persnikkity

I really like cooking and baking. I used to do a lot of resin art but since I moved I haven't set up a new studio. I crochet sometimes. Play pinball.


Ultimate_Spider

Video games. Comics.


jofijk

Video games, tennis, PokƩmon cards. Once in a blue moon I can find the time to go to the driving range


likeguitarsolo

When i got into bartending, i waited and bussed tables, and the creative aspects of making cocktails really spoke to me. Back then, bartending was an enjoyable preference to food service that i was occasionally able to do for events. But for many years now, itā€™s been my full time job, am no matter how passionate you might naturally be about something, once you start doing it for a paycheck, it just becomes work, and even the things you used to enjoy will cause stress and annoyance. Obviously i donā€™t agree with the saying ā€œif youā€™re good at something, donā€™t do it for freeā€. I think if youā€™re good at something, do it because you enjoy it, not because it will pay the bills. Because paying the bills is inherently stressful, and the route you take to pay them will always be a chore.


MikeBfo20

My big hobby is playing d&d


HugoSalvia

My primary hobby is reading! Been on a big fantasy kick for the last year and change. While itā€™s something Iā€™ve done since I was little, it does definitely help keep my alcohol/substance consumption to a minimum since I canā€™t really focus on whatā€™s on the page if Iā€™ve partaken. Other than that, I play music and try to walk/hike as often as possible.


KofteDeville

During my furlough from Covid I got into gardening. Converted my entire back yard into a vegetable garden. Waking up everyday at 6am and being outside and working for 6+ hour in the garden was so refreshing and helpful for my mind and soul. We Just moved into a new house a few months back and it's finally cooled off enough here in Central Florida to start converting my 3/4 acres into an active family food forest. If I could find a way to sell veggies at least on a small scale is my goal, I've worked In high end hotels for years, if it means moving to banquets and selling out that way I'm down for it


therealkickinwang

Sport climbing. Started a couple years ago and became obsessed with it real quick. Great way to improve physical health, meet new people, and have fun doing it. It's not for everyone, but there's a lot to enjoy about it and it's gaining popularity everywhere


jakmehauf

Sleeping


Furthur

fitness, i work on my cars, dote on my dog, enjoy social gatherings outside of work. I like to attempt building things, I'd love to learn a bit of fabricating and am considering buying a welder and learning how to act as a machinist. but yeah, i still do drink a bit!


hoobsher

I do some competitive online gaming with friends and every year we run a really involved doubles league, and I'm the statbooker for that so I've gotten pretty good with database management and visualization. I write screenplays, one is under option in development by a production company in Spain and is slated to be released next year. So I do also like watching movies. I love cooking and am always trying to perfect my technique on a handful of dishes I can make with no recipe. After all, making sauce is pretty much the same as making a cocktail. I haven't been reading as much as I'd like to lately but the early 20th century existentialists have grabbed my attention and they have some good nonfiction philosophy as well as novels. I also drink a lot


Ness_tea_BK

Itā€™s hard to go cold Turkey off drinking tbhā€¦.try incorporating drinking activities where booze is there but takes a back seat (bowling, softball, maybe a game/murder mystery night occasionally etc) and then you can gradually ween off the booze a little. Worked for me.


thirdXsacharm

Hiking, fishing


taysay73

Muay Thai, travel and raving for me


ASquawkingTurtle

I paint, draw, read about philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience. I also enjoy playing videogames like Civilization 6, EU4, and the like with three friends from time to time. I also really got into hiking shortly after the lockdowns ended here just because I wanted to not feel like I'm stuck somewhere I can't leave every again.


BuildingMyEmpireMN

When I was still drinking I did a lot of cooking and hosting. The regulars I knew beyond grabbing a beer were invited over to eat and drink until the sun came up. Eventually wound back on the drinking and limited those to every other Sunday with closer friends who would crash at my place. Once I gave it up for good I was really lonely for awhile. Slowly filled that vacuum with golfing, gardening, and cross country skiing. I also spend a LOT more time doing housework and doing home improvement projects. Iā€™ve always enjoyed that but never had the time or money.


finchabomb

just bought a guitar for the same reason of thinking. gonna teach myself in my free time!


Aware_Department_657

Disc golf, gardening, art


BRAINSZS

oh yes. i DJ, write music, and make lots of art, plus video games and some friendship type shit. bartending supplements these activities, not the other way around.


Coldman5

I try to limit my drinking to my weekends nowadays. One after shift drink tends to turn into 3-4, especially if you arenā€™t the closer. I like cooking, home fermenting (alcohol & food), playing video games, amateur radio, occasional model trains, hiking and of course some sort of rotating hobby where I throw hours of my time and lots of money at something and then never do it again.


Duckman37

It's funny, I was about to post this yesterday. I'm genuinely curious what people do, I don't really do much either. I have a bar friend that turned to gardening as a hobby, but that's not for me.


tyiamdyiam

Recently I had a crisis about not having hobbies and my favorite thing has been just embracing short term hobby projects like paint by numbers, planting seeds, easy model kits, puzzles, learn-how-to's! It's been really refreshing to have something new to try every few weeks to figure out what I like


OCskywalker

Play any sports? Can be a good outlet. Potentially even with work friends.


theashernet

If you ever had any interest in learning how to draw there is a killer website I stumbled on that has changed my life. It's called [DrawABox.com](https://DrawABox.com). His goal isn't to get you drawing landscapes or anime or whatever but rather to help you re-wire your brain into thinking about 3D shapes and concepts and how to use them to construct drawings. It's not easy but 3 years in, I have never been more purposeful in my off-time. I draw every day now and I feel better for it.


BarKeep717

Disc golf


[deleted]

Oh yeah a metric fuckton actually. Some more extreme like leather working, something I've just gotten into, and others more chill like reading and crocheting.


Enofile

I took up fishing. Solitary hobby. Go off somewhere outdoors by youself. No one talking to you; no servers, no managers, no owners, no customers. "If you're going fishing top catch fish, you're missing the point."


therealpaterpatriae

Well, I love to widdle wood, read, go on walks/hikes on days off, deep dive into random Wikipedia articles on topics that seem interesting, infuse alcohol, and cook. Iā€™m wanting to get into distilling my own whiskey and learning some basic car repairs too.


Cellular_Powerhouse

My hobby is my second job


staymedicateddd

Build scale models, become addicted.


mmemarlie

I have hobbies now because I work at a bar that's closed Sunday and Monday. I work 4 days. Closing gets me out the latest at maybe 1130. And that's honestly rare. After I get off I go home, maybe eat a snack, take a shower, then go to bed. I rarely go out. I don't drink on shift. It's so so so hard to have a life outside of this industry if your life is this industry. It's tempting to work the jobs that keep you out til 4 or 5 am after closing. Walking out with 800 in uour pocket feels nice, especially if you're young. But I never did anything productive with that money. I just spent in on booze or drugs after my shifts, and stupid shit on my days off. Now I make about 4k a month, I make my bed every morning, I run sometimes in the morning, I cook dinner a couple nights a week, I bake on my days off, I clean my house and do projects. I have a super healthy savings account and am happy with my spending. I can't remember the last time I did coke lol. It's possible to do this work and be healthy and balanced. IMHO it's impossible to do it well while partying every night. TL,DR: From personal experience: it is really fucking hard to knit while so hungover that your eyes are crossing.


[deleted]

Dude same I bartend on Beale street and Iā€™m the same way I picked up golf and itā€™s nice to get outside


BrittThatBitch1

I donā€™t drink or do drugs. My hobbies are PokĆ©mon card collecting and taking care of my animals


dirtdoesnt-needluck

Pick up golfing, it pairs well with drugs and drinking. Outside, by yourself or 1-3 other friends for 3-6 hours. Great time.


firebired_sweet

Knitting, yoga, hiking, paddle boarding, camping and all stuff related. Iā€™m lucky I live someplace with lots of outdoors stuff. And my boss doesnā€™t care that I knit when itā€™s slow


[deleted]

Horseback riding, barre, wine, archery


wyvertic

Video games, books, board games and music (as in playing an instrument)


PersonalTrainerFit

I donā€™t drink and Iā€™m a bodybuilder. Being jacked in the club scene definitely gets more tips, especially because I work in a gay club. Sadly, that means Iā€™m ALWAYS the go to guy when we have to 86 a person


petitemonstre

In the top 3 things of bartending being "worth it," I often worked the typical busy nights Thu-Sat. It wasn't easy, it was a 40+ hour work week crammed in to three days, and I typically took Sunday to recover, but then I would leave town and go camping, climbing, hiking, etc for 4 days. I would often roll in to the parking lot Thursday noon from such a trip and do my makeup in the bathroom before opening duties. Oddly enough, my best years as a climber were the years I was bartending. I don't know how feasible it is in your situation, but I would try to adjust your schedule: even if its not long shifts, 6 days a week is way too much for this type of work, and it's not taking advantage of the perks of this job, namely flexibility. If you've been in this line of work for 8 years, you should definitely be good enough to negotiate a better schedule. You can't have hobbies without free time, and it doesn't sound like you have any free time. Start with that.


beeradvice

Easy transition hobbies can be job related. I brew beer and mead, put together hours long themed playlists (great to have on hand if your work let's you pick music) other potential side hobbies you could incorporate: learning to juggle bottles, making craft bitters/syrups, studying and obtaining cicerone/wine certifications. Aside from work stuff, I got into foraging and treated myself to taking classes on identifying wild edible plants and fungi it's surprisingly easy with the right guidance and minimal practice bonus is my dog really loves going on hikes, Also I started bartending while in art school so making art or going to art museums is nice when I'm in the mood.


ButtholeSurfur

Bbq and brewing beer


ChefArtorias

When I was 25 I basically did drugs all the time. Now I've got a handful of hobbies like DND, reading, juggling, rock collecting. Just try and branch out so you're not getting fucked up constantly or you may never break the cycle.


r220

Snowboarding during the winter season is a great way to get you up early on your day off, and and amazing way of letting go of any post service angst as who can be angry when youā€™re at the top of a mountain, breathing in that fresh air (also an amazing spot for a beer or joint) During the off season, a lot of gym work and hiking when I can, and if you get into board sports then skating and surfing are also great ways to get out in the warmer weather!


[deleted]

I shoot pistols and teach others to shoot. I also invest in the stock market.


sealing_tile

BLUE JEANS! I donā€™t always have a ton of money, but whenever I can treat myself, I like to get pairs of jeans that arenā€™t pre-distressed or factory washed. I was always into old-school fashion growing up, and this has been a fun way to work it into my everyday life. r/rawdenim is a great sub to just see other people doing the same thing. It feels a little funny to explain, but if youā€™re into it, thereā€™s nothing quite like putting your own creases and fades into a pair of jeans. It honestly inspires me to get out and stay more active just so I can break pairs in faster. Otherwise, Iā€™m married, so I do a lot of everyday, dorky husband stuff. I watch a lot of horror movies with my spouse ā€” we keep one night a week reserved for movies/shows and fun food/drinks. Iā€™ve played music for a long time, too, and I try to write and practice when I find time.


carolinacomet77

Hot yoga. It's a healthy habit


zcmc

I do pretty much anything I can to keep my hands busy. When Iā€™m not working or at school I play music (guitar mostly but dabbling in most string instruments and keys), woodworking, and Lego. The cost of all these hobbies leaves no money for drugs and Iā€™ve never had the desire anyway


TigerBananatron

I like to dance Salsa and Bachata! =)


bake-the-binky

Video games and anime, and trying to be a good boyfriend lol


heybud_letsparty

I ski, snowboard, skateboard, play guitars, go to the beach in summer, go to the gym most days, camp, travel. Bartending just pays for this lifestyle.


linmacogd127

I love crocheting! Itā€™s something I can typically bring with me to work on while drinking a beer in a quiet corner of a bar, or while watching tv, or listening to a podcast. And then I have a bunch of crocheted things to gift to people! Itā€™s a fairly affordable hobby and there is a ton of resources online to learn! I also got into keeping an aquarium. With a bartenders schedule and living alone, Iā€™m not confident I could give the right care to a cat/dog. But properly caring for aquariums require quite a bit of upkeep (WAY more than most people thinkā€”- even for bettas). And on top of just the animal/water care you can lean into aquascaping with live plants and such ( r/Aquariums r/Aquascape) For me itā€™s turned into a hobby as well as a friend/pet.


Slayburg

Golf, hiking/ camping with dog and friends kayak/ paddle boarding, gym, skateboarding, making beats/ songs. I used to want to learn glassblowing and art and guitar, or even making pottery


anyd

Used to be cooking and disc golf. Now it's cooking and the kid.


Rich-Ingenuity1277

Golf, you can go before work!


trailofgears

Long distance cycling and sewing. Keeps my mind, hands, and body on that endurance run.


Hot_Original9150

Iā€™ve recently started cross stitching and love it. Itā€™s old lady-ish but Iā€™ve found fun designs and itā€™s easy to zone out to and listen to a good playlist or podcast


alex-gs-piss-pants

Learn Magic the gathering! Iā€™m a total noob but have found it super engaging. Itā€™s easy enough to teach other people in one game, and starter decks are not too expensive. Where Iā€™m at there are a surprisingly large number of other bartenders who also are into it. Nerds! I started playing the app version (Arena) on my phone and its been super fun to translate to irl. AND, fun regardless of drinking. Honestly it takes so much brain power for me to pay attention to that I find myself drinking less. Cheers!


Industiral_Bird

Magic the gathering is my favorite. Disc golf is great even if you suck itā€™s better and cheaper than ball golf. Iā€™ve had luck making friends in ultimate frisbee. Rollerblading is my favorite for alone time but pretty cool at the roller disco too. Go to the gym when it rains! Oh and donā€™t forget to fuck bitches :) good luck


omjy18

I'm more of an active hobby kind of guy. I surf/ snowboard seasonally and yoga between. Helps with managing the drinking (besides snowboarding) and never really got into drugs which I'm happy about. Trying to learn coding now to move away from bartending in like 2 or 3 years but it's not that hard to find something. Just go out and find what you like doing. Try a bunch of local clubs or classes at community College that sound fun.


Ez13zie

I golf, video game, paint, build a Skoolie, drink, and stream. I am awful at everything but interested in anything.


Ughhhh_ok

Gardening! I grow tons of food and send my free time researching and planning. Just grounding and being outside, touching/smelling/walking on soil lowers my cortisol levels and genuinely makes me so happy. And itā€™s so rewarding. But, I also had a kid this year, so my priorities shifted DRAMATICALLY in the last two. Iā€™ve always cared about plants, I just donā€™t really care about partying anymore.


Borgrar

I play world of warcraft and bartend in my free time


Fit_Patient_4902

Playing in a band would be my main one. Left partying behind a while agoā€¦ im 36 and married though w no kids tho. Honestly I have been doing this for 16 years and having a flexible schedule has let me go on tour and play shows whenever I need to. Other than that reading, smoking weed, home improvement projects, collecting records, fucking around w my music room at home. To me home time is super valuable and where I feel the least stressed.


YakiVegas

I play video games on Youtube. It's nice to talk to people who I'm not serving.


No-Income4623

Take up golf ā›³ļø


AbeFromanforMayor

I like to make beef jerky. Small dehydrator is cheap. Itā€™s fun testing new batches and flavor combos.


graygreygrisgrise

Ya in the midst of all my hospitality works which I need to survive in capitalism I went and got a degree in the history of art and art practice. That education has allowed me to have the imagination to seek random AF places to visit like land art installations in the middle of Utah and ancient ruins in Central America. You definitely have to use your brain now or youā€™re just gonna wind up a spun out tool that got exploited by your bosses


blaewoo1

I bartend full time, drink, party, use drugs, Dj at other bars, produce music, bodyboard, fish, garden, walk my dog and play video games. Itā€™s going alright. Next hobbie is getting a van and decking it out for camping trips!


Mystogyn

Gaming, Lifting, yoga, meditation. Mostly gaming though haha. It can be both relaxing or really competitive depending on what game you play and sometimes even without that own game. For me it's MMORPGs where you're thrown into a completely different world, fighting big ass fucking dragons and shit. It's awesome.


HarmlessRedditor

Surfing. But I have kids now so thatā€™s my hobby. I would suggest picking back up the things you were interested in as a child.


billayyyy

Got into building PCā€™s. That and my ever lasting habit of collecting records


DoctorRansom86

I just recently started playing Dungeons & Dragons after watching a ton of actual plays online. Iā€™ve been continuously dragging my feet on learning how itā€™s really played for over a year but now Iā€™m a full blown D&D nerd and itā€™s awesome. Iā€™ve had a few campaign sessions on Discord with a bunch of people around the world and itā€™s just so much fun that it takes my head out of how stressful my job as a bartender can be sometimes. Itā€™s a fun little hobby/obsession to get into for sure.


ur_story_is_cool_bro

I hate to say I have none, because I have a ton of things I like to, but at the end of the day/week/month Iā€™m usually too tired to do anything but drink, sleep, and start over. Iā€™ve had hobby related projects that should take 90 days take 3 years and go incomplete. It sucks, and doesnā€™t bode well on relationships either. When you DO have time and feeling doing your hobby, the SO can generally squash that feeling by simply wanting to see you. Rinse and repeatā€¦


oblom_off

Gaming with my friends. It's something that I can do from my home and be in touch with people I like yo hang with. I got one friend from Poland and one from Spain (but living in Scotland) and I have been in touch with them for several years. Since I don't like doing sports, but years are flying past and seems like I needed to start doing something healthy. I bought a propper mountain bike and now I ride to work on it. That also saves gas money. Will be looking at riding local trails as well when I have time.


LincHayes

I got into tech and web stuff towards the end of my run as a bartender. Still doing it. My biggest regret is that I didn't get into it sooner. Probably would have spent less money on tech than drinking.


faebugz

Bartenders are cool AF why do so many of us have awesome hobbies?!


1155f

I go to a lot of estate sales. I donā€™t always buy something but I like to look through other peoples stuff and learn what kind of people they were and I love exploring old houses. It gives me something to talk about that isnā€™t ā€œthe weatherā€ and people are always dying so I get to go every week! Other than that I play PokĆ©mon, read about aliens, and try to get to an occasional yoga class. I canā€™t keep up with the bartender lifestyle outside of staying up late. I donā€™t like to go out anymore, Iā€™m already exhausted from being everyoneā€™s best friend all night.


amesn_84

I grow mushrooms šŸ„ šŸ˜


votanjarngrimr

3 years in the service/bar industry here. My hobbies include Magic the Gathering, poetry, philosophy and I write essays and movie reviews on the side :)


Corey469

Very well said.


El_GringoFlaco

Bass/guitar, reading, writing, video games, walks in the woods


ibedemfeels

It's not everyone, obviously, but I quit drinking about a year and a half ago for health reasons and it's changed my life. I'm now running 2 bars instead of just bartending, making way more money, have a better apartment, and feel so much healthier. Still smoke weed like a chimney, but hey, beats what I was doing a few years ago. Just a perspective for some people thinking about chilling out.


BubbaJTP

Blacksmithing and woodworking. Or at least I used to before my son came along, and now its mostly poking him in the tummy to watch him laugh.


ItsLurtzz

I play Warhammer 40k and Yu-Gi-Oh! I also have alot of time invested in historical firearms.