Attitude An optimistic attitude always helps. Negative emotions and situation will come in life. but will be overcome with positive outlook. No time lasts forever. Both Good and Bad time pass. A degree of Curiosity helps. To know about and try new things as well as ideas and to encourage others to do so is a big quality.
Organization
Not to get yourself and irritate others living with you, some management skills are required . All you managers, you know all about it !
Time Make a routine and adhere to it but loosely. You do not have to meet any deadlines. Main thing is to enjoy while you do anything.
Space At least in Mumbai and presumably in other Metros, there is a space constrain. Especially if living in a joint family. Keep your tools and supplies in a box or bag. After you finish with the activity, collect and keep them together for ease of finding and use. One place I keep my bags is the back of doors. I have two strips of hooks on the back of door. The top one is for clothes, the lower one holds my accessories.
You can find many novel ideas on the net.
The other place is on the top of my cupboard. The supplies for the craft not in current use go there. For some activities you need more space. For example, painting. You need a big table. I use the family dining table in the afternoons or in the night after dinner.
If you have one computer to share with all, have your time set maybe in the afternoon or night when you can’t sleep.
Materials For different activities different tools and equipment are needed.
Some like wood work and miniature modelling need heavy investment. It also needs a lot of strength and stamina. Before you invest a lot of money for tools, get enough information whether it is sustainable. The idea is not to SPEND money unnecessarily, but to have a good time with whatever you have or minimum expense.
Some Suggestions
Try at least two or more activities simultaneously, but in moderation, so you don’t get chance to get bored or exhausted.
A physical moving around activity and a rather passive sitting activity will complement each other and provide rest between two.
Attempt smaller projects at first. A completed thing is the best encouragement. Be easy on yourself. There will be off days when you won’t feel like doing anything. That is OK! The Hobby is meant to interest you and please you, not to chain and drain you. There will be times when you will not like the chosen activity. You can always try another, or leave it for a while; maybe you will like it later.
List Of Activities and Hobbies
I am writing separate e-books covering some of the the following subjects. They introduce the activity and provide links to learn and pursue . I have also tried to provide links for free instructions wherever possible.
I have provided free e books wherever I could find them . Some of these e books were written since 2006 and may be out of date with some resources. I would strongly advise you to google and find latest info re your interest. As Technology and information are changing at a fast pace and it is not possible to keep with them for a static site like this.
This is by no means an exhaustive list and you may find many ideas not present here. Please treat ths like a general compass so you feel adventurous enough to find your interest.
Here are some general categories
1. Performing Arts Music - Vocal, Classical, Semi classical, Instrumental Dance – Indian, Western, Folk, Bollywood Drama - schools of acting
2. Reading and Writing Getting degrees, Freelance writing, Ghost writing, translations, Transcripts, creative writing , script and copy writing, poetry and lyrics. Reading for pleasure and Profit.
3. Photography There are two e books : Eleven things to do with your Photos and Sell your photos
4. Painting and Visual Arts Oils, Watercolor, Sketching, Drawing, Pastels, Batik, Tye’nDye, Rubberstamping , Tribal and traditional art, Glass painting, Adult Coloring pages, Digital art.
5. Traditional Home crafts Knitting, Crochet, Sewing, Embroidery, Quilting, Weaving, Macramé, Basketry, Candle and Soap making, Doll and Soft toy making, Rug making, Beading, Paper Flowers, Scrapbooking
6. Technical Crafts for men Woodworking, Ham Radio, Watch making, Stained Glass, Magic tricks, Making Miniature Models, Types of Photography, Share market, Genealogy, Gemology.
7. Sports and Games Info on indoor and outdoor games – Cards, Chess, Go, Mahjongg, Backgammon, Scrabble, Puzzles.Gardening, Cooking, Having a pet, Collecting
8. Exercises and Physical fitness As we grow old we have need at least three kinds of physical maintenance - Balancing, Motor activities and Strength apart from some specific exercises for specific problems. There are many regimes to keep you fit in whatever condition you are, like, Yoga, Chair Yoga, Chair exercises, Here are some of my compilation and some from other free sources.
8. Divination ,Holistic Healing and Meditation Astrology - North , South Indian, and Western , Tarot, Vaastu, Feng Shui, Numerology,.Reiki, Pranik Healing, Sujok, Acupressure, Yoga, Homeopathy. Schools of meditations. – Vipassana, BrahmaKumaris, Osho, Art of Living, Chinmaya, Transcendental.