When you’re on the road to recovery, you’ll probably find yourself with extra time on your hands. This is because there’s all this time when you would have been using the substance or doing things with people you once used with. But now that you’re aiming for a sober lifestyle, you’ll need to fill this time with other activities. If you don’t find other things to do, it could lead to boredom, which could make it harder to avoid relapse.

If you’re looking for some ideas on what hobbies you could try, consider some of these:

• Start a fitness routine: You could start hiking, running, biking or another exercise routine. It’s not only good for your mental and physical well-being, but it takes time.
• Pick up an instrument: Learning to play an instrument can give you a sense of accomplishment after you’ve put in the practice. Plus, it gives another outlet for which you can express yourself.
• Try your hand at writing: Like playing an instrument and most art forms, writing allows you to express yourself as well. You can come up with some fictional stories, try poetry or write about your own experiences.
• Learn to knit or sew: You could come up with some cool creations knitting or sewing. If you get good, you could use these items for gifts or even potentially sell them.
• Become a hobbyist photographer: Capture the beautiful and serene scenery around you with a camera. You can simply post cool photos on your Instagram that you took with your phone or you can pick up a camera and start collecting photos on your memory card.
• Try cooking or baking: There are plenty of great recipes on the web you could try. As you get the hang of it, you can also create your own delicious dishes.
• Take art classes: You could take a class in poetry, painting, or drawing. There are plenty of art forms you could give a try. You never know, there may be an artist in you just waiting to come out.
• Learn to dance: Dancing is not only fun, but it can be good for helping you stay fit. Plus, there are lots of different dances you can learn.
• Try a new sport: You could pick up golfing, basketball, soccer, or dodgeball. There are plenty of choices to consider.

As you can see, there are a lot of potential hobbies you could try and these are just a few ideas. Use your extra time to find new things that will keep you engaged and active during recovery.