Ask HN: Tech workers; what remarkably non-tech things do you enjoy doing?

[goatcode]

I've been through both stages: coding was my life, I had a rack server with all sorts of cool things running on it; then, after I moved states, it sat in a box for a year, and I couldn't stomach the thought of working on tech stuff after my day ended. I started working on small engines, I learned to weld, got interested in small-scale renewable energy solutions (ok, so a little bit tech), and occasionally I'll touch a personal dev project, now.

What do you do to unwind? Does it still relate in some way to tech (e.g., problem solving)? Do you have extremely non-tech hobbies that you'd love to do for a living?

[softwaredoug]

Cooking.

Specifically it’s fun to learn some fundamentals, like roast a chicken, then try to mix it up and perfect that. Plus it is useful and feeds the family something wholesome. It’s not hard to make something great with a small number of good ingredients and simple techniques. You don’t need to be a chef to do a better job than 75% of the restaurant food out there.

Gardening.

Being outside, digging in the soil, caring for nature, connecting with family as we grow things

Hiking / camping

Getting out and exploring... getting out and feeling uncomfortable. Noting how slow the time goes. Forcing myself to a deep state of boredom due to lack of electronic stimulation.

[Delk]

Rock climbing is sometimes fun. It's physical, it's social, and it's got a big dose of problem-solving. I don't approach it with such enthusiasm any more (there's enough problem solving at work and in life without purposefully engaging in more), but I still do it sometimes.

I guess in some sense you could say that all the gear and understanding its use (ropes, redundancy etc.) have a tech-ish component, but I'd still generally count it as non-tech.

[kubanczyk]

If it's for unwinding, as OP wanted, I'd recommend specifically indoor climbing.

There are three kinds basically: speed, lead, boulder. The best one is that which has the least commute for you. If multiple are accessible, start off with lead, then you can easily switch. Lead climbing is about two quite old-fashioned concepts: bravery and trust far more than about thinking (or anything else).

Also, that prevalent myth: arm strength is not a pre-requisite. Heck, I personally know climbers who cannot do even one strict pull-up and still lead decent routes.

[blueteeth]

I basically never do personal projects any more, and I'm much happier.

At home, I love cross-stitch. I can sit for hours after work just embroidering away.

When I'm at my parents' house, I love helping my dad in his workshop. He himself is an amateur, but he's extremely driven. Previous projects have been furniture for the house, a series of scrabble boards, and lately, jigsaw puzzles. I am now considering getting a jigsaw puzzle setup at home because it's so satisfying to do.

I also love sailing and walking. When I'm walking I'll completely disconnect. I don't even take my phone. I have an old flip phone which I keep switched off, and a GPS tracker with an SOS button that will send a text message if I press it.

[purplecats]

Similarly, I love sewing!

[dcminter]

Dancing. I got into swing dancing in a big way (first Lindy Hop but nowadays only Balboa).

It was very good for me - great for my confidence. I was very shy, now I'm comfortable talking to a large audience.

I also ended up moving country and getting married as a side effect, so that was nice!

Obviously it being a social activity we haven't done much lately but my wife and I have been practicing once or twice a week. We're luckier than our single friends at least.

The dancing in turn got me into photography in a minor way, and the editing of photos is a nice non-social counterpoint to the frenzied socializing of an international dance weekender.

I wouldn't do either for a living. Full time dance teaching and full time photography both look like very hard work compared to a pleasant day of pushing buttons for a living!

[thedevindevops]

Textile engineering - to the untrained eye it looks exactly like knitting. A surprisingly cheap and addictive hobby...

[epilys]

Any material (write-ups, pictures) you'd like to share? Textiles can be so interesting. I remember seeing open source knitting machines for example. Shame that as an industry it's tied to slave labour, for example cotton picking and sweat shops.

[stonecharioteer]

I love making fruit jams. I taught myself how to make Mango Jams, and I've since made Orange Marmalade, Peach and Apple Jam, and Orange and Strawberry Marmalade. The funny thing is I don't really enjoy eating that much jam. I love bottling it and giving it to friends and family.

[jka]

Cycling: it's a way to see the world up-close without barriers, is low-cost, healthy, highly customizable, self-service and can involve satisfying puzzle-solving when rare mechanical issues do occur.

Watching films: there are a great number of classics out there, a vast range of independent and unknown films to discover (often with curious cultural and individual quirks), and plenty of easy-going entertainment as well. It's a good way to get into a completely different world with low effort, and while there's more film out there than any one person could watch and appreciate, it's also possible to develop a core knowledge of well-regarded, well-made films to discuss with others at length - while exchanging unique personal favourites and details.

[mattowen_uk]

Woodworking.

It's creative, using my hands, and my mind. It's 1000 miles away from sitting at a desk typing. I wish I had more time to do it, but alas, the sitting down typing thing, pays more. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[mettamage]

Playing guitar, beatboxing, singing, composing music in my mind

If UBI would have been a thing, I might have been a fulltime musician.

[peruvian]

Pretty much everything else. I stop coding after 5pm-ish. I love to read, wander around my local park for hours, eat outside along or with friends, etc.

[kasrakhosravi2]

I enjoy writing blog posts about the things I find interesting, help me formulate all my ideas into written format and is really pleasing to do. I also make YouTube videos on the side

For fun stuff, I really enjoy walking, biking and karting. Hope the borders open up soon so I can visit some new places also

[mooreds]

Gardening, esp perennial plants, esp perennials that you can eat. So things like lovage, sorrel, etc.

[sbacic]

I do caving and scuba diving. Both are fun outdoor activities that have nothing to do with computers or IT.

From talks with other people in IT, it seems outdoorsy, physical and low-tech activities are quite popular to get away from our daily work.

[1970-01-01]

I play with and repair just about anything that beeps, rolls, explodes, or makes noise.

[hyperman1]

LEGO! Official sets, MOCs and putting blinkenlights in bricks

[epilys]

Checkout https://www.leocad.org/ an open source Lego CAD

[jwilber]

Surfing and skateboarding, mostly. Two lifelong passions.

[miccah]

Parkour.

It's great physical exercise, I get to spend time outside, set challenges / gradually achieve them, and express my creativity through movement.

[sbacic]

How dangerous is parkour? I always wanted to pick it up but was always hesitant due to risk of injury.

[lrvick]

I keep pet chickens.

[ElectricMind]

No one is going to say : Sex ? Okay. It is not that remarkable for humans I guess :D

[xkeysc0re]

I edit, design, layout, and make books for an independent press