Hobbies for a 20 year old, male college student?

Question

I'm looking for hobbies I can take up which are relatively cheap and mainly can improve my hand dexterity but any suggestion is appreciated. I want to be a surgeon and feel my hand abilities need much improvement and it's never too early to start. Only things you need not recommend are exercise and sports as I already participate in both. Thanks!

Answer 1

knitting, i know it might not be what you want to do because its not something seen that guys do, but you can do it when you are alone. knitting patterns sometimes are very tight and extensive. and you can always give your creations to someone that you love as a homemade gift.

Answer 2

Knitting.

Honestly. It is not weird for a guy to knit. I taught my current boyfriend (22), and he's having a grand 'ole time. People have said that knitting is difficult merely because of the hand dexterity required! When you are able to do socks on tiny needles with bunches of intricate stitches (http://www.eunnyjang.com/knit/2006/09/bayerische_sock_part_ii.html ) while watching tv, you know you're doing good, hahah.

Starting out is not hard. The best thing to do would be to find a local yarn store (or even a Michael's if you're in the States) that has knitting lessons and learn directly from a person. If that is not possible, or you're too embarassed to go to one, http://knittinghelp.com has excellent videos on how to do all of the basics.. as well as advanced techniques. Go to a craft store, or, shudder, Wal-Mart, and get US size 8-10 (5-6mm if you're in Canada or Europe) knitting needles in metal or plastic and some cheap acrylic (shudder again) yarn in a light color. Acrylic yarn is great for beginners, though not what a lot of more advanced knitters ever want to be seen with, because it is super cheap and can easily be taken back apart for reuse while learning. A light color is best so that you can see what's going on with the yarn.

The initial investment is not very high, though be warned that if you turn out to really enjoy it, the costs of good quality yarns and needles can add up. The cost is worth it though from the enjoyment you receive from the activity and then giving the knitted item to someone (or enjoying it yourself).

Answer 3

There was a study in 2003 that showed that first-person shooter games help develop the brain to process visual information.

According to the experiments, which are reported in the May 29 (2003) issue of Nature, people who play action video games can process visual information more quickly and can track 30 percent more objects than non video game players.

Another study in 2004 specifically said that doctors who spent at least three hours a week playing video games made about 37 percent fewer mistakes in laparoscopic surgery and performed the task 27 percent faster than their counterparts who did not play video games.

Answer 4

You could try Card Modeling it is very inexpensive to start and requires good dexterity and eye hand coordination as well it can be very creative. There are many projects that can be downloaded for free or if creative enough you can design your own. These projects could be scale aircraft, cars, ships, architecture, figurines or characters. They can be as simple or as complicated as you wish. You just have to print them out on 65 or 110lb card that can be had at most office supply stores.
I will leave you with a couple of links

Answer 5

Perhaps quilting.
Yes, not a very manly activity, but hey - it is free country. However, this thing doesn't require a lot of space or equipment and can be done any time you have some idle time. Plus that nice personal gifts that the products make.

Answer 6

How about tying knots?
You can start with string you can really see, and work smaller size string when you develop the skills.

Knot-tying has many different parts, you can learn the practical knots, yes, the surgeons knot is one of them.
http://www.animatedknots.com/
http://www.geospectra.net/kite/knots/knots.htm#join

Or go into decorative work:
http://knopen.ismijnhobby.nl/
http://home.tiscali.nl/knotsandknottying/index.htm
http://www.knotical-arts.com/
http://www.frayedknotarts.com/tutor1.html
to give a few links.

The International Guild of Knot Tyers has a few medical people as members, many but not all of them surgeons.
Macramé is one kind of knots, and at the moment more of a girl thing to do, it has been done my manly men aboard the sailing vessels for a long time.
http://www.knotingwork.com/Pages/knots.html
http://www.marchen-art.co.jp/basic/index.html

When you decide to try knot tying you will find that it can be a satisfying hobby that can be done with few or no tools and can cost little if you are willing to work with the string which is locally available. It is possible to spend a lot of money too, on string and tools, but you can wait with doing that till your budget is a doctors one rather than a students.

See the forums at KHWW:
http://www.khww.net/forum/index.php
and IGKT
http://www.igkt.net/sm/index.php
for people to help you.

Willeke

Answer 7

If you need to build hand dexterity and skills with knives, try carving wood. You can use pretty much any sharp knife and any block of wood. Whiddled gifts are perfect for friends and girlfriends. You can get all the wood from your local hardwear store and knives are relitivly cheap.

Answer 8

Try getting an FPS(first person shooter) game. Great hobbie, and you get to meet lots of nice ppl, well mostly. Try looking for warrock or counter-strike, both great games.

Answer 9

I would visit a local hobby shop in your area. You can find a list at www.coolhobbyshops.com.

Answer 10

The only person who can do anything is your Mom, the enabler. Until she is thoroughly fed up with sister and her friends the situation will not change. I suggest you tell Mom she has 60 days to evict sister and change the locks or you will be moving back to the garage.