How Do You Spend Your Free Time?

Lately I’ve been spending a good chunk of my evenings cooking, but not in the functional, get-food-on-the-table way — more like I pick something a little complicated or unfamiliar, and make an event out of it. I’ll set a timer, put on some ambient background noise (sometimes forest sounds, sometimes just silence), and take my time with every step. I didn’t grow up cooking, so I’m still figuring it all out, and that keeps it interesting. There’s also something deeply satisfying about making something from scratch with your hands. Even if it doesn’t come out perfect, it feels like time that wasn’t wasted because you can taste the result. Bonus is, I usually end up with leftovers that last me a couple days, so the effort stretches beyond just one evening. I also play with Go Love AI and thus i have interesting time

Honestly, I’ve been leaning into doing really slow, tactile stuff lately. Like I’ll put on some instrumental music (no lyrics, so my brain doesn’t cling to anything), and just sit at my table sketching or building puzzles. I’m not good at drawing — it’s mostly doodles or messing around with charcoal — but the whole point for me is that it doesn’t have to lead anywhere. It’s weirdly calming, especially after staring at screens all day. Sometimes I’ll light a candle or just open the window a bit and listen to street sounds while doing it. It makes the evening feel like a pause rather than just a transition between work and sleep. Kind of like I’ve claimed that time as mine, if that makes sense.