Asklemmy

There's always some number of browser tabs, old apps, or miscellaneous files that accumulate on my phone. I like to clean those up during otherwise wasted time like waiting in line or while on public transport.

I have anki decks that i don't use on everyday basis especially for that. You can spend from 2 seconds to hours on this.

Wikipedia. Ballz game.

Various solitaires via LÖVE Solitaire.

Simon Tantham puzzles

And, due to a Lemmy post I saw the other day, a game called Slice and Dice.

I read comics/manga, browse Lemmy and read news mostly, and not in any particular order. Otherwise I do games like Wordle or just look up how to do home projects on YouTube.
So go into learning more about your hobbies?

Find the lesser posted contributors to your field/s of interest, read them, post them, share your thoughts.

This means you are actively using social media, actively considering different texts in subjects you already have an interest in, and actively using your brain to make considered contributions.

This is my go to. Take a look at my post history in aussie-enviro. I continually go out of my way to find environmental or conservation organisations themselves instead of waiting only for a news site like Guardian to do a write up themselves.

I'm finding my reading speed and attentiveness has improved, and i've better knowledge recall, especially on key details. Its of course fun as well.

I mean, people were fine without social media before, I dont think we need those. :) At least not the big tech ones.

Duolingo. My whole family has caught the bug. I hear the little ba-ding! noise from all corners of the house all evening long.

Y todavía no puedo hablar bien español 😕

Don't replace social media with something else on your phone.

Put the phone down and walk away.

Balatro

I only technically have smartphone. its either not on me or turned off in a foil pouch.

Physical Games

Not sure what your personal in-person social circle looks like but playing physical games (board/card, etc) with people is great. Spent 2 weeks with family and we had a blast playing some games every night.

A few I really enjoyed:

• 5 Crowns
• Phase 10
• Cribbage (good grief the rules are nuts)
• Hues and Cues
• Organ Attack

3D Printing

A time sink hobby is 3D Printing. It’s a challenge enough, and can be so low cost per part, that it’s fun. Starting with a lower cost 3D printer means the cost of entry is not much. Once you get a printer dialed printing things for people and functional prints for home is great. You can also learn 3D Modeling enough to design your own prints. Definitely gonna take some time to do so.

Retro Gaming

If you like retro games setting up a retro handheld is a ton of fun and then playing the games is great too. Handhelds from Anbernic, Retroid, or Powkiddy is a low cost of entry and much higher quality than you think, and they can run up to PS1/N64/Dreamcast. Took me ~1 month to go from never having done one to having a great OS with a tailored UI (Anbernic RG40XXV running Knulli OS). Going over guides from Retro Game Corps (YouTube and website) was easy but took long enough to teach me a ton.

Gardening

Obviously depends on your personal circumstances but even if you’re in a city/apartment a lot of cities/towns have community gardens. Setting up a raised garden is pretty easy and doesn’t have to cost a ton. Maintaining it is a challenge based on your location and takes learning many different skills. We grow Lettuce, Cucumbers, Zucchini, Green Beans. We had no success with Tomatoes in our climate (although a lot of people have no issue growing them). We’ve had limited success with potatoes (another really easy to grow crop, that we suck at, lol).

Canning

My wife LOVES canning. That’s a massive rabbit hole in its own right. Cost of entry is decently mid due to having to buy canning supplies like the glass jars (called cans), lids, rings, canning pots, pressure cooker, etc. You’ll get incredible quality vegetables and fruits out of it and can can meats and other things. My wife has been canning for 5 years now and we don’t buy store bought vegetables anymore. You wont really save any costs but you will know exactly what you’re eating. Does take having access to fresh produce at local markets to make it as cheap as the grocery store.

The Wikipedia app or Wikireader

Reading, honestly. Though I don't read on my phone, too many distractions. I read whenever I'm out and about and waiting, which isn't much these days.

Tighrope most days https://www.britannica.com/quiz/tightrope

Other than that just Lemmy.

Keep meaning to try learning Chess so I can play it online a little.

NYT Games: Wordle, Spelling Bee, Connections, Mini crossword puzzles. They refresh every day

Post on Lemmy between meetings

I play 20questions, and then get upset at the contradictions in my answers to others'

http://www.20q.net/

Read using REadEra, play Forge of Empires - plus Lemmy via Voyager.

I do solitaire, cryprograms, crossword and mahjong, and sometimes I'll read creepypastas from the archive like I used to do in highschool

Other than that if I know I'll have to wait somewhere and occupy myself I bring a book with me.