Edit 5/13/18: added rugby and rowing to sports; combat sports, electrical engineering, writing, mechanics, dancing, hunting & fishing, landscaping, grilling, and marksmanship to skills; volunteer work and community service to additional activities. I'm extremely glad this list has been a massive help to all!
I recently read a post on askTRP asking about activities/hobbies you can do to raise your SMV, so I wanted to go and make a list of activities and hobbies you can take up to occupy your time or raise SMV if you so choose.
Exercise
- Lifting - This is the holy grail of activities/hobbies that raise your SMV. It is the backbone of becoming a true alpha male and every single person on the subreddit should be lifting. I am basically against Starting Strength and would not advise it for those who are looking to lift. Instead, I would direct you to a site called ExRx to put together your own plan, and follow the training guidelines given by the site in order to get you into the rhythm of lifting without overwhelming stress. The fitness subreddit is also another great source and is another one I personally use to sharpen my knowledge.
- Running - I personally don't run, but the FAQ on the Running subreddit is probably a great start for those who are interested in running. I got a solid start with the Fitness subreddit, so you most likely will get a solid start with the Running subreddit.
- Walking - If running isn't your thing, but you'd like to get some light cardio in, you can find a walking program on the aforementioned site, ExRx. It's suggested that you take the Rockport Walk Test to establish which program you start at (ExRx also provides this calculator, but you must have the test self-administered or administered to you by someone else in order to fill in the values.) Read up on how to do it if you're interested.
- Yoga - You can choose to take up yoga as a way to manage stress and keep a cool head on a day-to-day basis. For a start, you can check out the yoga subreddit and read both their wiki and FAQ.
- Hiking - I personally have not hiked much, but I have gone on a long hike before while travelling in Brazil. It took around 3 hours to reach the top of the location, and around 2.5 hours to reach the bottom, but it was quite the experience and the view was gorgeous. You can look around your area for hiking trails or mountains and get started that way. It's pretty interesting.
- Swimming - I used to swim as a youngster, but never really picked it up myself as a hobby, though I do love being in the water and going for a swim. If your gym has a pool, it wouldn't hurt to go for a post-workout swim to wind down. Again, you can check out the subreddit for Swimming to have some questions answered via their FAQ.
- Biking - Never learned how to ride a bike, but eventually found out how to when I was a teenager (not sure how.) Riding a bike is actually really fun and can be your alternative mode of transportation if you want to do your part in saving the environment and limiting emissions from your car. The Biking subreddit allows you to meet up with other cyclists in your area so you can find a group to go out for rides with.
- Rock Climbing - I have a massive and debilitating fear of heights, so this is a no-go for me, but it looks really fun to do if you're not a bitch like I am and can handle heights. If you're interested, again, I'm redirecting you to the Climbing subreddit so you can review their wiki and find out if you're down to go rock climbing.
- Play Sports - There are literally countless sports you can play. I have experience playing baseball, basketball, soccer, and volleyball, and enjoyed all of them except for baseball. I have played a bit of badminton in college for certain labs, but didn't enjoy it much. Some sports you can play are:
- Tennis
- Badminton
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Soccer
- Football
- Hockey
- Volleyball
- Rubgy (EDIT 5/13/18 Credit: LazyHandJob)
- Rowing (EDIT 5/13/18 Credit: rPk0hu)
- Combat Sports (EDIT 5/13/18 Credit: Ta11no) - Per the suggestion of Ta11no, combat sports are another activity you can participate in to further boost your confidence and alpha mindset. Nothing is more exhilarating than fighting other men and unleashing your power onto their bodies. I had done Kenpo Karate when I was younger, and became a purple belt (4th level), and the sense of accomplishment you get when you successfully move up a belt is awesome. Also, there are probably subreddits for each of these sports, so take your pick and get searching. Of course, there are other combat sports you can participate in, those being:
- Boxing
- Kickboxing
- Judo
- Freestyle, Greco-Roman, and Scholastic (high school)/Collegiate (college/university) wrestling
- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Jiu-Jitsu
- Capoeira
- Karate
- Kenpo Karate
- Muay Thai
- Taekwando
- Mixed Martial Arts
- Fencing (if that's your thing)
Cultivate a Skill
- Learn a language - I'm already going to insert Duolingo as my preferred way of learning a language. This app has a lot of popular languages that you can learn, and I have previously used it to improve my Spanish and do a bit of French and Chinese. You can also go to the subreddit, LanguageLearning, to get a good start. Some languages you can learn:
- Arabic
- Chinese
- French
- Japanese
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Spanish
- Electrical Engineering (credit: AllMadHere) or Learning to code - Codecademy is a site I have used when I wanted to try out coding. Knowing how to code is absolutely valuable, as you can start your own little business coding things for people. Few people know how to code, so learning this skill can be very beneficial. Again, the LearnProgramming subreddit is a good start for this. As per the user AllMadHere, electrical engineering can and may be more valuable to do than just coding, as it's more hands-on and you won't have an issue fixing your bitch's computer if it fucks up or something.
- Learn music/Practice an instrument - Piano and guitar are 2 instruments that come to mind, as I've dabbled in both to no avail. Never really enjoyed these instruments, but I digress. You can head over to the WeAreTheMusicMakers subreddit to read through their FAQ and decide what you want to learn, whether it would be composing pieces, producing electronic music, or finding an instrument to play. Instruments you can play:
- Guitar
- Piano
- Drums
- Flute
- Any sort of percussion instrument
- Saxophone
- Creating Art - There are so many types of art you can choose to make. I never was an artistic person growing up (I suck at drawing). That said, you may have dabbled in art while growing up and may want to get back into it if that's your thing. Types of art you can do:
- Drawings
- Painting
- Scrapbooking
- Crafting
- Papier-mache
- Sculpting
- Photography - Photography is a cool skill you can pick up, as you can become a photographer and charge people just to literally take good-looking pictures. Taking pictures of nature and preserving them for your memory is also a very nice thing to do, and I wish I could afford a camera to begin getting into photography myself! You can check out the Photography subreddit to get your start.
- Carpentry - Building things with wood is actually quite fun to do. I was tasked with building a chariot for my fraternity and, while the chariot turned out to be a disaster, it was fun to get the wood, have it cut, and put it all together in an effort to make what we thought was a great chariot (it wasn't, it fell apart almost instantly.) You can get creative with what you choose to make, and then you can also paint the pieces of wood in order to make something truly awesome. The Woodworking subreddit is where you'd want to go for this.
- Singing - Singing is good for bonding with friends and family alike. Having a good voice is always good, and when combined with a certain instrument, can result in your pullin' bitches with the sound of your voice and your guitar. You can take beginner singing classes to get a start, or, of course, the Singing subreddit is somewhat small, but may have some good tools for you to get started with.
- Cooking - I think cooking is an awesome hobby to pick up. You can combine cooking with your Fitness hobbies to really achieve the Hercules look and pull allllll the bitches. Again, the Cooking subreddit helps. You can also learn on your own by trying to cook a really good recipe you found online, though you most certainly may screw something up if it's your first time. Nevertheless, still fun to do.
- Writing (EDIT 5/13/18 Credit: degenerativebastard) - It pays to write. Writing can be a good way of getting your problems out of your head and onto either paper or your computer. You can choose to write blogs, articles, or even books if you want to become an author. It definitely is worth learning how to write, and the subreddit Writing can be your first step to learning how to write.
- Mechanics (EDIT 5/13/18 Credit: Gearski) - Knowing how to change your oil, change a flat tire, or tune up your car are all very masculine things that a man should know how to do. You probably might not end up becoming a professional mechanic, but you'll know how to take care of your vehicle, and this is always a good thing to know how to do. You can learn some things about mechanics in the MechanicAdvice subreddit, or even google this shit if you want.
- Dancing (EDIT 5/13/18 Credit: naIamgood) - Dancing is one of the suggested activities in the Collected Advice and Methods for Beginners post (basically required reading). Take a beginner class to learn basic dance moves, or dance with a partner, and take your girl out to learn how to dance (naIamgood suggests learning salsa).
- Hunting and Fishing (EDIT 5/13/18 Credit: HobbitForest) - These are 2 activities you can do out in nature that are quite popular in themselves. I have gone fishing in the past, and it is quite fun and exciting to do. Never gone hunting, but I imagine hunting is also a fun activity granted you're not a bitch and can handle watching animals die.
- Landscaping (EDIT 5/13/18 Credit: vengefully_yours) - Landscaping is a great skill to learn. You'll be able to keep your property looking great and can even make a business out of it. There are plenty of landscaping businesses around, and some of their owners do quite well for themselves by landscaping. It brings in a pretty decent income and has you doing physical work 24/7.
- Grilling (EDIT 5/13/18 Credit: vengefully_yours) - This is an excellent skill to learn. Not everyone can grill, but knowing how to grill bomb hamburgers and steaks to pure deliciousness is definitely impressive. This basically ties into cooking; as knowing how to cook has its benefits, so does knowing how to grill. The Art of Manliness has a series on Youtube that teaches you how to grill a variety of foods, and how to set up different types of grills.
- Marksmanship (EDIT 5/13/18 Credit: vengefully_yours) - Knowing how to shoot (and shoot straight) can be beneficial for both self-defense and hunting. If you're confident in your ability to defend yourself by being a good marksman, you'll be able to confidently defend your LTR or wife from any danger, with the ability to protect your mate from danger being an appealing attribute of a man.
Additional Activities
- Reading - I absolutely love to read. It's one of my main activities and provides an unlimited amount of value to your life. You can choose to read the TRP handbook, a self-help book, or any book that you enjoy reading. It not only provides knowledge, but also peace of mind, and lets you tune out from the world and tune into the content. To find a book you may be interested in reading, you can probably check the TRP sidebar for some books, look through Amazon books under categories you're interested in, and see what interests you. I also look at the Barnes & Noble website under relevant categories to see what I want to go and pick up and decide on a list of books that I want to start reading. I have a list of books currently that I concocted just from looking at B&N's site.
- Meditation - A lot of people like to meditate on this subreddit. While it isn't something I personally do, though I have found it to be enjoyable, it is something you can choose to do to wind down at night or begin your day. Meditation does have its benefits. Yes, the Meditation subreddit may help you.
- Volunteering + Community Service (EDIT 5/13/18 Credit: bambam22bam) - Doing volunteer work and community service work is not only a good way to give back to your area, but also a nice way of meeting people. Giving back to the community is always good and something that is sure to make you feel good about yourself.
Disclaimer
Some of these activities or hobbies can only raise your SMV if you're successful at them. Nevertheless, they're still beneficial as something that can be used to fill up your free-time so you're not thinking about your oneitis. I personally do not enjoy having a bunch of free time as I end up on my phone a lot, gaming, or watching Netflix, and those aren't things I would like to do for hours on end. Occasionally using your phone, gaming, and watching Netflix isn't bad, but binging is never good, and everything is fine in moderation. Moderate yourselves, and enjoy the things in life, as life is too short to not enjoy and spend your time thinking about some bitch.
dataman92 5y ago
In videogames i prefer : Chess , Tetris ( very useful for Post traumátic stress disorder) Pacman.
jfkfinn 5y ago
When you turn up for your first class there are some things to know. Cut your finger nails and toe nails.. Have clean teeth and breath.. Sport deodorant.. Keep your mouth shut.. Tap out early until you learn how to escape.. Listen to the professor closely.. The first few months just keep turning up! a person who judges you is fake anyway unless you turn up and scratch them and smells like shit and talk smack.. You roll every class you go to.. Break yourself to make yourself.
Get some private lessons to learn the fundamentals..
Get a white or blue Gi.
vetiarvind 5y ago
Fuck your SMV. You don't have to be a mindless gene replicating machine like all the rest of them. Just do the things you're interested in.
I_dontevenlift 5y ago
Shooting and being a gun fetishist works wonders for me. Girls love guns cause they are dangerous and taboo.
celtiberian666 5y ago
I'll add one: driving. Learn to drive a fast car hard around the track or in a drag race. It is pure adrenaline pumping.
Herdsengineers 5y ago
adding to shooting sports - archery, trap/skeet, IDPA, 3 gun, long distance sniping.
don't get into hunting unless you're prepared for a new addiction. long hours, scouting, year round work, lots of boredom, and the very rare 10 seconds of heart pounding adrenaline when sighting in on a good sized buck that makes it all worth it. i blew my first chance at a kill because the adrenaline hit so hard i couldn't steady the cross hairs on the buck. didn't shoot as i didn't want to wound it and loose it.
later that day, though, prepared for the rush, another buck and his doe didn't make it out of my sights. #buckfeverisreal.
cmski29 5y ago
Nice post except you should really do Starting Strength as a beginner
HobbitForest 5y ago
Bruh, where the fuck is hunting and fishing?
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DrainTheMuck 5y ago
great starter list - im pleasantly surprised to see I'm actually progressing on a lot of those right now. picked up duolingo last week!
suckymeh 5y ago
Rock climbing is an excellent way to meet women It auto excludes the fatties. The women tend to have great figures and nice muscle definition.
Volleyball is my number 1 suggestion for meeting women. It's a perfect coed sport. Many girls are good, or better than the men. It can also be played casually with drinking.
[deleted] 5y ago
Can you include MMA and boxing in your list of sports? It's a very fun and challenging hobby.
YungSmokeytheBear 5y ago
Ive taken up hiking and skateboarding as a motivation to get outside and keep myself fit. Ive also quit cigarettes, ive honestly never felt better in my life.
naIamgood 5y ago
Missing dancing Learn salsa idiots, you can rub against girls as much as you want
kylerosa21 5y ago
This is also a good idea that I’ve read about before. Slipped my mind
MechanicalFaptitude 5y ago
Aprendiste español con solo Duo Lingo? No te creo. De verdad, no pienso es posible. Y si usaste un traductor por esto comentario, eres un mentiroso Marika hijueputa.
comcain 5y ago
You put a lot of work into your post, OP. I enjoyed it and saved it. Thank you.
LazyHandjob 5y ago
Would also recommend adding rugby to the list of sports. There are clubs all over, and it’s a great sport for fitness with minimal barrier to entry.
kylerosa21 5y ago
Also gonna add this. Bunch of my fraternity brothers play rugby.
YungSmokeytheBear 5y ago
Ive taken up hiking and skateboarding as a motivation to get outside and keep myself fit. Ive also quit cigarettes, ive honestly never felt better in my life.
LiveAFTSOV 5y ago
Reminds me of the 3-part series "How to become an interesting person" ----> it's in the top 100 of all time.
[deleted] 5y ago
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skipperok 5y ago
I would love to get the link as well!
Kwantuum 5y ago
Here you go
paging /u/skipperok as well.
UrbanEngineer 5y ago
Excellent read, thanks. I have a few guys I will send this to.
rPk0hu 5y ago
I'd throw Rowing on the sports list also. The perfect boat requires everyone to be in time, and in a race you're at 80-100% for most of the race. You can be jacked as hell, but still get pipped by a guy half your size because his technique is better and you've been flailing around trying to muscle yourself along. Being in a crew builds connections, as well as building confidence around others.
It requires intense amounts of discipline and cardio. Imagine being in a craft just wider than your hips, having to do the same movement over and over again 200+ times in a race without tipping. This is even moreso in a 1 man boat, where you can't blame others for your shortcomings, you are entirely responsible for your wins and losses. 5am starts become regular (builds the discipline needed to adhere to schedules) and you develop some incredible lower body and core strength. The only negative I could see would be that you will never be able to look at anyone in a commerical gym using the erg in the same light, and that you might develop one side more than the other if you sweep (one oar). Best part is: it's a fairly injury free sport, aside from blisters, callouses on the hands and back pains from poor technique, so there's no age restriction at all.
degenerativebastard 5y ago
Writing is an awesome one as well. Learning the ins and outs of language and increasing your vocabulary will help you keep your thoughts in order during conversations, as well as widen your area of confidence. It pays to be the guy who never stutters and always has a response, no matter what.
Incendior 5y ago
Netted 2 girls who "liked how I write", can confirm.
lnternetLiftingCoach 5y ago
Where did you learn more about writing? I often have trouble finding the correct words, and expressing and elaborating myself clearly, both verbally and in writing.
CryptoViceroy 5y ago
Read lots and lots of other peoples' writing.
degenerativebastard 5y ago
I'm self taught. Just write a lot, experiment with different styles and see what looks/sounds good, read examples of good writing and try to emulate them. Having someone smart who can edit and revise your work is valuable too.
ChaosRevealed 5y ago
If you don't practice, how will you ever improve?
FeelTheBernieSanderz 5y ago
What I'd recommend is combine creative writing with journaling (You are keeping a journal, right?).
There's nothing like humoring yourself recalling your days events.
So for example, start describing that blue eyed vixen who gazed into your eyes on your way to work, the way her lashes curled like an ocean wave, her seductive smile, complimented by her cherry-red lipstick glistening in the sun.
Write about things you're passionate about, for me it's hot bitches hehe
JeremiahRants 5y ago
You forgot magic the gathering
kylerosa21 5y ago
That’s the secret way of increasing SMV. Don’t say it publicly.
wayneinthegame 5y ago
Pool is my new hobby. Its a good way to meet people and alot of room to get good. My favorite bar has tables so I go on the weekend and get a table by myself. People always ask for a game. Plus I practice 2 or 3 times a week at a pool hall so when I'm at my bar I kick ass
Gearski 5y ago
Vote for adding mechanics even basic to the skill list, truly an invaluable thing to know.
Grimsterr 5y ago
Learning basic car maintenance is something today's young men are severely lacking. Nothing says "I'm a little bitch" like not knowing how to change a tire, or oil.
sky_fallen 5y ago
My garage tightens up the nuts way too tight with a drill ... I'm not sure I could undo them even if I could Dl 150 kg . I guess I shouldn't get someone else to do it in the first place
ProfitLemon 5y ago
You can undo them. If Archimedes can move the world you can undo a bolt, just make your lever longer. Also good reason to not let garages touch your car - this is common practice in shitty shops.
Grimsterr 5y ago
Tightening lug nuts too tight is actually dangerous, when you tighten them out of tolerance you stress the metal. Stressed metal is bad. If I'm getting tires put on I warn them if you put that impact wrench on 300 lbs I'll punch you in the nuts. (the owner of the tire shop is an old friend)
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masterhan 5y ago
why doesn't anything here involve making money?
masterhan 5y ago
on second thought this is weak as shit and reminds me of something you'd say to a well rounded person who wanted to get into a shitty college.
here are your hobbies:
build an empire (digital, real estate, restaurants, crypto, whatever)
enjoy the fruits of your empire (travel, motorcycles, boats, watches, whatever)
break shit every other day (lifting, jiu-jitsu, snowboarding, whatever puts you into flow and challenges you to the point of breaking)
mental health (meditation, yoga, whatever breaking shit for me is enough for mental health)
SheenCharlie 5y ago
Was thinking the same thing lol
Grimsterr 5y ago
I'm of the opinion a hobby should at least pay for itself. Woodworking - sell what I make, use the profits to upgrade or add tools. Small time farming/gardening - we sell eggs and the animals that are born/hatched on our property, plus we eat vegetables, meat and eggs that came from our land, not a store, my son knows how to manage animals and kill/process small animals for food, a skill that many are lacking anymore. Cooking - pays for itself in several ways.
[deleted] 5y ago
Good point.
Was going to do a photography business, but there’s no money in it. Market’s too saturated as everyone with a SLR is a “photographer.”
UrbanEngineer 5y ago
The difference between an amateur and a professional photographer is equipment, attitude, and marketing.
Edit: I'm currently one of those assholes with a DSLR trying to move from basic photos to professional shooting. My cousin supports a family of 4 on photography!
[deleted] 5y ago
Good for him, but the time/cost/benefit isn't worth it for me when you have people selling stock shots for pennies & others giving their time away for free to build a portfolio. Drags down potential profit margins.
Equipment has nothing to do with it by the way, it's all about who's behind the camera.
UrbanEngineer 5y ago
This is true! I really enjoy shooting and am always learning more about shooting action sports. I'm not the greatest with portraits, but it's damn simple... your subjects aren't moving lol
0mnipath 5y ago
I would think because making money is not a hobby but a necessity . I'm of the opinion that if you don't have finances handled, then there shouldn't be anything else in your focus until you do. Even hobbies.
sky_fallen 5y ago
Yes. I wish someone told me simply when I was 16 'get a job'. Instead they shoved me into more and more education in a useless (but I'm still talented in ) subject - art, whilst saying how difficult it was to get a job. I think that , sure , go to college, but have a job before you do.
Edit: i mean, most lifestyle problems are really down to a lack of money. unless you are a coke addict (but you won't be)
0mnipath 5y ago
Getting jobs is necessary steps in finding one's vocation. Vocation will handle much more than just finances. I also think at this point that if I was starting life anew I wouldn't go to college right away, I'd try out different kinds of jobs just to see what kind of stuff I'd like/be good at doing, no matter how general that knowledge would be. It's still miles better than pointing a finger at the sky and then spending years and thousands of dollars based on that decision.
gaki123 5y ago
Nice middle class mentality oniisan
0mnipath 5y ago
I'd like to think of it as spirituality instead :D
omega_fat 5y ago
Should be mentality of everyone unless he's born so rich he can afford to never care about money (talking 100m+)
gaki123 5y ago
Lots (if not all) rich people actually like/love making money. Why do you think fuckign BILLIONAIRES still work...
Aventine 5y ago
In regards to learning/playing instruments as a hobby- As a young adult, the women loved if you could sing a little and strum a guitar/play the piano well or were in a band and did some gigs. Entering my late 20's, people see it as a sign of immaturity, never mind that I do tour around the continent and also have a regular job as a Counselor. If you're in a relationship, being a serious musician is not ideal, or even fun. They might respect your for your passion and drive, but resent you for the rest of the lifestyle associated with being a touring musician.
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LittleOmid 5y ago
Nice list but it’s too personal. “I did this” “I find that” “I don’t know about this”
kylerosa21 5y ago
I just chose to write about my personal experiences and thoughts about each one so it’s not just a bland list, but has my opinions on each thing.
voyager14 5y ago
I’ve picked up bowling. It’s something I can enjoy year round, learn from older folks (a lot of them bowl), and constantly be improving myself.
And, of course, if I ever deem a girl worthy of a bowling date I can obliterate her.
kabuto_mushi 5y ago
I wanted to give a double recommendation to running. I think it gets a bad rap, because hey if you don't do it in moderation, like anything else, you lose a bunch of your gains from the gym and end up looking kinda scrawny. But in small doses it's a great hobby to have.
Personally I go to the gym every other day, and then do a nice long run (~10-12 miles) every other rest day. I don't use music and run outside (usually early morning just before the sun comes up), and practice meditation while I run. It's really easy to slip into a focused "in the zone" space because your mind already has to deal with the pain of running. And it's surprisingly a good way to meet high quality, like-minded people if you use well-traveled trails. And, after you are all done you get a huge rush of good feels/accomplishment that you carry with you that improves your frame the rest of the day.
nrafield 5y ago
This is a pretty nice list, but what I think would be even better is if one of the succesfull people around here would describe their lifestyle beyond picking up girls and lifting, and how they came to be like that, if it's possible. So that there can be an example of someone who's found a healthy balance.
vengefully_yours 5y ago
Man you urban kids are different. Not a single mention of anything hands on other than carpentry. This week alone I've done extensive landscaping, running heavy equipment, built a welding table and mounted my vise to it, I'm currently grilling a T bone over an open fire in my yard. I have two large cube V8 engines waiting for attention, three transmissions to build, and I did some dash work on my daily driver 60s vintage GTO. I have to practice some marksmanship this coming week, and I have heavy logs to move (500+ pounds) as well as a few tons of rock to dig out of the ground in my parking area..
I used to code CNC lathes and mills, and I've done all kinds of shit being hands on. I can operate almost any heavy equipment, build computers, building my house this summer, and rebuild, refinish, or repair damn near anything. I have extensive training in hand to hand and had lots of experience fighting and wrestling in my youth. I haven't lost a fight since I was 15, and I was in many until I was mid 30s.
Dude there is so much more shit to do in life than your white bread suburban mind can comprehend. I can do probably everything you can do, and more. You don't have to be like me, but one thing is for certain. Girls want a man who is capable and competent, they aren't into me as if I'm an ATM, they want the visceral experience of having a man between her legs that can kill someone and fix the car. One reason I haven't been in a fight for a few years is that I am intimidating. It's obvious I'm not some drone or simp on autopilot, you can gauge that I know my shit by simply looking at me.
You don't have to be like me, but if you are life will be much more interesting.
Sphairos 5y ago
Did you grow up doing this stuff?
I'm a city boy and I never learned any of this. Noone in my life did it. I'd be absolutely clueless.
[deleted] 5y ago
Volunteering or Community service should be on here for sure. Whether it's helping at a shelter / food bank / soup kitchen. Environmental clean up. Community gardens. Mentoring / tutoring. Well worth it to partake in these activities at some point, for countless reasons.
Zech4riah 5y ago
Girls panties drop every time when I tell them that my hobbies are walking and badminton. They really skyrocket my SMV.
rad_dynamic 5y ago
To OP and anyone afraid of heights which means they can't take part in rock climbing (quite possibly the best sport, social as hell, you get buff,requires hard work to get any good,all the girls are super sexy).
CHECK OUT BOULDERING. Rock climbing but on a small scale. Walls are maybe 3.5m high and you have a massive crash pad at the bottom.
jb_trp 5y ago
Goodness, I hate bouldering. As someone who has roped climbed for years (indoor/outdoor, sport, trad, alpine, etc.), topping out on some of those highball problems freaks me out that I'm going to jack up my ankle or knee.
Bouldering gets you way strong though.
rad_dynamic 5y ago
Haha it can be, especially when you're in an awkward position. I've fallen off a million times in a million different positions and never had a problem.
The worst injury I've ever heard of from indoor bouldering (which I am suggesting) is a sprained wrist from falling in a weird position from when they were fucking about trying to do dynos.
JFMX1996 5y ago
LIFTING For obvious reasons.
READING Reduces stress, anxiety, helps with depression, is a cool way to relax, and gives you vast amounts of knowledge. Most people don't read, they just eat constantly, go out to mindless events, and spend their time playing video games or watching reality TV during all their free time. This will separate you from the common person because of all that knowledge and wisdom you soak up over time.
PHOTOGRAPHY will allow you to put out better pictures on stuff like Tinder or social media and therefore increase your SMV, if you're into that. Or if you have a business, it'll help you market so much better and help separate you from the rest of those chumps just posting shitty cellphone pictures everywhere. If you really come to develop an interest in it, it becomes really fun to just go around places and practice your photography.
COOKING Man, eating clean gets a hell of a lot easier when you know how to cook up some good stuff that puts restaurants to shame at home. You'll also have a sweet skill for a pastime and be able to save yourself money, and also have a good excuse for bringing sluts over to your house to bed.
COMBAT SPORTS are absolutely crucial. This changes your mentality and frame in so many ways. The ability to just handle your own gives you such a distinct form of confidence that it's really hard to describe. It's something primal, something that goes back thousands of years. It's exhilarating, it's fun, it's awesome all around. It'll teach you that you're not fragile, and that you're actually capable of far more than you think. Something that just working or accomplishing normal tasks can't compare to. My favorites have been Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai.
HIKING just gets you out into nature, away from all the bills, cars, drama, etc. A place where you can just be at peace on the trails, taking in the sights and spending some good time with your thoughts and eventually clearing your mind a little bit. You come back feeling so much better.
Those are the big 6 for me.
EsTp4life 5y ago
Fuck yeah. These are all my hobbies, except for photography. I gotta get into that. Photography can definitely change the way you perceive objects and places.
Austonmatthews345 5y ago
Does Old School Runescape count? I need to invest thousands more hours to max my account.
MetatronsRubiksCube 5y ago
I wish I saw a comment like this at the beginning of spring. OSRS was such a huge distraction for me
Zsaqwes8 5y ago
I miss it every day used to have a lot of fun playing
AstroBolt 5y ago
That game is the biggest time sink. It’s just addictive, not fun imo
patrice_plz_come_bac 5y ago
Just use a bot for 8h a day, they wont catch you
TortugaEnchilada 5y ago
Fucking A. You know how much time I spent chopping Willow logs and Yew logs as a kid?
UrbanEngineer 5y ago
Bot like 3 accounts and main the one that lasts! That's my plan, lol.
Wrath_of_Trump 5y ago
No list large or small matters if you don't have a game plan. Get a calendar and commit to new activities.
YungSmokeytheBear 5y ago
Ive taken up hiking and skateboarding as a motivation to get outside and keep myself fit. Ive also quit cigarettes, ive honestly never felt better in my life.
ubermensch100 5y ago
I would advise against swimming in pools. The chlorine levels are super high, and chlorine is toxic af. I'm probably going to make a post about why you shouldn't swim in chlorinated pools.
Vathir 5y ago
I learned flash animation and am starting to make cartoons. I know it's not going to bring the bitches in but it helps broaden myself as a person.
AllMadHare 5y ago
Unless you were planning it as a career, I really don't suggest "learning to code", I'm a senior developer, 10+ years under my belt, and I can promise you that those online courses are at best preparing you for studying but at worse are going to make you the kind of programmer I wouldn't even bother interviewing.
Most developers, myself included, are mostly self taught, but the common thread among us is we wanted to build something specific, so learned to build it (most common is game or app development), we didn't go and do a course just to know how; but I'll be blunt, the amount of time and mental energy you need to invest in coding to be remotely decent is going to eat away at your social life and free time.
That stereotype of the pale, out of shape nerd exists for a reason. I'm in great shape now, but I had to dedicate a lot of my teen years to get to this point, I was fortunate to have an RP wife who put up with that shit, cos the only redeeming part of it for women is a) The money, and b) some women find intelligence attractive (also the time I wrote a program to score her tickets to a sold out movie premier she wanted to go to helped)
Realistically, the only skills you can pick up and do realiably online is building simple websites in services like squarespace or WordPress etc, but that market is very flooded, and unless you actually want to be a designer, or willing to study that too, it's not worth your time.
If you're going to learn something technical, try some kind of electrical engineering shit, being able to repair electronics is going to be a more useful skill than coding, unless you actually want to dedicate your life to this shit.
PhasmaFrank 5y ago
Hey, I was really interested in being a designer. what type of design is good in the tech industry? I was looking at UX design or something similar
kylerosa21 5y ago
I'll add electrical engineering next to coding, but will also add your thoughts to post
[deleted] 5y ago
As a front-end developer who codes as a career, I agree that "learning to code" should NOT be suggested as a Red Pill hobby. It won't make an iota of a difference in your social or dating life, in fact quite the opposite. For reference, I wrote a post called "Programming destroys your social skills". The only way I can see myself continuing in this career is getting my sexual needs fulfilled regularly, whether that's via spinning plates or an LTR.
AllMadHare 5y ago
Best advice I can give is focus on getting into management, get a team under you and be authoritive on the technologies you work with. Over the last few years I have gained a team under me, so i've gone from working 50+ hours a week to working 35 for the some (actually better) money while my monkeys do the shit I hated. I almost left my job to be a senior architect at another company and got offered an amazing deal to stay, you've just gotta become indefensible.
Definitely helps to have a good relationship, I was lucky that through the busiest part of my career I was living with my wife and a bixsexual chick, so my needs were getting more than fulfilled; The one upside of all the life-eatingness of dev work is the money helps your SMV.
[deleted] 5y ago
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[deleted] 5y ago
Yeah, that sounds about right. But with any other career, make sure you spend A LOT of time researching the field before investing time and money into it.
Before I got into software development, I was also told that it was an in-demand field with a shortage of tech talent. It wasn't until I started applying for jobs to discover, to my dismay, that the so-called developer "shortage" is for senior-level developers with 5+ years experience in the hottest 2-year-old languages and frameworks, can memorize random data structures and algorithms for white-boarding interviews, willing to work overtime without pay, and be under 40 years old.
mattizie 5y ago
Learning python right now, and I agree with you.
My ultimate goal is to make some kind of automated trading bot. Long way off and all self taught, but that's what I want to do.
I think there needs to be a better definition for what counts as a *good* hobby in the red pill context.
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AllMadHare 5y ago
I think audio engineering has never not been oversaturated, but that said there is a good market these days for people willing to mix/master for amateur musicians on the cheap, recording gear is certainly cheap enough these days that almost anyone can produce good, mixable audio, but in the professional sense, I remember looking at it when I was 17 (I grew up doing live sound production as a side job) and realised the pay was garbage and the competition is insanely tight.
I think if you're looking at taking up a skill to improve yourself in the RP sense, it should either make money (as in more than if you just did your current job for more hours), or actually be useful in your day-to-day life, which is why I suggested electrical engineering. I started dabbling in just fixing simple electronics over the last couple of years, i've fixed almost all the whiteware in my house at some point, i've fixed wiring in mine and family members cars etc, but realistically, IMO your goal should be to build a skillset of practical skills to the point where you can be 'that guy' who can fix/build whatever they need.
I was lucky to have a dad like that, thanks to him I learned: Landscaping, Woodworking, Household Plumbing, Painting, Carpeting, Tiling, Paving, Window repair/installation, General renovation stuff (design, color selection, planning etc), All sorts of auto repair (grew up 'helping' with his hot rods), Financial planning (he was a GM of several companies, made me balance his side consulting business accts when I was 10), Computer repair/building, Concreting, basic electrical working, and how to play multiple musical instruments (not well, but I can jam on anything with keys/strings to some extent).
Basically, my point is, if you're going to sink the time into getting good at something, you want to balance it's usefulness with the time to competency & time to profitability. I learned to pave in about 2 hours, so that's a pretty useful skill, I can use it both around the house and in several ways to make money (house flipping, landscaping, teaching others etc), so if you're wanting to get the most out of a 'RP' skill/hobby, pick one that you feel you can get good in a period where you're not unduly sacraficing your time/energy compared to the skills/talents you're otherwise forgoing, we only have so much time in the day, and so much time our lives, so you want to make the most of that time, happiness is a factor, but if your goal is to be a generally successful person, being good at useful shit is always valuable. If you only have to pay a contractor for jobs like gasfitting (where certification is a legal/insurance requirement), you're winning.
I would add the final caveat that this all depends on your goals, i'm a pretty traditional guy(RP but I like being married), i'm married to a hyper-RP woman (she considers it an insult to her femininity if she doesn't cook all my meals, we pick up girls together at bars, she's blunt about her expectations of me as a man), so our marriage works because she knows that I earn good money for her, and I spend most weekends working on the house or our in-laws farm(working on our inheritance), using the skills i've gained to help out. So I guess YMMV depending on where you are in your life, but much like the guy with the pickup, the guy with the garage full of tools he knows how to use is always going to be an asset to those around them, and having everyone owe you favours (or beer) as a result is always a good thing.
SendThotsAndPrayers 5y ago
Same can be said just about everything - painting, sports, martial arts etc. What's the point in learning how to paint when you know that there was a guy who sits on 10+ years of experience under his belt?
You have to start somewhere, and in this case the journey does not end after you've "learned" the code, that's when the fun part begins where you want to create something, that's when the process of problem solving really kicks in. Yes it's true that it's not for everyone, but then same can be said about sports, martial arts and painting.
At the end of the day, coding is about problem solving and ability to get out of system and think for yourself. You won't get far in coding following a manual that is true, and that is exactly why a lot of people say "coding is hard". It's because they learned how to code, but still lack other skills necessary to see results. To be a web developer, you need to be able to make a website, not write out HTML tags. To be mobile developer, you need to be able to create app, not just construct Objective-C or Java. Coding doesn't cover that. Coding is a means to an end. The goal shouldn't be to learn coding, it should be to create products - with all trial and error that follows. Yes it's time consuming, but it's also rewarding. Sitting there are constant failures and finally creating your first website is an amazing feeling.
You have good insight, but I don't necessarily agree about the notion of coding not being worth it. There are people out there that can make great coders if only they try it out - indeed, after all you're self taught yourself aren't you? Imagine the younger you - before you decided to learn coding, stumbling over a comment like the one you've written. It's foolish to discourage new blood.
AllMadHare 5y ago
Except that this is a thread talking about hobbies/skills to take up outside of work with a primary focus to improve yourself. As I said, unless you want to do this as a career, it's just not worth the time investment.
You almost touched on my point when you mention web and mobile development. The reality is the skill floor to actually create something useable or worth anything is incredibly high. Believe it or not the average web app or mobile app that extends beyond a single simple function take hundreds or hours to reach realization. If you're actually interested in following TRP principals, then deciding to 'take up coding' is either going to destroy your life (if you want to get remotely competent/make something worthwhile) or you're going to waste valuable time learning a skill that is virtually useless instead of spending that time more productively (such as learning a skill where you can actually fix real shit).
You seem to have missed my core point, I said
If you think you might want to do it as a job, well then some random internet post shouldn't be the deciding factor anyway, if you're making career decisions based off a stranger on the internet, you're probably too retarded to get in this industry in the first place. But if you're considering taking this giant time- and life-sync of a field up as a hobby, it's probably the fastest way to fuck up your RP goals.
redpillpuffball 5y ago
This is a good list of suggestions, but it's nowhere near comprehensive.
It's about getting the fuck out of your room and DOING THINGS. Those things could be ANYTHING. Bird watching? Going to a city-wide spring cleanup event? Horseshoes? Tai Chi? Board game night at the library? Church picnic? It doesn't matter. They all raise your SMV because you're putting yourself out there and being active. Don't worry about which ones moisten pussies. Do the ones you want.
assholeofthesky 5y ago
OH MY SMV RAISED BECAUSE I HELPED ORPHANS MAKE TAMPONS!
Nah but seriously, get a fucking life
[deleted] 5y ago
Agree. Lifting is great but any physical activity is good. My job involves plenty of heavy lifting, so as long as i eat well i keep some muscle. If you have a desk/cubicle job though, it wouldnt hurt to do some running. Cardio/stamina is more important to me than big arms or what have you.
HobbitForest 5y ago
And he forgot hunting and fishing ????
jimbad07 5y ago
Wait, you mean hot girls aren't gonna come smashing through my door?!?!
_Sawtell_ 5y ago
"It's about getting the fuck out of your room and DOING THINGS." 100% this.
Incendior 5y ago
Actually it's manly as fuck if you can smith your own horseshoes.
joner888 5y ago
Blacksmithing is probably the most handy job ever along with carpenters
Your_Coke_Dealer 5y ago
Blacksmithing is historically the quintessential manly hobby/profession
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0mnipath 5y ago
The things you are talking about sound more like leisure. Everything in OP's list relies on cultivating skill. Which means sitting your ass down and studying/practicing for a looong time, not going out(most of the time and except for group sports).
The note about being good at those skills is an important one. I play guitar, produce electronic music, make art, do photography but I'm mediocre at those so nobody gives a shit and it doesn't affect my smv. Reading and mediation are all self-oriented too. Nobody gives a shit when I post most comprehensive book reviews or try to discuss the ideas online. And talking about meditation is just useless. Even fitness is completely solitary for me as I work out at home/outside. So I have no idea how to engage with hobbies socially, to me it's pretty much just introversion time.
QuasarBather 5y ago
Women don’t care about any of your hobbies unless they are actively garnering you attention of some kind - whether it’s in person or on social media.
Produce music in your bedroom? Nobody cares. DJ at your local club on a Friday night? People now care. It’s really that simple.
[deleted] 5y ago
Musicians who get laid a lot dont generally get action relative to their skill level. The average person without a music background cant tell how good you are technically, much less the average girl. Its more about how confident you are on stage. People hear what they see; act like you are a badass and they will think you are. Meriocre skills can take you very far if you have stage presence and/or theatrics. On the other hand you could be super sick dope nasty, but if you just stand on stage and dont do anything you will be ignored by every girl, who will instead be chatting up the crappy bass player who straddled the instrument between his legs and looked cool.
daemon86 5y ago
You can get good at recognizing birds too. Getting knowledge is also cultivating a skill
0mnipath 5y ago
Yea but let's be honest, nobody cares how well you can recognize birds. But if you try to perform in front of people(like doing standup or playing an instrument), judgement about your skill level will be quite objective overall. So if you suck, people will not like you.
daemon86 5y ago
But it's not about choosing the most trendy hobby, it should be about doing what you want. Anyway I get your point, it just shouldn't be a hobby you don't like and actually I consider the stranger hobbies more interesting than the ones everyone does. The ones everyone does will probably help more with girls but they are boring for me :)
xMellow 5y ago
Sounds like you're scared of putting yourself out there. You're supposed to do things that make you uncomfortable. It makes you grow.
shadada 5y ago
a great revelation i have had over the last few years of working on myself is to pursue the the activities or sports that make you go "how the fuck are they doing that" amazed when watching someone else do it.
To me, there is no better thrill or excitement in life when your trying it yourself, putting in the hours and genuinely start feeling that with a bit more patience and time you can be doing those very same things yourself
[deleted] 5y ago
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0mnipath 5y ago
I tried improv meetups several times, they were pretty fun for me until it got a bit stale(ironically). I'd love to be going to events but I keep my nose to the grindstone these days to the point where I don't have time or focus to spare even on my hobbies. Have a lot of stuff on my plate I planned to learn for professional reasons.
SKRedPill 5y ago
Learn to cook - and cook good. You'll need it especially if you lift, because all these sports and hobbies need a very good diet to work.
seducter 5y ago
What’s wrong with starting strength?
LeftHello 5y ago
There's a running thing called "hashing" I found out about recently. Basically you have a big group of people who do running + beer drinking at the same time lol. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hash_House_Harriers
I absolutely despise running (never been an endurance guy) but that actually sounds fun.
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okuli 5y ago
Few more ideas (not all of them raise SMV, though):
playing video games
playing/making board games
target shooting
traveling
writing
gardening
restoring antique automobiles
collecting anything
riding motorcycle
dancing
BigClitorisDick 5y ago
Playing video games? I don't know whether you are being sarcastic or not.
Video games are a fucking waste of life and will only lead you further into your cave of loserness that brought you to this sub.
EhzmwGGh 5y ago
I back this up, video games are ultimate form of escapism and source of fake feeling of accomplishment. It completely kills desire to achieve something in real life since in your head you are already the winner while in fact you most likely are the biggest loser around.
possessedmokey 5y ago
If you enjoy something its never a waste. All things in moderation.
ultra_lagspike 5y ago
I hooked up with a 7/10 solely because she loved Overwatch and I played a bit here a there, she loved talking about it and loved knowing I knew what she was talking about. Was fun playing it together. We messed around for about a solid year, very fun girl. U mad?
gaki123 5y ago
So you jeopardize your own personal development (video games absolutely does) but at least you fucked a 7/10 (most likely a 6)? You could have fucked hotter girls PLUS actually doing something useful, like salsa dancing that develop other skills, other than fucking a '''''7''''/10.
EhzmwGGh 5y ago
I think that by 'messing around' he meant 8 hours long skype calls while playing overwatch not sex.
BigClitorisDick 5y ago
No. I am sad at your immaturity, that you demean yourself by using statements such as "U mad", and that you think I give a shit about your subjective 7/10 that is probably a 4 to me. While you were discussing trivial shit that means nothing in the real world, I was with my 9/10 mogul plate on an international excursion that I never paid a fucking dime for.
Edit. The real issue I am portraying is you are not seeing the time-sinking waste that is a video game. And you are trying to justify it knowing the incel army ghosting this sub will raise their pitchforks in your defense to make themselves feel better & re-kindle their dream of fucking a gamer girl.
90%+ of your post history seems to be in video game subs and is absurdly basic as fuck. Don't beat around the bush, your most valuable resource in your life, your time, is engulfed in video games. Much like those that are disagreeing with me. I feel sorry for you.
That 7/10 could have been discovered while you were surfing the coast of California. Or training Jiu-Jitsu at an MMA club. Or attending a local business mixer. Or scuba diving the coast of Catalina. Or going to a yoga class. All that time you are wasting video games, Men are training muay thai and jiu jitsu, reading, playing the guitar, surfing, scuba diving, mountain biking, and networking.
gaki123 5y ago
That fact that you got downvoted means you hit some nerves. Good work bro
Kwantuum 5y ago
And your life is so interesting that you feel the need to not only ostensibly brag about it but also put down others (your 7 is a 4 to me lmao) and says he's the one to demean himself for saying "u mad". Yeah, you're pretty mad.
It doesn't matter if your life is better by some metrics, it's ultimately meaningless to have an "objectively" better life if it's not one you enjoy.
BigClitorisDick 5y ago
You missed the point.
Your assumptions are incorrect.
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d3g4d0 5y ago
Motorcycle riding is a great panty dropper.
mwait 5y ago
This.
Also... Racing/track days. Car or bike. Hugely impressive to the majority of women.
mattizie 5y ago
Motorcycling is just great.
Whether you have a dirtbike, supersport, cruiser, or even a scooter, shit's so much fun. And compared to other motorsport-based hobbies, it's actually quite accessible.
It also just makes you feel great, and simply happy: I've got exams coming up, tired from studying all day, my wallet is practically empty, the hot water broke again, house-mate stole my dinner from the fridge, but I've just jumped off my motorcycle, so nothings getting me down. This attitude shines through you, and people notice it straight away, and want to be around you: girls pick up on it immediately.
Also, when girls ride on the back, they don't only have to hold on tight to you (well they don't have to if you have a grab-bar, but it makes them feel safer), but they also have to trust you. If she doesn't trust you, and leans in the opposite direction, the bike goes wide in corners, meaning you have to lean even more, and it's much worse. But the moment she leans WITH you, the ride is smoother, and not so scary.
So after the ride she's much more comfortable and trusting of you, which makes escalating to sex that much easier.
===============
Only downside is that
ifwhen you fuck up, there's a high chance of dying or breaking something. I've fallen off around 5 times, but have been pretty lucky getting away with only bruising and a chipped tooth.lauris652 5y ago
I thought people ride motos because they like it.
Well now I know why they ride
BloodSurgery 5y ago
Isnt it a bit dangerous tho? Honestly, dont know how risky it really is, never been in one.
Hutch06Aero 5y ago
Sign up for an MSF course for 25 bucks. Great way to kill a weekend with buddies and crash somebody else's bike.
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okuli 5y ago
I rode motorcycle for 3 years, and I don't think I've impressed a single girl. It was mostly children who waved at me from back seat.
d3g4d0 5y ago
Gotta take them on the back. It's a great plan for dates.
EyeofAgamotto126 5y ago
Yeah, gotta agree. Rode for 10 years, got plenty of snatch but never once because of my awesome motorcycle. Best I ever got was mild indifference. Sure makes other guys jealous I tho I guess.
Prison-Butt-Carnival 5y ago
Can confirm. Never once came across a girl who was impressed by a motorcycle. Do it because it's awesome for you, not for anyone else. Have been riding for 7 years. Been in long term relationship and been single and fooling around in that time.
mattizie 5y ago
I don't think they really care or can differentiate between say a ninja 250 and a 2018 R1. A motorcycle is a motorcycle to them.
What impresses is you. Especially when you get them on the back.
Also doesn't hurt when you're out and about, meet another biker, and strike up a conversation then and there.
Humblebrag:
The best I got was a short handjob while riding a motorcycle (only a 250), but I pulled her hand out of my pants 'cause I didn't want to crash. It was after a full day's riding in the mountains, and we were headed home on the highway.
[deleted] 5y ago
I'd say the motorcycle riding is great because it teaches you to conquer fear. You have to be fairly adjusted to the idea that even on your best day you could be ground beef because of one careless cager.
The bike itself is just an accessory in the minds of fems. But you being a reckless badass's with charm and bravado, in shape, good game and solid frame plus a bike. The girls can't help but want to bang you and tame you. Never let them do it though..
UrbanEngineer 5y ago
Buy an R6 lol. I recently took off the rear pegs haha.
Mr_Zarika 5y ago
The key is to take them riding with you.
Bonus points if you're riding to your dance class.
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okuli 5y ago
Ah, makes sense. I was married back then.
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suckymeh 5y ago
I picked up several young women right off the street and later fucked them. Tends to be lower class chicks but...shrug.
okuli 5y ago
Do you ride with extra helmet, or you just let them hop on without it.
suckymeh 5y ago
Most of the time I didn't wear a helmet either. I have an extra helmet at home if I was planning a ride with a woman.
TopDawgTRP 5y ago
Lol! Mister nobody over here is against Starting Strength. What does he advice noobs to do instead? Go put together their own plan! Lmao!
Auvergnat 5y ago
This is nowhere near "comprehensive". But more importantly you're completely missing a framework. Without one, you could just as well tell people that crochet and rope-skipping are absolutely valuable hobbies.
The necessary framework is masculinity. Here was my answer to the same asktrp question:
The way I see things now is that as a man, in order of importance, you need:
1. to be proficient at Game (TRP theory + applying by approaching, spinning plates, etc.). Any activity that might help you here is great: work/training/side-gig in sales (train all game skills), theater/improv (trains body language + rambling), group activities (trains leadership + team dynamics), debate/politics (trains frame), travel (trains skills at meeting new people), dancing (trains kino + confidence + body language).
2. to be physically strong and healthy. Lifting is mandatory of course. A lot of physical activities can add to or complement your lifting, and become your prime cool-factor and source of fun: rockclimbing (arms, shoulders, back, core), swimming/surfing (back, shoulders), mountain-biking (legs), any ball sports (cardio), yoga, etc. In your choice, factor in the fun you have, the health benefits you want, and the potential for building a social circle.
3. to be able to fight. Boxing, muay thai, BJJ, MMA. Knowing that you can keep your cool when provoked, because you know you can totally beat up someone or take a punch and survive, will lift your overall confidence like crazy. A strong fighting ability is the ultimate anxiety-killer.
4. to build, or more widely, build/create/fix/kill/destroy, in other words "the type of actions of Man that physically change his world". Preferably something traditionally manly (so, traditionally useful): carpentry (house, furniture) and mechanics (fixing car/motorbike) would be the two very best choices here. Something more obscure like welding, electrics, plumbing, could also be useful and fun. At the very least something creative like drawing/painting or music, but as this is not a man-only activity, you'll need to achieve mastery/excellence for it to be valuable (via getting recognition/fame for it). Masculine activities in relation to exploiting/surviving Nature fall in that category too: hunting or fishing (even better, spearfishing), timber-falling, firefighting, wilderness survival, etc.
Pick one activity in each category, in that order of importance. Try several things until you find one in each category that you both enjoy and are good at. Don't choose too many - you'll need time to achieve skill mastery so you can't spread your precious time out over too many activities.
fromthecrypt8 5y ago
Good reply. Agree on the framework. Here’s an important aspect no one has focused on yet: competing.
Find something to compete in, doesn’t have to be sports, but preferably something that takes place in the real world, not online. It will keep you focused and build confidence pretty efficiently whenever you win.
Sphairos 5y ago
Yeah. Sales and competition on the floor and the feeling of leading the board is a high for sure
UrbanEngineer 5y ago
It's amazing how hard this can be as you grow older as people want to stay inside. Sports are the best way I've found to do this recreationally once a week. Learn, practice, execute, enjoy.
omega_fat 5y ago
Depends on what. MMA will wet panties very much, Starcraft maybe not so much.
Ta11no 5y ago
Highly recommend adding combat sports to the list. The pros of taking classes and participating outweigh the cons immensely
diggrecluse 5y ago
Taking up MMA has been the single best/most impactful decision I've made for improving myself.
lastdumra 5y ago
Also stretching. Serious stretching is a big help to keep a good posture.
bruiser18 5y ago
Can agree. Boxing, wrestling, bjj, muay thai. Makes you a completely different person.
jfkfinn 5y ago
BJJ is an evil drug for stress relief.. and your better every time you walk off the mats.
voxiqs 5y ago
How long until you actually spar in bjj. What are the first few months like and how awkward is it being the new person? I pissed allot of people off in Muay Thai because I had no fucking clue what I was sparing or doing bag work.
whataccent 5y ago
Hmm, I wonder if there is a combat subreddit for that???
ChaosRevealed 5y ago
In case you're not kidding, MMA bjj martialarts subreddits.
trpfaust 5y ago
Signed up for a free beginner class next week, definitely glad to hear there are benefits for confidence and socializing
ChaosRevealed 5y ago
You're going to get smashed for months. Endure to reap the benefits.
UnskippableAd 5y ago
I'd easily put this at tied with lifting or #2. Being able to defend yourself can give you a great deal of confidence.
McRoddy 5y ago
This is what truly changed how I perceive myself and others. Coming from a childhood with tremendous bullying, I was somewhat broken. Learning how to box allowed me to walk into any room and be the best man in there.
[deleted] 5y ago
you said it very well. when you've been training for even 1 month your confidence is huge and you feel great.
Lordarshyn 5y ago
I'm. A BJJ blue belt, and nothing, NOTHING had done better for my confidence and alpha mindset. Also if you've ever read "no more Mr nice guy" he highly recommends doing activities and making friends with other men. BJJ is a great way to do this. You make pretty good friends with people when you're trying to choke each other out.
UrbanEngineer 5y ago
I made some really great relationships when boxing. Something about actively trying to hit someone in the ring really resonated with the boxing, a mini brotherhood of course.
kabuto_mushi 5y ago
I'm gonna try BJJ this summer... I found an awesome gym but it's $130/month so it's a bit of a steep investment. Also I feel like once/twice a week classes might start to hinder my weightlfting occasionally. I figure it's still worth it for the friend-making aspect...
ReformSociety 5y ago
I pay 150/mo and, although it's steep, you pay for a positive atmosphere and can meet cool people through the class.
You can also practice outside of class via Youtube videos to maximize what you get through the classes.
BJJ classes won't hinder your weightlifting as you mainly practice technique repetitively with your training partner.
Not sure how you're doing financially but worst case, you could offer to help around the BJJ gym in exchange for classes.
SR1G4 5y ago
Do you realize that grappling will increase your strength in a non-linear way? Look at BJJ black belt's physiques.
It is worth it for the confidence. A BJJ practitioner can destroy a weightlifter in a street fight. Nothing gives you more confidence than knowing you can strangle most men around you out.
The repetition of struggling for your life on a regular basis is incredible. Boxing can't replicate it as you can accumulate too much damage. There is something about BJJ that is much more intoxicating.
https://youtu.be/JfbzGXcFZ0U
archetypicalman 5y ago
Sounds like you've drunk the Gracie JJ kool-aid. Slow down there partner, all martial arts have their merits and should be respected as such. Don't go knocking on boxing either, do you have any idea the insane amount of conditioning boxers go through? Your 2 hour class 3x a week doesn't come close to what even a varsity level boxer trains for. And have you never heard of the Gracie hunter Sakuraba? Look him up...perhaps that'll humble you a little.
Lordarshyn 5y ago
That's not an outrageous price at all considering it takes 10+ years to get a black belt, and there aren't many of them. It's a pretty average price around here.
If you find a place with at least a purple belt teaching you could save a few bucks, and you'll learn a ton of good stuff from a purple/brown belt
kylerosa21 5y ago
Absolutely. Will add tomorrow and credit you for idea. I had done Kenpo Karate in my youth and it was a good time. I'll go a bit in-depth with it some sports also.
egoshiner 5y ago
Bjj, Muay Thai, boxing, judo.
Magictonay 5y ago
These seem like the most practical, from my very basic understanding. Solid list.
[deleted] 5y ago
and kickboxing. do not forget kickboxing.
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ChaosRevealed 5y ago
Might as well add wrestling as an alternative to judo if unavailable.
egoshiner 5y ago
Honestly wrestling is a better base for fighting or so I’ve been told. I just feel like that’s something people get into in high school don’t know of many wrestling clubs.
ChaosRevealed 5y ago
Wrestling is certainly the standup grappling sport that translates best to MMA, the closest thing we have to real combat.
There sometimes aren't as many amateur wrestling clubs as there are Judo, especially outside of the US, but there will be other equivalents/alternatives such as a local college/uni wrestling club or regional folk wrestling clubs like ShuaiJiao, Sambo or Catch Wrestling.
Science4Lawlz 5y ago
Kickboxing, Capoeira, and Le Parkour.
egoshiner 5y ago
Capoeria isn’t useful in RL just like aikido.
Science4Lawlz 5y ago
It depends on the school. Capoeira is very very effective if taught correctly. Some teach the silly dance side and some teach the more serious applied side. Capoeira is used in BJJ actually, I know people from Brazil who blend the two styles and are beasts. As always, it's about the fighter, not the style.
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ChopsNZ 5y ago
Nice list. How about ticking them off for yourself seeing a good number of them you openly admit to not having the time or inclination for which is a cop out when offering other people advice.
Sounds like you have a solid skill set. Maybe look other ways you could use it. A lot of prisons run volunteer literacy programs and mostly they are women from local church groups so a dude coming in is a welcome addition.
Car clubs or off-roading are always good value and organise weekend trips which are tonnes of fun.
Your local aero club. Learning to.fly isn't expensive until you look at getting your license. Gliding. Yes that can be expensive and helicopters more so but puddle jumpers are cheap as chips.
Golf. Why? No fucking idea. Just do it anyway because every other wanker who builds the contacts is.
Coffin clubs. We all end up in one so get your shit sorted.
BJJ. Enough said.
mbrowning00 5y ago
how much is a typical cost to get to a private pilot license, and what are some rental or alternative options to fly w/o having to own one?
quitting_mandp 5y ago
Saved, genuinely helpful post dude.
rexkoner 5y ago
So people can’t even decide what they like to do on their free time? I mean if you have to look through this list and decide what you want to do to get some pussy, you have some life problems. How are you gonna get girls if you don’t even know yourself enough? Why are you even looking into this thread? Go get a life lmao
Configuration1998 5y ago
This is helpful I'll actually was looking for one of these.
red_matrix 5y ago
I'd also add motorcycles/motox to that list. Doing your own maintenance can be a very fulfilling experience, and you'll learn a lot.
cglehosit 5y ago
Thank you, this was much needed for myself.
[deleted] 5y ago
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havelbrandybuck 5y ago
TLDR: I, me, myself and mine.
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Nocryingok 5y ago
Every hobby post is the same... lifting reading meditation language sports
alpha-zach 5y ago
Coding? Wtf?
I stopped reading there.
BigClitorisDick 5y ago
Your username is alpha-zach. I stopped reading there.
lackeyt161 5y ago
Brb lemme just dismiss a skill set that can lead to a six digit profession
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mattizie 5y ago
I don't think the issue is with considering coding as a "hobby". If you're into coding and want to net a six figure salary, coding is your CAREER. Casual coding isn't going to cut it.
It's the same reason why "video games" aren't a hobby. It's only worth it if you're the top 0.00001% of all players in the world.
If your coding is done in your spare time, you're going to get obliterated by people who sit down and code 9-5 for years day in and day out.
This is why something like fishing is a hobby: you can get something out of it (fish); there's a skill you can develop that is useful even in the beginning stages; provides exercise to keep you healthy; gets you outside; and when contrasted against actual noobs, you'll do much better and people will look up to you at least when it comes to fishing. During a fishing trip with work mates, my boss caught 25 fish in a few hours, we caught less than that between 15 of us. We were all using the same bait and rods, and were on a boat.
You can still code if that's what you like to do, but it will not be a net benefit to your life, and not something I'd advise.
possessedmokey 5y ago
A job that computers will take over very very soon.
mattizie 5y ago
* A job that the entire country of India has already taken over
suddenlysnowedinn 5y ago
Six figure income is for chumps, apparently. Be a personal trainer. Be alpha, like Zach.
BigClitorisDick 5y ago
I agree that his post is ignorant, but so is your assumption PTs can't make six figures.
You can make far more than a six figure income coming from a personal trainer background brother. In my network are personal trainers that bag 10k+ per month.
suddenlysnowedinn 5y ago
Oh, I believe it. And I agree that it was a bit of an ignorant generalization. That being said, I do think that achieving a six figure income is far more common for programmers than for trainers.
The trainers who do get there, though, have busted their asses to get there. That’s not a field that’s easy to achieve that kind of success in; those who get there generally know their stuff, and are deserving of every dollar they bring in.