mindless, low effort tasks

[mothpanic]

first, I have no idea if this is the right board, nor if this topic already exists and is hiding from me. okay, now go watch this video, I think it's pretty good and nicely addresses, well, the title. and no this thread isn't just me complaining about phones.

if you didn't watch it (or if you did and want me to explain what about it I'm interested in, which I hope you do anyway, since you're reading this), one of the main things that come up is the hands as an extension of the mind, along with how it links to phone use and the impulse to scroll i.e. do something with your hands. the linked studies have been interesting so far, go read them, brains are weird, blah blah blah. you get my idea.

with this in mind, three main things were suggested to actually do instead of doomscroll: drawing random patterns, needle felting, and crochet. these, however, are things that I've seen so often it's become cliche. nothing wrong with them, of course, but are there any other ideas? especially since, as addressed in the video yet again (is there anything this video can't do?), I'd probably have trouble selling any of these ideas to the average guy if this subject were to come up in real life.

I'd just like a nice variety of mindless tactile things to do where I can let my mind wander, instead of google telling me to take a walk at 2am, or exercise, or study for an exam that I don't have coming up.

I've taken up crocheting a plain square. it's going bad but hey anything's better than nothing.

[ThunderPerfectWitchcraft]

brains are weird, blah blah blah

:D

----

I love to play Kalimba when I have some minutes downtime. My motivation is rather musical than being just busy, but maybe this is also interesting for you?

[nvalk1]

A great mindless activity is playing with fidget toys. I use silly putty, stress balls, and other little things to keep my hands occupied. I always keep one on me and have multiple stash areas around the house for them, particularly at places where I sit like my desk or the couch.

It's not a hobby. I don't have to make anything. I don't have to think about it. It just works. 

[TheFrugalGamer]

Yesterday I was doing this by shelling pecans. Not everyone has pecan trees, of course, but people used to do this all the time with peas, string beans, corn shucking, etc, and visiting with family and friends.

Quilting and mending is something I do with my hands while watching TV. Also brushing the cats when they deign to come sit with me. Sometimes just having a pet in your lap and petting them can keep your mind still enough for a time.