Can you stave off a potential new interest?

Isn't that a bit like asking how long a piece of string is? 

For me, I guess it would depend on what the 'thing' was, how much it appealed to me, if there was a cost and it was financially viable, and so on. I'd probably go ahead and give that potential new interest a try, and then if I couldn't do it, or didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I might, I'd then knock it on the head.

Ah, well for me, it is appealing, and it’s totally free lol. I just know I’ll get sucked in the special interest hole, and I really don’t have the capacity for it right now. I am actually distracting myself when it pops into my head, so I don’t get tempted lol

That all sounds good, but as you don't feel you have the capacity for it, then it does make sense to put it 'on hold'. 

I can relate to that! Although I can use reading glasses to crochet etc, I find them uncomfortable so I do it less. Although I also suffer from crippling indecision as to what to actually crochet, which probably stops me more than the eye problems... Some people can manage to knit in the dark! Especially simple things. Personally i feel the need to keep looking at my knitting, but I have done it for less time than crochet, but knitting is easier to do in the dark than crochet.

I do jigsaws online, much easier on my eyes and back than physical ones. I like to do them while listening to audio books or podcasts. But then my mouse hand starts to get RSI or something! 

A hobby I like which is not so dependent on eyes (or hands) is language learning. It can be like a puzzle sometimes. I hope you can find something relaxing which doesn't rely so much on good eyesight.

Sporadic Sparkly said:

However, I don't think it did much for his ego when my mother then started asking me if I could pop over to perform some DIY-related activity

• I can understand your frustrations to some extent. I enjoy sewing, knitting and crocheting. I used to do cross stitch too. These are all now impaired by my worsened eyesight. I also enjoy puzzles but can only do them when the light is good and I am limited with jig saw puzzles. It has reduced the things that help me relax, particularly at this time of year when being outside is limited.

My dad was hopeless at DIY, so when I moved out of the 'family home', it was one of his worst nightmares when I'd be asking if he could pop over to put some shelves up, or do some other DIY-related task. As I had a garage, he turned up with a drill one day, handed it to me, and told me to use the internal walls of my garage to master the art of using a drill. 

I was terrified, having never used a drill before. However, it was one of the best things my dad could have done for me. However, I don't think it did much for his ego when my mother then started asking me if I could pop over to perform some DIY-related activity. When my dad put up shelves, one could guarantee that it would only be a matter of time before they came crashing down off the wall. When I did it, the shelves would remain affixed to the wall.

I'm no DIY expert and I never attended any DIY classes like you did Cullpepper. Just got thrown in at the deep end and learnt what I needed to know through trial and error, and sheer luck. It's a shame that your eyesight problems and issues with balance now prevent you from putting those tools in your garage to good use. Is it possible for you to employ the services of a handyman?

Not a new interest, but i've always been into DIY. When i first left home to get a place of my own, i knew nothing, i'd never lifted a finger in the house. Then suddenly, there was nobody there to look after me, so i started doing night-school classes for absolutely anything and everything. Same with my car, i learnt  to strip it down and put it back together. So with  that, i've got a garage full of all the tools you can imagine. But i can't use  Can't drice 'cos of eyesight problems, and wobbling on my feet, no  balance so can do no jobs around the house.

Not a new interest, but i've always been into DIY. When i first left home to get a place of my own, i knew nothing, i'd never lifted a finger in the house. Then suddenly, there was nobody there to look after me, so i started doing night-school classes for absolutely anything and everything. Same with my car, i learnt  to strip it down and put it back together. So with  that, i've got a garage full of all the tools you can imagine. But i can't use  Can't drice 'cos of eyesight problems, and wobbling on my feet, no  balance so can do no jobs around the house.

I can relate to that! Although I can use reading glasses to crochet etc, I find them uncomfortable so I do it less. Although I also suffer from crippling indecision as to what to actually crochet, which probably stops me more than the eye problems... Some people can manage to knit in the dark! Especially simple things. Personally i feel the need to keep looking at my knitting, but I have done it for less time than crochet, but knitting is easier to do in the dark than crochet.

I do jigsaws online, much easier on my eyes and back than physical ones. I like to do them while listening to audio books or podcasts. But then my mouse hand starts to get RSI or something! 

A hobby I like which is not so dependent on eyes (or hands) is language learning. It can be like a puzzle sometimes. I hope you can find something relaxing which doesn't rely so much on good eyesight.

Sporadic Sparkly said:

However, I don't think it did much for his ego when my mother then started asking me if I could pop over to perform some DIY-related activity

• I can understand your frustrations to some extent. I enjoy sewing, knitting and crocheting. I used to do cross stitch too. These are all now impaired by my worsened eyesight. I also enjoy puzzles but can only do them when the light is good and I am limited with jig saw puzzles. It has reduced the things that help me relax, particularly at this time of year when being outside is limited.

My dad was hopeless at DIY, so when I moved out of the 'family home', it was one of his worst nightmares when I'd be asking if he could pop over to put some shelves up, or do some other DIY-related task. As I had a garage, he turned up with a drill one day, handed it to me, and told me to use the internal walls of my garage to master the art of using a drill. 

I was terrified, having never used a drill before. However, it was one of the best things my dad could have done for me. However, I don't think it did much for his ego when my mother then started asking me if I could pop over to perform some DIY-related activity. When my dad put up shelves, one could guarantee that it would only be a matter of time before they came crashing down off the wall. When I did it, the shelves would remain affixed to the wall.

I'm no DIY expert and I never attended any DIY classes like you did Cullpepper. Just got thrown in at the deep end and learnt what I needed to know through trial and error, and sheer luck. It's a shame that your eyesight problems and issues with balance now prevent you from putting those tools in your garage to good use. Is it possible for you to employ the services of a handyman?