New Hobbies After Knee Injuries: Finding Joy While You Heal

When you’re used to being active, an injury that keeps you homebound can feel like a major identity shift. Whether you’re recovering from knee surgery, a broken bone, or any other injury that limits your movement, it’s easy to feel restless and disconnected from what you love.

But recovery doesn’t have to mean boredom or losing your spark. Here are a few fulfilling hobbies and activities to explore while you rest and rebuild.

1. Learn a New Skill Online

Use this downtime to feed your curiosity or build a new talent.

• Skillshare or Domestika for classes in drawing, graphic design, journaling, photography theory, or even animation.

• Coursera or Udemy for everything from psychology and nutrition to business, Excel, or even coding.

• Duolingo or Babbel if you’ve always wanted to learn a new language — even 10 minutes a day feels productive.

2. Get Creative with Your Hands

Creative hobbies can reduce stress and give you a satisfying sense of progress.

• Watercolor painting with a beginner kit from Amazon or ArtSnacks (YouTube has free tutorials).

• Embroidery or cross-stitch, which is easy to learn and meditative — check out kits on Etsy or follow tutorials on TikTok or Pinterest.

• Clay sculpting (air-dry clay) or polymer jewelry making from Sculpey – small-scale projects you can do at the table or couch.

  
  
  
  

3. Writing & Journaling

Writing is powerful, whether you’re telling your story or escaping into fiction.

• Journaling prompts from the app Jour or physical recovery journals like “The Five Minute Journal.”

• Creative writing on platforms like Reedsy Prompts or take a free writing workshop on FutureLearn.

• Start a private blog on Substack or Medium to document your recovery journey or share ideas that matter to you.

4. Try Seated or Low-Impact Fitness

Even if you’re immobile in one area, movement (if approved by your doctor) can still energize you.

• Seated yoga or pilates on YouTube (look up “seated yoga for injury recovery” or “gentle mobility”).

• Resistance band workouts that target upper body or core — apps like FitOn or Nike Training Club have great free options.

• Breathwork & meditation with Headspace or Insight Timer to keep your mental energy strong when physical energy is low.

5. Learn to Cook (or Level Up Your Skills)

Cooking is creative, practical, and confidence-boosting — plus you control your nutrition during recovery.

• NYT Cooking, Tasty, or Budget Bytes for step-by-step recipes.

• YouTube channels like Joshua Weissman (fun basics), Pick Up Limes (healthy meals), or Binging with Babish (food + entertainment).

• If you’re stuck in one room, try no-cook recipes, smoothies, or toaster-oven cooking to keep it simple.

You don’t have to wait until you’re fully recovered to start enjoying life again. Recovery is a chance to redirect your energy — not lose it. You might just discover a hobby you’ll carry with you long after the healing is done.

What hobby helped you through recovery? Let’s share ideas and support others going through it too.

Remember to always consult your healthcare professional before starting any new treatment or exercise regimen to ensure it's safe and appropriate for your specific condition.

References:

Learning a New Skill Online

• Skillshare: https://www.skillshare.com/

• Domestika: https://www.domestika.org/

• Coursera: https://www.coursera.org/

• Udemy: https://www.udemy.com/

• Duolingo: https://www.duolingo.com/

• Babbel: https://www.babbel.com/

  
  

Getting Creative with Your Hands

• Amazon watercolor kits: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=watercolor+painting+kit+for+beginners

• ArtSnacks: https://www.artsnacks.co/

• Etsy embroidery kits: https://www.etsy.com/search?q=embroidery+kit

• Pinterest embroidery tutorials: https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=embroidery%20tutorials

• Sculpey: https://www.sculpey.com/

• Air-dry clay projects: https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=air%20dry%20clay%20projects

  
  

Writing & Journaling

• Jour journaling app: https://jour.com/

• The Five Minute Journal: https://www.intelligentchange.com/products/the-five-minute-journal

• Reedsy Prompts: https://blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/

• FutureLearn Writing Courses: https://www.futurelearn.com/subjects/creative-arts-and-media-courses/creative-writing

• Substack: https://substack.com/

• Medium: https://medium.com/

  
  

Seated or Low-Impact Fitness

• YouTube Chair Yoga: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=chair+yoga+for+injury+recovery

• FitOn resistance band workouts: https://fitonapp.com/

• Nike Training Club: https://www.nike.com/ntc-app

• Headspace: https://www.headspace.com/

• Insight Timer: https://www.insighttimer.com/

  
  

Learning to Cook

• NYT Cooking: https://cooking.nytimes.com/

• Budget Bytes: https://www.budgetbytes.com/

• Joshua Weissman YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JoshuaWeissman

• Binging with Babish YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@babishculinaryuniverse

• No-cook recipes Pinterest search: https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=no%20cook%20recipes