When I have enough mental energy, my favorite hobby is working on personal projects; mostly software but sometimes hardware. I love the process of slowly iterating and watching a project grow and improve over time. I also really enjoy reading about and testing out hardware. I find hardware to be so complex and interesting, yet also somewhat understandable when using the right abstractions in your head. These activities give me a sense of joy unlike anything else. However, when I get mentally drained, I resort to other activities.
When I need to relax, there are a few activities I really enjoy:
* Sit in nature and watch birds (yesterday two birds started making a nest in my birdhouse and I always find joy watching them)
* Hanging out with my two cats and dog; they are a great source of joy
* Learning from art. This comes in many forms, but I really like art that makes me reflect on my own life or life in general. Recently, I've been watching Studio Ghibli films and they are a great example. But I also enjoy comedy shows that simply give me a good laugh.
* Trying to create art (usually just sketching), which I don't do often, but enjoy it every time.