I recently discovered something that was probably obvious to everyone except me: if your brain feels stuck, confuse it.

For reasons I still can't fully explain, I ended up taking drum lessons. A terrible idea on paper. A great idea in reality. Suddenly, I was using parts of my brain that had clearly been on annual leave for years. Which got me thinking: what other hobbies are hiding behind an initial "absolutely not"?

Here are a few worth trying. Some may surprise you. Others might accidentally become your new obsession.

Location: Sima Performing arts

Dubai has no shortage of dance schools. The problem is that most of them offer the usual suspects: hip-hop, high heels and, if you are lucky, a stretching class thrown into the mix. Finding proper contemporary dance is a little trickier.

Which is a shame, because contemporary is one of the few hobbies that completely hijacks your attention. Somewhere between the choreography, the music and figuring out what your limbs are supposed to be doing, the rest of the world tends to disappear. There is a reason people call it "meditation in motion".

This is where Sima Performing Arts comes in — a recommendation borrowed from a friend and one that ticks all the boxes. A great studio, proper sprung floors for floorwork, a convenient location in Alserkal, and a schedule that goes well beyond contemporary, with ballet, jazz and classes for different levels running throughout the week.

Location: The Drum Camp

This is where I come in with personal experience and I swear — if your goal is to switch your brain off for a while, drumming might be one of the best hobbies you can pick up. For 45 minutes, I forget about work and everything else going on around me. The only thing that matters is keeping the rhythm and figuring out what my hands and feet are supposed to be doing.

The good news for beginners is that you start playing actual songs from the very first class. Yes, it will be rough. Yes, there will be plenty of room for improvement. But this isn't one of those music schools that makes you suffer through months of theory before letting you touch an instrument. They understand that if you enjoy it, you will keep coming back.

The only real drawback is the location. Driving there from Business Bay after work can feel like a bit of a mission, whether you are heading to Barsha Heights or Silicon Oasis (the school has two branches). The building itself is also fairly unremarkable and doesn't exactly scream "creative hub".

That said, once you are inside, none of that really matters.

Location: Maca Dubai

This hobby is for anyone who finds stretching a bit boring, aerial yoga a little too Instagram-friendly, and gymnastics something that probably should have happened when they were five.

Aerial arts somehow sits perfectly in the middle. Part strength training, part flexibility, part circus act, it gives you the chance to fulfil two childhood dreams at once: becoming a circus star and a remarkably stretchy human.

The studio offers a wide range of options, including daily classes for both adults and children, morning and evening sessions, and private training. And perhaps the biggest selling point of all: a free trial class — at least according to their social media, which is always music to my ears.

Location: Dubai Sound Academy

Most of us spend our lives listening to music. DJs spend their time taking it apart.

That is probably the most surprising thing about DJ classes. You arrive expecting to learn how tracks are mixed together and leave realising you will never listen to your favourite songs in quite the same way again. Suddenly, music stops being background noise and becomes layers, patterns, transitions and opportunities.

If you think DJing is simply turning up and having fun, it is — just not quite in the way you might imagine. You need to concentrate, learn, stay creative and keep up with what is happening around you, all at the same time.

And yes, the level here is properly professional. So don't forget your laptop and be prepared for a bit of homework.

Location: Cavalloheart stable

For those looking to immerse themselves in the culture of the region, horse riding is probably one of the most obvious hobbies to try.

What I like about it is that you aren't left standing on the ground listening to an hour-long lecture, nor do you spend your first three lessons being led around the arena. You get on the horse and start learning by doing. First the walk, then the trot, eventually the canter, and for the ambitious, even jumping and galloping.

There is also a less obvious benefit. Studies have found that spending time with animals can lower cortisol, the hormone associated with stress, while increasing oxytocin and serotonin, both of which are linked to positive mood and social bonding.

And one final reason I love horse riding: it travels well. Wherever we go, we try to ride, and the lessons here are good enough that you can confidently swap your Dubai arena for a beach in Turkey or a mountain trail in Georgia.

Location: ICCA Dubai

We all grow up eventually.

Four years ago, if a partner had gifted me a cooking course, I would probably have been deeply offended. "What exactly are you trying to say? That I should become a full-time kitchen appliance?" Today? I would be delighted. Especially if we are talking about a course from one of the UAE's leading culinary schools.

This isn't just a casual evening of chopping vegetables and pretending to enjoy washing up afterwards. Depending on the programme, courses can last anywhere from seven days to three months and offer a genuinely immersive experience.

You can dive into the fundamentals or focus on a specific obsession — whether that is pizza, pastry or something else entirely — or even work towards a professional diploma if you decide your hobby deserves a more serious promotion.

And while the longer courses certainly require an investment, there is one thought that makes the price feel slightly less painful: imagine how much money you might save when your favourite restaurant-quality dishes are suddenly available in your own kitchen.