I recommend taking up a martial art.

This is excellent advice... it gives you the chance to completely loose yourself in the flow of movement that comes with any good martial art.

Aikido (as Glass_Knife) mentioned is an excellent choice, and I'm a huge fan of capoeira. It really comes down to personal preference, but there is a martial art out there for everyone.

Beat Dwarf Fortress?

Sounds "fun".

Beat Dwarf Fortress?

Sounds "fun".

I used to go to the gym. I now go jogging with my dog. I have a half-Miniature Pinscher half-unknown to take care of! Self-preservation really.

If working out typically bores you (as it does to me), having a workout buddy really helps in keeping each other motivated and in check.

I find myself DJing on the computer sometimes (I used to have some actual turntables but had to sell them off). That's relaxing to me, and currently is probably the most creative outlet I get out of myself. It feels kind of like making collages, but with music. Going by your avatar, you should probably try that :P

Interestingly I don't like to play many games as I used to... Strategy RPGs used to be a big time sink. But more often they make me think "this is time I could spend making a game instead"

What do accountants do on their off time? Architects? Chefs? Construction workers?

Programmers are just people, and what they do on their off time varies as much as it does for any other profession.

Personally, I practice Aikido, I snowboard during the winter, I read, play games, play guitar (badly) and hang out with friends.

I'm also quite partial to beer :D

When I am not programming I am playing with the cat (or taking orders from her), cooking, cleaning, working out, playing the piano or being amused with RL politics (<3 UK Politics).

My social life died the day I decided to stop partying, apparently it was so 'bad' that it required a (failed) intervention.

My social life died the day I decided to stop partying, apparently it was so 'bad' that it required a (failed) intervention.

Things like that would make me feel like total crap.

I play sports (pool/snooker), want to work on my fitness/confidence to play football (though as I work weekends when my friends play or most leagues as far as I know tend to play that makes it a little difficult)

Watch sports

Read books/watch movies or tv shows

Study (other things than simply programming, either part of my computer science degree or random self-improvement like brushing up a little on German as I feel that knowing more than one natural language will have a positive effect on my life in general)

Socialise with friends (though have toned down a little after my first year of my degree)

Work part-time in a supermarket

Go to concerts

Play the drums

Think of myself as just a fairly average 23 year old.

I believe if it is constructive, teaching a new skills, somehow gonna make me money now or in the future, or helping me or others in some kind of way,then yes i do enjoy it.

What about enjoying it at the moment, enjoying programming itself?

I'm not a professional, but when I'm doing programming, usually I do enjoy it on the spot, not only because of some future and/or indirect benefits. I don't feel bad if something that I do doesn't have any benefits.

yes i do enjoy programming at the moment, when i complete a task i have been hacking at some time, the feeling of accomplishment is quite satisfying :)