It’s that time of year again. The leaves are changing and thoughts are turning towards Fall Break and Parents’ Weekend. There’s still a few hurdles to cross, though, like the growing piles of papers and, worst of all, midterms. It’s times like these when free time becomes a precious commodity, and needs to be well spent. If I could have my way, I’d be napping at every possible moment, but that’s not exactly the healthiest way to spend my time instead of not doing homework. As an alternative, I’ve invested myself in a few productive and relatively easy hobbies that help me unwind for a short time and put off starting that paper for just a few more minutes.
1. Knitting
I cannot express how happy I am with myself for having learned how to knit. I signed up for knitting classes at the craft center at the beginning of freshman year, and it only cost me $5 for a pair of needles and some yarn. They taught me the basics, and, with a little help from friends who were more advanced knitters, now I’m making scarves, hats, and a few other relatively easy things! Knitting is such a great way to shut off your brain and do some repetitive, mindless work. Also, as someone who can’t sit still, it’s nice to have something to do with my hands when I get fidgety. You can turn on some soothing music or a rerun of a TV show that you love and produce something really cool and functional, too! Bonus, it’s a pretty cheap hobby. I never want to buy hats or scarves anymore because I can buy a skein of yarn for $5 and make something I can wear for ages. It’s great for holiday gifting as well, and people love homemade gifts. Believe me, the benefits of knitting are endless!
Me, wearing some of the items I’ve knitted!
2. Yoga/Meditation
Okay, this one is kind of a given. It’s no secret that focusing your mind, body, and spirit through some meditation and yoga is great for you, so I’m not going to belabor telling you what you already know. But I have found that doing even ten minutes of meditation and twenty minutes of yoga either between classes or in the afternoon makes me feel so good. After sitting through classes and feeling stiff and achy, it’s nice to stretch out and move a little! Between classes and that paper you know you have to start eventually, it’s so lovely to take a moment and clear your mind. Sometimes, just thinking about breathing for a few minutes can turn my whole day around.
3. Photography
Kenyon is a beautiful campus, there’s no denying that. It’s easy to take that for granted when you’re drowning in reading and social interactions and the pending doom of papers and exams. Taking a moment to look around and breathe in some joy from a beautiful sunset, or the shadows creeping across Old K, or that stereotypical Middle Path shot is just wonderful. It lets you take a step back, even if it’s just long enough to snap a pic and post it to your Instagram. It’s the little things, you know? Here are a few Kenyon-specific shots, hot off my own Instagram:
Seriously, how gorgeous is our school?
I was so lucky to get this shot! I’m glad I was paying attention to my surroundings.
4. Walking
Again, obvious, right? But this is science, trust me. Walking for a little but extra every day can be a magically simple thing that makes you feel good. When you have some free time, it’s better than sitting on your bed, mindlessly scrolling through pages of Buzzfeed articles or your Tumblr dashboard. You get a little exercise and a little fresh air, and you can plug some headphones in and jam out while doing so. Also—we’re about to get really crazy—you can practice your photography while walking. (Look at that! Combining two hobbies! What a world we live in.) But seriously, your whole day could turn around from a quick fifteen minute loop around campus in your down time. Try it out!
5. Coloring
Time to embrace your inner child again. Print out a few coloring pages or buy an adult coloring book, like this one, and grab a few colored pencils. Like knitting, coloring is a really cool way to shut your mind off for a little while and do something productive. Maybe you can’t wear a colored in flower, but you’re creating something beautiful, and finishing something like that gives you a nice feeling of accomplishment. Also, for those of us who might not be as artistically inclined, it’s a good way to tap into your inner artist without worrying about whether it looks good. It’s just coloring after all!
Coloring this in was a little too much fun.
So there you have it, folks! Let me know if you’ve got any hobbies that help you unwind and chill out when the going gets tough. Hope these help you out in the coming weeks or even inspire you to try something new!
All images credited to AnnMarie Devine.