Personally, when I have spare time and nothing to fill it with, I almost always gravitate towards social media. However, if I’m being honest, this usually doesn’t end very well. What I intend to be a few minutes of screen time can easily turn into hours of mindless scrolling and self-comparison.
This can be emotionally draining and damaging to one’s self confidence, but in the age of technology, it can be difficult to find alternatives to indulging in screen time. However, I may have found a cure-all solution… This is where hobbies come in!
A big misconception about hobbies is that you have to be good at them. I think this is partly why people are quick to throw in the towel when it comes to trying out new ones. People tend to get discouraged and give up when starting something new because they aren’t instant professionals.
But here’s the thing: as long as you enjoy doing it, it really doesn’t matter if you’re good at it or not. Hobbies are meant to be a fun thing that you can do for you, yourself, and you. Who cares if you don’t excel at them?
As a matter of fact, it can be refreshing to have an activity you enjoy doing without the stress of having to succeed in it. Unlike school or work, where there’s pressure to succeed, hobbies come with relatively zero pressure whatsoever, so there’s no need to stress. It’s just something to do for the sake of enjoyment.
That being said, there are a few specific types of hobbies that I think can benefit anyone who incorporates them into their lives.
A hobby to keep you creative
Being creative is important as it gives us the ability to think non traditionally. Being able to think outside the box allows us to broaden our minds and solve problems in a different way. By engaging in creative hobbies, we get to practice this in a way that allows us to put our focus into something enjoyable.
What I characterize as creative hobbies is generally what comes to mind when you think of the word “hobby”. This is a very general statement so there are pretty much endless opportunities for everyone to find a creative hobby that is right for them.
For example, if you enjoy literature you might want to try reading and writing; if you enjoy art you could try painting, drawing, or even just researching different art styles or artists. Another common interest is music, including hobbies such as singing, writing music, or learning an instrument. The possibilities with creative hobbies are pretty much endless. More common hobbies include baking, photography, sewing, gardening, etc.
However, there are also many unconventional activities that you may not have even considered to be hobbies at all. These can include activities like posting on social media, doing your makeup, making pinterest boards, etc.
Some of my personal favorites creative hobbies I engage in are playing guitar (even though I’m not very good at it), dressing up to take pictures, and curating the perfect photo dumps for Instagram.
A hobby to keep you active
Not only is keeping active and engaging in daily movement essential for one’s physical health, it is also beneficial for one’s mental health. Physical activity allows you to focus on the workout at hand and take your mind off any stressors in your life, while doing so in a productive way that benefits health and improves confidence.
For instance, if you take one hour a day to focus on your workout, that is one hour in the day you spend not thinking about life’s issues. Rather than distracting yourself with screen time that will ultimately make it worse, you allow yourself to stay productive. Don’t have an hour? Try 30, 20, or even just 10 minutes.
Many people view working out as a chore, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Working out can be a fun hobby if you take the time to try out different workouts and find what suits you best. Once you find what works for you, the thought of working out can start to fill you with excitement rather than dread. Personally, I make physical activity fun by curating the perfect gym playlist.
There are so many enjoyable ways out there to be active, you just have to find what works for you. Some common ones include weight lifting, running, walking, yoga, pilates, following along a guided video on youtube, and just sports in general. This can include things even as simple as swimming in the lake or ocean in the summertime, skiing and snowboarding in the winter, or taking your dog for a daily walk. My personal favorites include lifting weights, going on Hot Girl Walks, and even just dancing around my room while I’m getting ready to go out.
A hobby to help your mindset
Seeing as we just went over hobbies that aid your physical health, I think it’s essential to also note that mental health is just as important. While I mentioned earlier that the simple act of having hobbies is good for mental health due to the destressing qualities they offer, I think it can be useful to narrow down on a few specifics.
A few hobbies that I find to improve mental health are meditating, journaling, manifesting, reading self help books, and practicing self care. Personally, I enjoy indulging in self care nights where I dedicate one evening a week to pampering myself. Self care looks different to everyone, but to me I utilize it as a way to relax and take my time through my evening routine as I get myself prepared for the upcoming week. This includes putting on some feel-good music as I do my in-depth, extra skin care and hair care routine. After that I will usually relax with a good book or tv show while I drink a comforting beverage (usually tea) and set goals for the week.
While this may not seem like a hobby to some, I consider it as such, as it allows me to enjoy a relaxing, stress-free night while I prepare for the upcoming busy weeks ahead.