Not doing anything all day except watching TV and sleeping can get monotonous and boring – so, if you’re like me, you might start to get a little stir-crazy over winter break. That’s why I’ve put together a list of some fun hobbies to pick up over your rest period.
These activities span from learning a new instrument to gardening to photography. No matter what you choose, you can rest assured knowing you’ll feel accomplished and pick up a new skill!
- Learn a new instrument
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Learning a new instrument can seem daunting, but there are tons of websites that’ll help you learn for free! My personal favorite instrument to play is the ukulele, because it’s easy to learn the basics, and you can play a ton of different, well-known songs. You can find a ukulele for relatively cheap on Amazon.
A great place to start your musical journey is by watching Andy Guitar’s ukulele lessons on YouTube.
- Start an herb garden
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Gardening has been found to have a ton of health benefits, spanning from building self-esteem to improving heart health. Additionally, it feels very satisfying to grow strong plants from simple little seeds, especially when said plant can then be used to spice up some meals!
A great place to start is with this herb starter kit from Urban Leaf.
- Learn to cook
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Cooking is an important life skill, a fun way to spend your time, and you can also get a delicious meal out of it!
I began learning how to cook in high school, and now it’s one of my favorite pastimes. I come from a very Italian family, so my personal favorite dishes to cook are chicken marsala and chicken parmesan.
If you’re looking to start with something a little easier, this lemony-broccolini pasta recipe is super yummy and simple to make!
- Start knitting or crocheting
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Personally, I think crocheting is easier than knitting (I can only crochet!), but both are really fun to learn.
You can find knitting or crocheting kits for relatively cheap on Amazon, and there are tons of YouTube channels dedicated to teaching you how to do both.
A great place to start learning knitting is Hobby Lobby’s channel. For crocheting, I would recommend starting with Simplydaisy’s videos on YouTube.
- Begin practicing yoga
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Like gardening, yoga has been proven to have several health benefits, including improved strength and flexibility, heart health, lowered stress levels, and much more. At first, it can seem really hard to take 30 minutes out of your hectic day just to focus purely on breathing; however, taking this time for yourself is essential and gets easier with each practice.
My personal favorite instructor, Yoga With Adriene, can be found for free on YouTube – her practices last anywhere from ten minutes to an hour, and I highly recommend them!
- Get into reading
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Okay, I know this is going to sound crazy, but I just started reading the Harry Potter series for the first time, and I am obsessed. So, if you haven’t read these books yet, get to it! There are so many amazing novels waiting for you beyond Harry Potter as well, and taking the time to read a childhood favorite or a brand new story is always a great experience. I recommend going to Barnes and Noble’s Best Sellers page and picking out a book whose blurb interests you.
- Try new art projects
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Drawing, painting, sculpting, or taking photos are all great ways to express yourself. Another option I recommend, especially if you’re like me and can’t draw or make art for your life, is adult coloring books. You can find inexpensive coloring books on Amazon, and coloring is a great way to relax and take a break from staring at screens all day.
So, there you have it! These activities are all fantastic and beneficial ways to change up your daily routine and challenge yourself, allowing you to make winter break the perfect combination of relaxation and productivity. While these hobbies are fun, and good ways to pass the time, don’t forget to sleep and recharge over break – you deserve it!