As everyone is aware of by now, the world is going through the coronavirus pandemic. Many countries have dictated that their citizens stay at home, social distance, and practice sheltering in place. This has left many secluded in their homes with ample hours that were once filled by work or school. While the political, economic, and social climate leaves many wary, the silver lining to this isolation is a chance for personal growth. While you are a recluse at home, there many hobbies and activities that you can pick up to better yourself. Let's walk out of this quarantine as better versions of ourselves. Here are 8 hobbies you can pick up to gain skills and have fun.
1) Knitting: This is an ages old hobby often enjoyed by grandparents. Much of the youth veers away from this hobby. It is very soothing, meditative, and calming once you actually give it a chance. If you deal with stress or anxiety and need some escapism, knitting is the answer! It trains your mind to focus to an intense degree. You are in zen when there is nothing but silence and the clinking sounds of the knitting needles. Knitting is a better escapism than binging Netflix all day. You gain a skill and relax your mind. There are tons of youtube videos on how to cast yarn on knitting needles, how to make basic articles of clothing, and how to knit simple patterns. You can become very invested into it once you give it a chance. Plus, you can order knitting needles and yarn pretty inexpensively online as compared to an arts and crafts store.
2) Dream Journal: Many of us have spontaneous dreams throughout our life that we tend to forget unless they are impactful. Keeping a dream journal is like keeping a record of your subconscious. People have been sleeping a lot more since being at home, this journal would be a great idea to keep. Dreams are doorways to our subconscious mind. There is symbolism, motifs, and meanings that can be comprehended to learn more about our innate nature and personal turmoils. A dream journal does not have to be secluded to just dreams. You can write about personal thoughts, dream interpretations, and your spirituality. This journal can take many avenues, but most of all it will provide you with a space to deeply reflect.
3) Coloring: This hobby is quite popular already. The adult coloring book trend has skyrocketed and many are purchasing intricate coloring books with color pencils or markers. The great thing about these coloring books is that also aid in gaining a focused mind, zen, and escapism. Once you start coloring, you naturally cannot halt. This creates a spiral of focus and encourages a meditative state. You learn color scheme and shading as you color along the way. The best part though, it having a beautiful piece of finished artwork at the end that you can use for scrapbooking or as wall decor.
4) Reading: This is the most common pastime, but as time has gone on more and more people have stopped reading. Physically reading a book provides a whole different experience than listening to the audio book version of it or watching the movie adaptation of it. There are tons of exciting new books coming out every year. There is always something for everyone. Even if you cannot access your library currently, you can always order online from stores, amazon kindle, or google playbooks. Ebooks are always cheaper but there is a tangible magic to paper books that cannot be ignored. However, if you are in a pinch, ebooks are better than no books.
5) Baking: This pastime is fun, homely, and results in yummy treats to snack on. With most people avoiding takeout and restaurants currently not operating, it is wise to pick up some kitchen skills. Youtube and apps like Buzzfeed Tasty are effective and quick sources to find recipes. There are loads of few minute recipes gracing the internet if you are not into long-winded baking. Everything from quick mug recipes to intricate complex recipes are at your disposal. This is a great time to hone your cooking skills as this is a skill that will prove useful time and time again.
6) Organizing: With our busy routines and packed schedules it can be nearly impossible to maintain neatness and order. Now is the time to organize your closets, drawers, and rooms. Now is the time to implement a sustainable organized system that will be easy to maintain when our routines return to normal. This is the time to sort clothes, categorize items, label items, classify belongings, and create a place for everything. Organizing seems very daunting to begin, but once you have done it is the most rewarding.
7) Dancing: Many are worried about gaining weight at this time. It is a plausible concern as our lives have become more sedentary. Usually many are repulsed from exercising because it can be boring. One of the most fun ways to get movement in is through dancing. There are tons of choreographers to many popular songs on youtube. Learning those choreographies or even playing dance video games like Just Dance, can help maintain health and weight. Dancing is naturally fun to everyone and you don't have to be good at it to get up and move. Take this time to learn some new moves while getting fit.
8) Puzzles: Staying inside all day with little social contact, our minds can become dull and underestimated. It is always handy to play engaging games like puzzles, board games, riddles, and even strategic games that you can download on your phone. They are fun, quick, and keep you thinking. Its all about mental stimulation and there are tons of fun games to pick from. Puzzles, monopoly, word search, sudoku, tetris, bejeweled, are just a few to choose from a large array of games.
These are some hobbies you can pick up now during lockdown. These hobbies are wholesome, beneficial, and help develop skills. So when this whole ordeal is over, you can walk out with a new pastime, a new talent, or a new skill. It is crucial to maintain ourselves physically and mentally at this time. It can be very easy to fall into complacency. That only leads to a vicious cycle of procrastination and apathy. We want to walk out of lockdown with new positive habits not exacerbated negative habits.
Thank You For Reading!
No comments: