Human beings, as a species, cannot bear to waste time. Or well, at least think of wasting time. We like doing something productive. A break from work is filled with leisure activities, insightful thinking, and beloved hobbies. A lot of us, at any given time, are searching for a new obsession hobby. If anyone wants suggestions, here are a few to try out!
- Zoning Out
It is a meditative art achieved after mindlessly consuming some form of media (I am a master zone-outer. I offer lessons too). You have been reading a book, attending a FC, binge-watching tv shows, or scrolling through Instagram reels for hours. Your eyes are burning. Sleep tempts you. Just look up, find a blank spot, and stare. Stare. Any color will do, though most have a preference for cooler shades. A plastic bag floating in the wind, or the hypnotic sway of someone’s earrings are great choices. What you select should not be too bright – otherwise, you will suffer from after images. Minimum disturbance is preferred. You’ll be an expert at zoning out very soon.
- Rating the Fluffiness of Fluffy Objects
I must clarify that this is the physical fluffiness I’m talking about. Not the inescapable fluffy moments that stable relationships produce. Remember that teddy bear you were gifted? The blankets your mother has only guests use? The shaggy carpet you puked on because you ate too much shrimp? A friendly dog’s fur? All of them must have been fluffy – but how fluffy were they? Are they all the same? You can come up with your rating system to answer this question. Remember the critical parameters: finger-feel, toe-feel, and cheek-feel. Sensitivity is a must for keeping up with this hobby. You’re going to be a pro at fluff! (Unless you burned off your fingerprints by touching the flat surface of a hot iron. No finger-feel, no fluff.)
- Deep Sea Diving
Ever feel like life is crushing you? Go ahead and try deep sea diving! (What do you mean you don’t live near the sea?) You can have the water pressure crush the air out of your lungs. You’ll be alone in the middle of a vast expanse of deep blue. Inner peace surrounded by blue whales and giant squids. You can even have your main character moment by trying to sink and meditate on the ocean floor. You can start by trying to submerge your whole head in a filled water bucket. Try seeing how long you can hold your breath underwater.
- Collecting Shoelaces
Do you know what an aglet is? (If your answer is a no, please go watch Phineas and Ferb. You poor person, you.) Can you figure out the weave difference between Nike shoelaces and Adidas shoelaces? Wait no longer to start your collection! You can add frayed white bits you recovered from the floor of a cricket stadium. Black ones you forcefully take from a crying school child are a basic addition. Tie-dye shoelaces are the newest fad. Coins, stamps, and antiques, move aside for shoelaces!
- Learning Parseltongue
You can’t hatch a basilisk (Believe me, I have tried.) Our country has too many legal regulations about keeping a pet snake. Yet, what’s stopping you from learning parseltongue? Assume you’re a descendant of Salazar Slytherin. Channel your inner dark lord. Burn ants alive with a magnifying glass. Do tongue rolling exercises and drink plenty of fluids. Do not have an audience. Be ready to clean your spit from your washroom mirror. Start hissing and hacking!
- Categorizing Sunlight
The sun will outlast us all. You can still try taming it categorizing its gorgeous light! The morning sunlight is the yellow of the fuzzy fungus that forms on leftover milk. The midday light is as bright as a golden retriever’s fur. The evening sunlight is a beautiful peach (Hah, I got you thinking of buttocks now.) There are innumerable ways. You can even make additional nomenclature for dust motes, rainbows, and pollution! If you put in enough time, you’ll get around to painting your categorized elements – you can be the next Van Gogh with an award-winning work “Summer Day”!
[HerCampus is not responsible for any injuries or mishaps acquired from reading this article. Dear reader, feel free to sue the author. The author is willing to take to court someone who ruined their throat by trying to learn parseltongue.]