How many weeks can you spend locked in a house with the same people before you get a little stir-crazy? If you’re like me, you may have learned that you don’t really have any actual hobbies and now have the desire to try something new. Growing up, you may have loved to draw or read books but since school takes up so much of our time, this could have caused us to lose track of some of the hobbies that we love.
With an indefinite amount of time at home ahead of us, it is the perfect time to restart those hobbies that you love or even find new ones that you are passionate about. This can not only help to keep us sane during this quarantine, but also having hobbies can be a way to keep our physical, as well as mental health in check.
If you are looking to find a new hobby for yourself, try some of these.
Hobbies for your body
Running
Since there really isn’t anywhere to go and the gyms are all closed, I decided to try running around my neighborhood. I’m not an athlete by any means, but I have always heard the great effects that running can have on your physical health, so I figured I would try it out during this quarantine. During the run, I have to admit it was a little tough for me because I don’t have time to work out that much throughout the semester. I noticed that I actually like getting outside for some fresh air and that I would be willing to go for runs more often. After stretching my legs for a mile or two, I definitely felt different in a good way. Running after a few stressed hours of homework cleared my mind and relaxed my body. If you are someone that is having a tougher time with online classes and need a break to clear your head, I would recommend going for a run.
Swimming
If you have a pool at home, this is also a great time to go for a swim. You can either go for a relaxing swim or use it as a way to workout. I decided to go for a relaxing swim since the weather has been so great the last few days. This is also a great way to get outside or get the tan that you’ve always wanted, but never had time for.
Yoga
I have heard that yoga is not only a great way to work out, but also good for your mental health. I decided to try this since you can do yoga by yourself at home, which is perfect for quarantine. If you are a beginner to yoga and don’t really know much about how to do it, there are several YouTube videos that you could follow when you are just starting out. It was kind of hard for me at first to do yoga because I find it hard to sit still for so long, which yoga sometimes requires of you, but it helped to calm my mind. If you like to be more active, I would suggest trying out a different physical hobby, but if you need to relieve stress, this hobby may work for you.
Hobbies for creativity
Journaling
If you like to write, journaling may be a great hobby choice for you—especially if you’re stressed. Being stuck in our houses and having all of this free time on our hands, may make us feel like we are going crazy. By being able to journal and get all your thoughts out, it could help you to feel saner during this quarantine if you are having a tough time. I definitely noticed this after journaling for a day because it helped me to organize all my thoughts and anything I was anxious about to help relax my mind.
Drawing
If you like to be creative or if you want to try out some artistic hobbies, drawing is a great place to start. I tried drawing for a day and was surprised by how I felt. I used to love drawing as a child, but that hobby faded over time. I found that I actually really enjoyed drawing and being able to see the results of my work.
Photography
I have had a camera for years now and have always told myself that I would try it out, but never had the time to. Since we now have so much free time, it is a perfect time to work on your photography skills. Even if you do not have one of these cameras, you can still use your iPhone camera and be creative with the types of photos you take. Since we are in quarantine and everything is closed, I just tried out photography by taking pictures outside. I actually really enjoyed it because it was something creative to do and I was able to get some fresh air. Learning how to edit your photos is also a fun part of this hobby.
Painting
Not only is drawing a great artistic hobby, but also painting is great one to try. Painting was definitely a little harder than drawing but you may find that you like it better and want to improve your painting skills. This is a fun and creative way to pass the time during quarantine.
Hopefully after testing out a few activities, you’ll find a new hobby to carry with you beyond quarantine.