The pandemic had a major impact on all of our lives but one thing I am grateful for was the time I had to sit, reflect and learn new things. I perfected my favorite recipes and taught myself a few new ones, too. I learned how to make jewelry and key chains, and read some really good books. I also took up French on Duolingo – something I have always wanted to do but never thought I had time for.
Doing all of these things added to my sense of purpose in life and made me feel more whole during what felt like a very broken time in all of our lives. I promised myself that once quarantine was over, I would continue to carve out time in my schedule to keep my favorite hobbies going.
Which leads me to ask you – what hobbies do you enjoy? Better yet, when is the last time you taught yourself something new?
See, you may think having a hobby is reserved for people who lead quieter lives, people who don’t have children and can devote more time to other things or people who don’t have demanding jobs and can afford to go bird watching or play tennis on the weekends. But the truth is, those of us who lead busy lives need hobbies the most. It helps to relieve stress, provides a much-needed mental escape, and can help you meet new people.
If you are ready to explore a hobby but don’t have one yet, start by considering the things you enjoy, things that interest you, or something you would like to improve upon. Whatever you choose, I am sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much you gain from the experience.
Saving some time for yourself to enjoy a hobby can provide the physical, mental, emotional, and creative benefits that make life more meaningful, relaxing, and fun!
