By Elizabeth Dubos
Disclaimer: I am not a healthcare professional.
A hobby is an indoor or outdoor activity that is performed regularly to bring joy and happiness. Hobbies are important because they help take your mind off of everyday stressors; they can even improve your physical and mental health. For example, when you’re passionate about a hobby, your dopamine rises. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that acts as a chemical brain messenger – digestion, blow flood, memory, motor control, pain processing, and heart function all improve when there’s an increase in dopamine.
Do friends, family, and healthcare professionals tell you that you need to find a hobby to relieve stress? Are you looking for a new hobby to occupy your time during COVID-19? Do you want to bring more pleasure and joy in your leisure time? Here is a list of indoor and outdoor hobbies for you to consider.
Indoor hobby options:
1. Cooking, baking, or mixing your own cocktails. Create a Pinterest board of all the delicious recipes you want to make and try them out!
2. Jewelry. This could be a great option for those who have sensitive skin or can’t find the right jewelry piece to go with their outfit. You can design a custom piece and select your own materials.
3. Magic tricks. You can do magic tricks with cards, props, or illusions to entertain yourself and others.
4. Learn a new language. Even though you may not be able to currently travel to your dream destination, you can learn the language, so when you’re there, you can communicate with the locals. Plus, it’s a great skill to add to your resume!
5. Candle making. You can create your favorite candle aromas, so you never have to go without your favorite scents. Plus, you can select your own materials to avoid nose irritation.
6. Yoga. There are numerous positions and background music for you to try out. You can follow a virtual class or a Pinterest image guide.
7. Podcast. You can listen to podcasts or create one. You can discuss whatever you’d like: For example, your life as a pet owner or new recipes you’ve tried.
8. Scrapbooking. It’s time to print out those precious pictures in your phone gallery. You can decorate scrapbooks with fabrics, stickers, movie ticket stubs etc. Scrapbooking allows you to express yourself and document your favorite memories.
9. Knitting, sewing, or crocheting. This opens up the door for creative opportunities because you can create numerous items, such as blankets, scarves, mittens, hats, or clothes for yourself, friends, family, and pets. During the holiday season you can create warm items and donate them to the local shelter. You can find patterns at local craft stores or on Pinterest.
10. Play an instrument. You can teach yourself to read music and then play it on your new instrument. You can play the guitar, violin, piano, or the trumpet!
Outdoor hobby options:
1. Astronomy. You can learn all about planets, meteors, constellations and try to find them with a telescope.
2. Camping. Camping is more than tents, smores, and sleeping bags. It teaches important survival skills. You can even try those survival techniques in your backyard.
3. Fishing. This is a great hobby to learn about fishing equipment and the environment.
4. Gardening. You can learn about different fruits, vegetables, and flowers. This hobby will help you spend less money on food if you’re growing it in your backyard.
5. Hiking. This is a great form of exercise while exploring the outdoors. You can document your hiking trips by taking photographs or collecting plants or rocks to remember your trips.
6. Birdwatching. Have you looked outside your window and ever wondered which bird you’re looking at? Grab a pair of binoculars to view different birds. This is a great hobby to educate yourself about birds in the environment. You can go to your local bookstore or library to check out a birdwatching guidebook to identify birds in your area. Amazon sells excellent bird guidebooks as well.
7. Herbalism. It’s the study of botany and the use of medicinal plants. You could travel to different locations to learn about various plants. After you learn about these plants and their benefits, you could grow them in a garden.
8. Insect collection. This was a popular hobby during the Victorian era. There are numerous collections in natural history museums throughout the world. Collect insects yourself, or educate others.
9. Advanced swimming. So, you’ve accomplished the basic float and freestyle as a beginner swimmer. Why not learn about advanced swimming moves such as the butterfly, sidestroke, or breaststroke? This is a great hobby to learn something new and to stay active.
10. Photography. You can make a list of outdoor things you’d like to photograph and practice new photography techniques. Experiment with various cameras, lens, or even a smart phone. Afterwards, you can create a physical album of your photos or an Instagram page.
Edited by Jenna Fults