For many, working from home might be the new normal—but that doesn’t mean we still don’t go a bit stir crazy from time to time. I spend more time in the apartment than I ever imagined. My studio and I are now so acquainted that we might actually be… in a relationship? In the early days of connecting with my inner homebody, I reorganized my pantry, rearranged furniture to “keep it fresh,” and might I have tallied the number of wood planks on each floor.
With all of this time spent at home, I’ve been struggling to separate work from pleasure, and my life has become one blue light blob of working on my computer and winding down by scrolling through bad news and politically incorrect memes on my newsfeed. If you’re also looking for ways to ignite your creativity, find a different way to entertain your soul, and be intentional with your “me” time, you might want to try picking up a new hobby. Thankfully, there are plenty of pastimes that you can do in the comfort of your own home that (brace yourself) don’t involve scrolling on Instagram.
1. Learn calligraphy
I don’t know what it is about calligraphy that is So It’s fascinating to me, but I feel that I must learn it in this lifetime to feel fulfilled. Cue me buying this extremely affordable beginner practice book and these brush pens on Amazon and cut to scenes of me sweating while scribbling lowercase e’s all over my planner for practice.
2. Online learning
COVID-19 provided a number of home workout services that were great for sweating. Corepower Yoga offered a free 60-minute yoga class in the early days of the pandemic. wowIt felt good to move. Some of my regular gym options are no longer available due to precautions. But, I still have my Yoga mat and my breath and can make it work.
Many gyms have closed down or limited their in-person classes, but some fitness centers offer at-home virtual workouts. In addition to Peloton offering a free 90-day trial for their online classes, Tone It Up, Beachbody, ObéFitness, P.volve, YogaWorks, and Pilates Anytime are all online-based programs that also offer free trials to help you save money while keeping active in your own home.
3. Learn how to cook
Listen, I’m all for living off of buttered noodles and red wine, but there’s something about mastering a new recipe and switching up your routine to make you feel full-bellied and accomplished. If you’re new to cooking, go easy on yourself and have a backup plan in case something catches on fire (speaking from personal experience here). If you’re already a pro, branch out and tackle that One recipe you’ve been eyeing for months now. Baking desserts is encouraged and welcome. Please send me all leftovers.
4. Meditation is a great practice
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: meditation has significantly improved my life. Once I realized that you don’t HaveIt is a great way for me to unwind and get away from the chaos in my life. Meditation is easy because you already have all the tools you need to start. You can do it anywhere you’d like, and it’s free!
5. Get into needlework
Q: What’s a hobby to get me away from my screen and to keep my hands busy? A: Knitting or crocheting. According to Martha Stewart Magazine the difference between the two types of needlework differ in the “technique and tool” used. To my grandmother’s disappointment, I have never taken part in either activity, but even watching how-to videos on YouTube is extremely satisfying. I’ve been itching to make one of the Pinterest-worthy merino wool blankets (which employs a hand-knitting technique), and this feels like the perfect time to make my dreams a reality.
6. Learn how to use an instrument
Bust out your recorder from elementary school, because it’s that baby’s time to shine. Fun fact: I learned how to play. Baby by Justin Bieber on the piano via YouTube in high school, and it’s my favorite party trick to date. There’s no better time to connect with your musical side, and YouTube has a plethora of videos to get you started, no matter the instrument you decide to rock out on.
7. Paint
My friends, channel your inner Frida Kahlo to get out there and paint. You don’t have to be an artist to pick up a paintbrush and get busy. Amazon’s painting kit has everything you need to get going freehand. If you’re like me and would like some direction (and a guaranteed pretty result), this paint-by-numbers set is a must-have. Enjoy your favorite music, a glass of wine, or just get creative.
8. Make your own soap, candles, you name it…
Are you fed up with making bread and tie-dying everything? You need to improve your crafting skills. You’re going through more soap than ever before (all that hand-washing really cuts into your soap collection) and candles always add a little ambiance. Make your own soap! Get some supplies and a few videos to help you get started. You now have simple gifts for your friends to celebrate their birthdays while you are away.
9. Learn how to apply makeup
Why are makeup tutorials important? so entertaining? Probably because full-face looks seem like a far-off dream—who has money for 32 high-end products and who is going anywhere fancy enough to be glam all of the time? I can’t hate on it too much—everything I’ve learned about makeup I’ve learned from my favorite YouTube beauty icons. I love seeing before and after photos, learning new techniques (e.g., winged eyeliner), and reading product reviews. Some of my favorite beauty bloggers to learn from include Desi Perkins, Carli Bybel, and Jackie Aina. (Be careful, once you watch one, it’s easy to fall down a YouTube beauty tutorial rabbit hole—which might not be the worst thing in the world at this point.)
10. Learn how to code
OK, so you don’t want to focus on being as productive as possible while you’re staying home more, but hear us out: coding is a real transferable skill that can mean big things for your career, whether you’re hoping to make a job switch or you’re just interested in broadening your knowledge base for down the road. There are tons of online courses that can teach you to code from your couch, meaning that by the time you’re ready to head back into the office, you’ll have a brand-new skill to bring with you.
11. Take care of your plants
If you’ve acquired more plants in the past couple of years, then you likely already know that plants need to be cared for regularly. But if you’ve already seen the demise of at least one, you may wonder if you really have what it takes to grow your plant collection. Until you feel more at ease, choose easy-to-care for plants. Learn more about a plant that is new to you. Do they need lots of light? Do you need to use less water? A set temperature or humidity level There’s so much to learn, but so many resources to help you become a houseplant pro.
12. Photography is a great hobby
Get rid of your DSLR The swore you were going to use on your trip abroad, and let’s get to learning! If you’re using your DSLR on “auto” mode, you’re doing it wrong. Even though your pictures might turn out OK, you’re probably not using your camera to its fullest potential.
Regardless of whether you have a DSLR or not, understanding the basics of photography will help you improve your skills and take better photos in the future. Watching YouTube videos to learn about photography basics (aperture, exposure, shutter speed, and ISO), tips/tricks, and mistakes to avoid can help you understand the camera you already have or inspire you to invest in one. If you want to take great photographs, read this article by Henry Carroll has great reviews on Amazon and is another great place to start!
13. Learn a new style for your hair
If you tend to wear your hair the same way most days because of a lack of time to do anything you’re not quite as familiar with, now is the time to branch out and learn something new. You can find tutorials on YouTube and Instagram. Gather any tools or supplies that you might need, and give it your best shot. Practice makes perfect, after all.
14. Practice journaling
If you’re not already journaling, now would be an ideal time to begin. Writing about the day’s happenings or whatever is weighing on your heart can be therapeutic, but the art of journaling doesn’t end there. I was bored writing about myself last year so I discovered some great websites for prompts for journaling to help me tap into new parts of my brain. Grab your favorite pen (I’m obsessed with these ones) and a notebook, and you’re set.
15. Prioritize your financial health
Financial planning should always be at the top of our list of things to do but let’s be honest: when life is hectic, many of us (myself included) put finances on the back-burner. There’s no better time than the present to take control of your money. Dealing with finances is no easy feat, but you’re not alone! Here are some good places to start. You can check out our finance archives or get one of these TEG approved financial help books.
16. Make a vision board
A vision board is a great way to get creative and set your sights on the future. It can be useful to have a visual tool to remind yourself of who you are, where your goals are, and what you’re working towards. All you need is a canvas/poster board, a printer, some magazines, glue, scissors, and markers and you’ll be visualizing your dreams in no time. Bonus points if you FaceTime a friend and pop some champagne while doing it—friends that set goals together stay together, am I right?
17. Give your furniture a makeover
You could update the coffee table in your living area. Depending on what you want to do (and what the furniture currently looks like), you’ll need sanding and scraping supplies, some plastic sheeting (to work on), and some new paint. In no time, transform the entire look of your space.
18. Foster an animal
Fostering animals can be a great way to spend your time. Reach out to your local shelter to learn how you can help furry friends in dire need. Not only may it result in a cuteness overload, cuddles, And kisses, but it’ll help prepare the animal for future adoption andFree up space in the shelter and allow the shelter to take in new animals. Get some puppy (or kitty) lovin’ without the long-term commitment, and thank me later.
19. TBR piles can be tackled
You might be tempted to take the time to read through your stack of books. You may not be able to jet off on a beach vacation this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get some quality reading time in.
20. Learn a new language
I downloaded Duolingo last year to brush up on my Spanish (really wish I would have paid better attention during my high school language course), and it’s one of my favorite pastimes. It’s great for beginners, portable, and free, which is always a plus. Download it with a friend so that you can practice together over FaceTime, check out these additional tips, and when you’re ready to travel again, book a trip overseas so that you can “refine the language.”
Source: The Every Girl
