There is no escaping the fact that a lot of us are sleep-walking through many of our days like zombies. Work has become a grind that no longer inspires us quite like it used to and we have taken to falling into the refuge of the online versions of ourselves more and more often. This disconnection from our real self is simply not healthy.
The internet and social media offer us wonderful opportunities to grow and develop every day, but we cannot allow the virtual world to subsume who we really are. I know all of this is to be true because I feel it intensely myself. I think it’s time for us to all wake up a little and get back to who we really are. One of the easiest ways to start this transformation is by taking up some new hobbies.
There are a multitude of interesting new hobbies that you can try out. The following options will resonate with almost everybody. Whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, or simply somebody who feels at a loose end, taking up one of these new hobbies will bring back some creativity to your life.
1. Writing
In my experience this is one of the new hobbies that many people often dream of doing, but for some reason never get around to. Friends who have told me they would love to write leave me perplexed, as surely this is one of the easiest things anybody could do. Perhaps the very process of writing is just such a personal one that some people find it daunting to take on. Others may dream of writing a beautiful poem, or an epic novel, but are blocked from doing so by the sheer fear of not being able to pull it off.
As a writer myself, I can promise you that it is one of the most rewarding and challenging hobbies that you could ever take up. The ability to relay your experiences into words is a wonderful feeling. It helps you better process and understand the world around you.
Writing is unique in that all you need to get started is a pen and some paper. Don’t let anyone ever tell you that you need to know the rules of grammar, or to have read all of the classics, before you have a go at it for yourself. The best writing is always that which is the most honest. Whether you write a diary or a journal just for you, or you’re interested in getting into poetry or fiction, as long as you believe in what you are doing, you simply cannot go wrong.
2. Meditation
Meditation is an interesting and perhaps controversial addition to this list as some would suggest it is not really a hobby. These people may be right, meditation is more than just a hobby, but one of the secrets of meditation is that it is really nothing more than about you learning to be happy and at one with yourself. In the context of why we’re looking for new hobbies in the first place, I believe this fact warrants its place on this list.
For those new to meditation, it can be a practice that can at first feel a little unusual. This is fine, meditation is indeed a little bit unusual, but that is also part of its beauty. You can approach meditation from a certain spiritual perspective and delve into the religion behind it. It is also something that you can just impulsively decide to introduce into your life all of a sudden. Just sitting alone in a quiet place is enough for you to get started. Just this very simple intention of dedicating a tiny part of your day to silence and contemplation can have a huge impact on your life.
3. Flower Arranging
Flower arranging is a great new hobby for the creatively restless. Not only does it allow you to employ your creative talents to make something beautiful, but it also lets you interact with nature at the same time. Most people love plants and flowers anyway, but these are usually one of those things that we often let drift by at the edge of our lives.
Flower arranging might sound like one of those new hobbies that could end up hurting your pocket, but it does not need to be expensive. Over time you will learn more on how to get the most out of your favourite flowers and use them in ways you would have never thought possible before. Not only will flower arranging automatically brighten up your home, it will also help put a spring in your step as this practice is said to be highly therapeutic.
4. Calligraphy
If like me, you have a terrible handwriting, taking calligraphy up as one of your new hobbies could have more practical benefits than just passing time creatively. This may seem like one of the more complicated new hobbies to try your hand at, but it really isn’t all that different from writing. The main difference being that you are going to need to invest in a fancy nib, a nice pot of ink, and some higher quality paper.
Learning calligraphy may also sound a little bit more technical than the more usual hobbies, but a few quick web searches will soon have you directed towards a multitude of really useful instructional blogs and videos.
5. Get Out Into Nature
Okay this one will probably apply mainly to city-dwellers, but it’s amazing just how much a lot of us insist on remaining confined to a very narrow physical space. Home, work, eat, drink, home, repeat. This is probably a pretty accurate picture of the majority, even those that actually live quite close to nature.
Getting out into nature is one of the most healthy new hobbies you can do and I guarantee you that no matter where you live, you will be amazed at just how much amazing nature there is within not much more than an hour’s journey time from your home. Taking advantage of the nature around is not just a physically healthy exercise. The complete disconnect that you feel once you’ve left your town or city behind will really give your emotions a boost and leave you feeling a lot more motivated to take on the week ahead.
Featured photo credit: Moyan Brenn via flickr.com
