Image from Mai Izumitani
Ever reminisce the days when we head to after-school activities— from sports clubs to art, or maybe when we, maybe by our guardians' hands, were enrolled into dance and music classes by our parents? It might have been a little forced then, but we can't but admit that we miss being able to have time to explore these fields.
Springing into today, it might be the missing piece we've been yearning for quite some time. Without the pressure from big recitals or having to be graded, exploring hobbies is one where no one is 'too old or too young' to enjoy. While hobbies may seem synonymous to pastimes— it is proven to have benefits that reach beyond filling our free time. According to Yoshitaka Iwasaki in a study about the effects of having hobbies for our mental health, engaging in activities during our leisure grounds us with our identity, "promotes connection," and helps us practice our freedom. While not necessarily an aim when we discover hobbies, the benefit we may get from engaging in hobbies is the sense of competency in skills we otherwise wouldn't think of gaining. It's proven to reduce stress, a way to delight ourselves.
It's no question then how this could be what we might lack in our weekly routines. Being on a roll with progress makes us believe that hobbies are for the idle. In reality, we should find ways to incorporate them regularly, even if we do them little by little. The key? Consistency. Here's where we think you could start, based on what kind of Woman in Progress you most relate to:
The Kick-Starters
Learning a new language
Image from Lindsey Holland
Learning a new language teaches you more than new words and ways to communicate. When you enter new territory with a foreign tongue, you practice the essential skill of finding which methods you find more effective in helping you sharpen your skills. It might surprise you that you learn more with a book or that maybe you need to be fully immersed in movies and music. This simple act of finding which one helps you the most helps as you start striking off the goals you set out to do.
How to start:
Try out different methods— you can download apps like Duolingo or Memrise (whichever works best with you) and immerse yourself in foreign films and music
Simplifying your life
Image from Simply Skin
Kick-starters might tend to load up on creating different steps with the excitement of getting their lives forward unto something better. In reality, getting down to your priorities and identifying just the necessary ways to get there might be the way to go. By learning how to simplify certain aspects of your life, like your daily routines, you practice objectivity and practicality— giving you more time and saving you energy to pursue other parts of your life you want to become better at.
How to start:
Starting a simple, easy, effective skincare habit that doesn't compromise progress you could see and feel
The Explorers
Ceramic making
Image from Marlies Huybs
Explorers shine the most when given a chance to step into somthing new— and that goes for hobbies as well. Ceramic making has been a hobby we've been seeing more often these days for a good reason. This tactile activity gives you just enough room to get crafty while also tapping into your senses, giving you a moment of stillness and focus even when your hands are at work.
How to start:
Try out a clay kit or get into online pottery classes if you've been prepping to try it out for a while.
Tufting
Image from Brightly Studios
An even more unique way to refresh your senses through creativity is through this up-and-coming hobby. Start waking those creative juices from planning what you want to do to the actual process of tufting. This activity yields whatever you set your heart into creating, giving you a fun plush rug (big or small, of course) of your liking. The overall process lets you appreciate how each step is essential to create something you'd feel proud to own.
How to start:
Read up on tufting and see which method you prefer. You can do it by hand, then get into buying a tufting gun if you find it's something you enjoy.
The Goal-Getters
Reading (or listening to) books
Image from We Heart It
This classic hobby is more relevant now than ever as goal-getters might find themselves at home more often these days. With such a wide variety of books around, you're sure to find one that'll help you as you move towards your goals. Maybe it's through learning new techniques through help books or getting your thoughts going with works of fiction. Either way, this activity is never short of things to give; a good fit for goal-getters who love learning as they go through their journey.
How to start:
Pick a genre you enjoy the most. Pick a preference: your next read on paper, e-book, or an audiobook for a hobby well-suited to you.
Movement
For the goal-getter, discovering movement might be the activity that lets you tap not only your physical capabilities but the deeper aspects of your life as well. Discovering a passion for movement and flow gives you a lot of freedom to express yourself in ways you didn't think it would. Your movement doesn't have to be challenging a hundred percent of the time—it simply has to encourage you to get you up on your feet and give you moments that make you proud to keep moving.
How to start:
Getting up in the morning and taking a quick stroll near your house (or even inside!)
The Forward-Thinkers
Organizing
Image from Gabriela Palatchi
Organizing comes in different forms, and this is how you might discover your next newfound hobby. From moving furniture around so you could get the best light to hit you as you wake up from the morning to decluttering your mind through bullet journals— this hobby gives you room to reassess and see what you need to make your life even better; one of the best hobbies for the forward-thinker.
How to start:
Start within! Pick up your nearest pen and paper, list down things in your life (material or intangible) that you feel no longer helps you in your journey, and start to see what you can do in their stead.
Plant-keeping
Image from Jo-Anie Charland
Plant-keeping has been all the rage now that most people may have found themselves at home more often, and for a good reason. Aside from the aesthetic value of keeping plants around your space, taking good care of plants foster the act of mindfulness. Each plant you take under your wing has its own needs, and it's a riveting way to unwind and connect to nature as you get to know them at home.
How to start:
If you feel you don't have a green thumb (don't worry, you could grow into it,) start with herbs. Not only are they easy to grow, you could use them in your next dish, too!
Contrary to what we thought, being the best at a hobby or being able to make money out of it isn't at all a priority when pursuing something new. These are bonuses, and none that could compare to what we get for doing things we enjoy. Which one would you recommend to a Woman in Progress®️?
Thumbnail from Lolita by Lolita and Mai Izumitani