I have recently found myself with more downtime on my hands and little to do with it. Therefore, I’ve found myself spending more time on my phone, thinking about how I should put it away and do something productive. But every time I put my phone down, I’ve found that I don’t really have anything to do by myself. So I have decided that it is about time to start up a hobby. I believe that having a hobby is a really good way to do something productive that isn’t studying or mindlessly scrolling on social media, and hence it helps widen the mind. If you’re feeling anything like me, I have compiled a list of different hobbies that people around me enjoy doing, so hopefully there is something that intrigues you.
- Reading
Reading is one of the most classical types of hobbies in my opinion. It is something that is very common, but I feel like at some point during my teenage years I just stopped. But now I feel like it should make a comeback. Some of my friends recently had the great idea to start a book club. One of us picks a book for everyone to read, and then about a month later, we get together at someone’s place for dinner and chat about it. This is of course an extra step to take, but if you and your friends all want to get back into reading this is a great way to do it together.
Although, it doesn’t even have to be that complicated to get into reading, just pick up a book from the library here in Lund or buy a book you want to read and get started. Reading is such a simple thing to pick up and it can be done basically anywhere. It can also be basically free depending on how you choose to do it,which is great news for any student.
- Baking
I used to love baking when I lived with my parents. It was something that I would just randomly do whenever I was bored, and was always appreciated by the people I lived with. So that makes me wonder why I ever stopped. It is really a laid back hobby that can be done when you’re bored during an afternoon, and there are endless recipes in different difficulty levels to follow. This one isn’t as easy to bring with you and it might need a bit more planning, but it is great nevertheless. And if you don’t finish the entire batch in one sitting, it is possible to put it in the freezer, and speaking from experience it is very appreciated to bring baked goods to any study session.
- Movement
I recently had a friend tell me that she started taking dance classes again. She used to dance when she was younger but as she got older she, like many of us, stopped. She told me that she hadn’t realized how much she had missed it until she started doing it again. This is actually what inspired me to think about hobbies again. Movement can be such a great hobby, because it is quite different from what many of us do every day, so it’s a really great way to get your mind off studies. It doesn’t have to be anything big like taking up a sport (even though that is a great way too), it can be going to the gym or taking some classes or even just going for a run or walk. Movement can be very customized to your level, and for me, it always leaves me feeling more energized.
- Crafts
One of my coolest friends is someone who has about a million hobbies. He can literally do anything! He sews clothes that he finds at thrift stores to fit him, crochets hats and gloves, plays like three instruments, has everything customized and just seems to always have stuff to do. I aim to be as creative and fun as him. So a great way to do this is to learn to be more crafty. For example; learn how to crochet, knit, sew or paint. These hobbies generally require a bit more skill, so it’s completely reasonable not to start your hobby-journey here. But if you do want to try them, there are great second-hand stores that tend to sell yarn and random stuff that can be used to get started. These hobbies are also great in the sense that a lot of them can be done whilst relaxing, watching a series, which is a win in my book. Plus, you can make really unique things to wear or to decorate your apartment with.
Lastly, I would like to remind you all that there are an infinite amount of hobbies out there just a google search away. These are just some examples that I’ve found people around me enjoying. But who knows, there might be people around you who do totally different things that fit your interests better. And honestly, just try something out. If it doesn’t work, try something else. Maybe your new hobby will be to try out different hobbies?
