7 Hobbies To Take Up During Self Isolation and Lockdown

These hobbies are not only great fun but are also rewarding and you’ll most likely be engaging in them long after COVID is over.

With more people in self-isolation and in lockdown due to COVID-19, it’s never been a better time to take up hobbies. They will help you stay mentally active, bring fun to your life, and make time go so much faster.

If you haven’t already taken up some hobbies, you’ll soon be wondering why you didn’t any sooner.

Studies show that hobbies are good for your overall mental and emotional health.

Im a firm believer that they shouldn't be a luxury and something we just do when we have the time. Rather they should be a much-needed necessity for our lives.

Read this fun short guide below and be inspired to take up a hobby or two.

A Hobby For Every Day

Given you will have more time on your hands, you could even take up one hobby for each day of the week, but if that seems like too much just stick to one or two. Remember they don’t need to cost much money.

In fact, I encourage you to take up hobbies that save you money at this time. These hobbies don’t require you to be outdoors which makes them ideal too.

1. Cooking From the Pantry

Become a MasterChef by using ingredients from your pantry to create healthy and tasty meals. You’d be amazed at what you can come up with using just a few simple ingredients. Who knows you may be making them long after COVID-19 is over. Just look at recipes like chocolate brownies and chocolate chip cookies. FUN FACT: both of these were invented during wartime, but are still being made today.

2. Reading

Whether it’s online or a book, reading offers us an amazing escape into a different world. With so many genres to choose from, you’re never short of inspiration. If you have kids be sure to inspire them to read more than usual at this time. Look at classic kid’s books like the Chronicles of Narnia, Disney stories, and then there are modern classics like Harry Potter. Remember as an adult you can enjoy these too!

3. Arts and Crafts

Many arts and crafts don’t need a lot of material which means less stress about having to source them. If there are materials that need to be sourced consider getting them online. You will find a lot of material lying around your home can be turned into amazing arts and crafts like:

• Suitcase — your own little garden to grow herbs & vegetables
• Clock — a beautiful photo frame
• Buttons — make jewelry & add to other objects around the home
• Tables — turn into works of art using stenciling, paints lying around, etc
• Mirror — Glue artificial flowers, seashells, beads, etc to the edges & instantly transform your mirror into an object of charm.

4. Journaling and Writing

Has there been a better time than now to write and journal? Consider keeping a record of your own COVID-19 experience. Such records will certainly become part of history one day. If you find documenting the situation too dire and distressing then consider writing the novel you've always to, or short story, children’s book, poetry, etc. Unleash your writing creativity and see what you are capable of creating. There is much beauty to be created in times of darkness and uncertainty.

“Embrace uncertainty. Some of the most beautiful chapters of our lives won’t have a title until much later.” Bob Goff

5. Viva La Music

Listen to your favorite music and tune in to bands and musicians from all over the world on platforms like Spotify and YouTube. Many musicians are live-streaming music. If you play an instrument or are in a band, get on board and bring your music to the world. Music is so healing and so needed now. You may want to consider resurrecting your vinyl records or CD collections from the attic too!.

6. Personal Development — Live Your Best Life!

This involves a combination of reading and listening to inspiring podcasts & online talks by personal development teachers. Consider Tony Robbins and Jim Rohn to start out to inspire you and help achieve your goals. Experiment a little and see who you connect with. Don't forget Medium of course with its great range of articles on personal development topics its a great place to source inspiration. With COVID-19, it’s the perfect time to get stuck into personal development and reinvent yourself and create a better version of you. Consider starting your day listening to an inspiring podcast and see what a difference it makes.

7. Online Learning

Online learning is huge right now and will continue to be for a long time to come as it's transforming the way we learn. The classroom is instantly bought to the comfort of your own home. Along with this, you also have so much choice with short courses, webinars, day trainings etc. With hundreds of higher education providers from all over the world, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to learning a subject. Many courses are free too and many are low cost, so you can become an expert on just about any subject. Check out FutureLearn, Udemy, and Harvard University.

So, there you have it — 7 great hobbies that you can easily take up whilst in lockdown and in self-isolation. Of course, experiment with other hobbies to see what works for you.

Ideally, you’ll be doing them long after COVID is over as not only are they great fun and stimulating but they are highly practical too.

Remember hobbies help us gain invaluable life skills, both soft and hard skills needed in work and in life. Just think — creativity, innovation, concentration, new skillset, business skills (many business ideas started as hobbies), etc.

To Creating a Better You,

Sandra Di Francesco

Feel Free to drop me a line at copythewriteway@gmail.com