Fall is the season of change for a reason. Just as the temperature begins to drop, the leaves transition from green to orange, red, or yellow and fall from their homes on tree branches. Fall also serves as a transitional period in society.
Major holidays wait at the end of fall and into winter, and it feels like you’re always on a countdown to get everything sorted before you spiral into holiday after holiday at the end of the year. During a time of stress for your family, you need to rely on hobbies to unwind. And if you don’t have any hobbies, you can always find time to make room for a new one.
5 Hobbies to Keep You Creative
Creativity is crucial. Without a creative outlet, you might find yourself not expressing your emotions as much as you should. Artistic endeavors help you feel productive and create something out of nothing.
1. Take Photos
With the scenery changing, the outdoors would make for lovely photos. You could even set up a time-lapse image to see how the colors outside your home change in real-time. Whether you use a digital camera or your phone, you’re sure to treasure the photos you take this year while improving your eye for photography.
2. Participate in NaNoWriMo
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) takes place every November, and its aim is for participants to write a novel in 30 days. Writing 50,000 words over one month sounds like a lot, but people have been participating for years.
In 2018, around 450,000 people attempted to write a novel during the month. NaNoWriMo is a social site based around your location — so you’re never alone in your endeavors.
3. Craft Your Own Jewelry
What better statement piece is there than jewelry you crafted yourself? Even if you can’t get the technique down quickly, every piece is your own creation. Once you have the standard shape and baking time down, you can use small tools like needles to craft your jewelry further and poke holes and draw designs.
4. Sew Your Costumes
With Halloween just around the corner, you might find it an exciting challenge to sew your family’s costumes. If you don’t know how to sew, it could be the perfect opportunity to learn so you know how to mend and tailor clothes in the future. You’re creating something fun while learning something!
5. Carve Pumpkins
Make a point to carve a pumpkin as a family every week leading up to Halloween. Then, you can decorate your doorstep with the creative pumpkins that you and your family made together. You can use stencils to trace your design or completely freehand it and end up with a unique pattern.
5 Hobbies to Keep You Smart
While tackling your creativity, you should also refresh your mind by challenging it to learn new things. You can then transfer that knowledge to your family and keep them learning outside of school and the workplace.
1. Try New Recipes
Every week, switch up your menu and try a fall-themed recipe. For example, you could bake stuffed peppers and cut faces into them to make them look like jack-o-lanterns. New recipes will be sure to delight your family and teach you something new about their likes and dislikes.
2. Learn a Language
You’ll find several apps dedicated to teaching you a new language. You could practice something brand-new or try to recall your previous language skills from high school. Remember, regular practice is key to learning any language. Cramming it in all at once won’t help you learn anything new — language is a skill built over time.
3. Listen to Music
You might usually listen to music while doing tasks, but take a moment out of your day to sit down without any distractions and truly listen to an album you’ve meant to check out. You might learn something new from a perspective or about a topic you’ve never thought of before.
4. Join a Book Club
A local book club holds you accountable for reading more. If you have a goal of reading books by the end of the year, a book club could be just what you need to light a fire under you. You could also obtain a library card to save money on all the books you plan to read.
5. Take Free Courses
If you’ve been looking for something to boost your resume at low or no cost, finding courses online that are free can satisfy you. Some of these classes may have certifications attached, which can help your resume stand out from others, particularly if you’re thinking of transitioning to another field.
5 Hobbies to Keep You Active
While your hobbies for creativity and intelligence might require more attention, getting active allows you to improve your physical health while giving your brain a much-needed break.
1. Hike a New Trail
Be aware of how much your body can handle. Hiking a new trail can prove challenging and give you a sense of accomplishment once complete. Your family can find routes together and explore them. Remember to take photos of all the exciting things you see!
2. Volunteer at an Animal Shelter
Animal shelters are always in need of dog walkers. You can take energetic dogs out to play and get great exercise while socializing the dogs with humans. You also get to play with dogs of all sizes and personalities, which may even lead to bringing home a new family member.
3. Go on Ghost Tours
If your city is historic, it likely offers ghost tours. These tours are often walking tours, which means you’ll learn more about your hometown while getting in your steps for the day. If the tour is child-friendly, you can have fun listening to spooky ghost stories close to Halloween with the whole family.
4. Jumping in Leaves
Whenever you rake your yard, you should make a habit of jumping in the leaves with your children. This time allows you to bond with your kiddos and have a little fun before resuming your chores. Everyone needs a break from work, after all!
5. Train for a Marathon
Organized walks and runs require effort and training. They aren’t events you can show up to and expect to do well without practice. Practice for these physical events every day, and it becomes a habit — and participating in these local events can become a hobby.
Have a Fulfilling Fall
By cultivating new hobbies, you’ll teach yourself new things and push yourself out of your comfort zone. These fall hobbies can keep you busy and remind you of how important it is to take care of yourself and your family during busy seasons. Take time for your loved ones in the chaos of the fall holidays.
NANCY says
Great hobby ideas. Thanks for sharing.