Last week we talked about seasonal depression and one of the greatest way to give you some purpose is to start a new hobby. With daylight savings happening just a couple weeks ago, preparing yourself for the dark and cold days ahead is important, so it’s the perfect time to start a hobby. To many people, winter is the best time of year. The snow is beautiful to look at, and there are so many fun activities to do like sledding and ice skating. But for some people, winter is a tough time. The days are shorter, so there is less sunlight. Having a hobby can help with seasonal depression. Seasonal depression is brought about by the change of season, typically starting in the fall and continuing through the winter months.
Try something new or pick up something that you have not done in a while. It can help keep you engaged and less likely to ruminate. For instance, if you are looking to improve your knitting skills, try it. This activity can boost your positive emotions and reduce stress.
One of the best ways to boost your wellbeing is by mastering new skills through hobbies. This can be done regardless of whether or not you choose to pursue a particular hobby. It can help you get into a state of flow and feel like you’re losing yourself in what you’re doing. Although it might not feel like it at first, once you finish a task, you will start to feel better. This will boost your positive emotions and make you feel like you have accomplished something.
Easy hobbies you can start today:
- Puzzles – There are a number of puzzles on Amazon and even on Etsy
- Cooking – Learning new cooking skills are as simple as watching a Youtube video
- Indoor Gardening – Indoor plants are beautiful, can bring life to your space and give you something to care about
- Reading – Join a book club, you can meet new people and read great books
- Fitness Class – Join a fitness class like yoga or pilates
- Painting – 5 Below has cheap art supplies and it is so relaxing
- Video Games – this is one of my favorite hobbies that is actually relaxing to me
