Finding Joy in the Little Things: New Hobbies to Bring You Peace
After the wake of my father’s cancer diagnosis, all the things I used to be upset about seemed to be so trivial. Life seemed to be such a fleeting thing that I was trying to hold onto and trying to find the joy in the activities I used to enjoy seemed nearly impossible.
But even in the midst of a pandemic, after the news of my father, the stress of moving away from my childhood home and the start of school, happiness still persists. Even in little moments, whether it’s laughing with a friend or at a Tik Tok, humans still are able to find joy even when it seems impossible.
Life hasn’t been kind to many of us, especially after the pandemic swept through globally and still persists almost two years later. But true to human nature, we aren’t meant to be isolated or suffering. So no matter your situation, here are some activities and new hobbies meant to help bring you some relief and distraction.
New Books to Check Out
Reading allows for an escape to another reality and can serve as a welcome and healthy distraction. Below are two choices of two different genres from well-known authors.
Six of Crows Series by Leigh Bardugo: A fast-paced thriller set in a high fantasy city called Ketterdam. The series follows six members of a thieving crew and their journey to pull off a deadly heist with incredible rewards but even far bigger consequences. If you’re looking for a fun and easy read to pull you into a captivating adventure with great character arcs, look no further than any of Bardugo’s works. Also check out the new Netflix original series, Shadow and Bone, which is based off of another of Bardugo’s series.
Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney: Brought to you by the same author as “Normal People,” which is also a featured Hulu Original series, “Conversations with Friends” focuses on Frances, a 21 year old college students navigating her intertwining relationships with three people that force her to face her own vulnerabilities. Rooney is noted for her sharp and cerebral writing. If you are interested in fiction and TV adaptations as well, Rooney’s writing is quick and sharp-witted meant to enthrall you.
TV Series & Movies
There truly is no better way to relax rather than to catch up on some television, whether it’s a new series on Netflix or a new movie to stream. Below are some ideas on
Love : An accurate portrayal of modern romance, Love follows good-natured Gus and rebellious Mickey and the ups and downs of their relationship. If you’re looking for a genuinely funny and yet heartwarming series on love, then Judd Apatow’s rom-com is a great hit.
Dark: A more adult and sinister version of Stranger Things, Dark uncovers the mysterious past of a small town in Germany when two kids go missing. Filled with twists and turns, this drama series explores the intricacies of intertwined relationships and a town shrouded in mystery.
Haunting of Hill House : If you’re into a suspenseful thriller and borderline scary show, definitely consider Haunting of Hill House and its following drama, Haunting of Bly Manor.
Start a new movie series if you haven’t already! There are over twenty Marvel movies to enjoy, each captivating and enjoyable in their own ways. Lord of the Rings is a great way to sit down and dedicate a whole day to binging.
Working Out Doesn’t Have to be as Scary as it Seems
Working out at a gym is intimidating for many. Due to my classes and job, I don’t necessarily feel safe walking back at night from the gym. For that reason, I stick to home videos and working out in the safety of my room. While it is a different experience, and depending on what your goal is, working out from home can be just as fulfilling and a healthy release from daily living. Below are some Youtube channels and fitness instructors I get my inspiration and strength from.
MadFit: Maddie Lymburner is a Canadian fitness blogger that posts a variety of fitness videos to her Youtube, such as cardio, ab, strength training, and fun dance HITT videos. Her guided instructions are helpful and designed to make you get the most out of working out whatever part of your body you are focusing on. Get ready to sweat!
Sydney Cummings: An NASM certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Nutrition Specialist, Cummings has plenty of experience and videos designed to make you sweat and strengthen your body. Videos are usually longer and more in depth and run up to 50 minutes long. She even has a variety of stretching videos in case you need some pain relief in a specific area and to loosen you up for the rest of the day.
Yoga With Adriene: Her high quality free yoga videos are designed to help you find inner peace and strength to conquer your day. She provides a variety of different programs, some to be done for 30 days, and other specific individual ones to give you a quick yoga session before you start your day.
Journaling Inspiration!
One of my favorite activities to do when life gets a bit overwhelming is to grab my journal and pen and let my thoughts flow. Journals don’t have to be a perfect representation of your best thoughts, writing, or art. It’s taken me some time to learn, but journals can be a fun scrapbook for you to look back at or be a great outlet for you. Below are some planners, pens, and inspo to follow depending on what kind of journaling you would be interested in.
Types of journaling:
Diary: If you’re looking for a way to jot down your thoughts and a way to organize your thoughts, journaling can be a great way to release all your emotions on paper and be able to see them in front of you.
Bullet journaling: Are you looking to become more organized and keep on track of your goals? Bullet journaling is a great way to organize your habits and hobbies and have your goals clearly laid out in front of you.
Scrapbooking: This is a fun way to start collecting the old receipts, movie tickets, doodles, and all the little fun scraps that come your way and put them all in one place. This can be a fun way to look back at a year and see all the things you did, accomplished, and all the joy you felt. This is also a creative way to let loose and let your creativity and artistic side take over.
Journals: Now, there’s a whole process one has to go through to determine which kind of journal is best suited for you and what you hope to gain from it. First, it’s important to choose from lined, blank, dotted, or quadrille-ruled.
In any case, below are some reputable brands to find your perfect journal.
Moleskine: You can never go wrong with the original. They are known for their variety of uses whether that’s art, journaling, or bullet journaling, Moleskin will never let you down. They are known best for their durability and trustworthiness to make sure your journaling is done well.
LEUCHTTURM1917: This brand is considered best for bullet journals due to how sturdy it is and its dotted lines. Consumers enjoy how the pages are the perfect thickness - they are neither too thick in which you can’t see the marker from the previous page nor do they bleed through.
Midori: This Japanese brand is known for their variety of products to help with all your journaling needs. Their notebooks, pens, and desk office supplies are all high quality known for their simplicity. Their notebooks are designed to give your pens a smooth glide without the bleeding through to the next page and flimsiness of regular printer paper.
Other!
Sometimes it can be hard to pick up a new activity and stick to it, especially if life is throwing you an unfair hand at the moment. That’s okay! Below are some links to some fun books and games designed to help you try something new each day.
Tinker Dabble Doodle Try: If you’re interested in learning more about harnessing your brain to become more productive during its wandering moments in the classroom, workplace, or in your daily life, this is a fun book to gain some psychological insight.
Do One Thing Every Day That Makes You Happy: Although designed for younger children, these journals can be a great way to help you take a step back and appreciate what is in your life that makes you happy. These journals allow you to appreciate the small stuff in order to help you with the bigger challenges ahead.
This was only a brief list with even briefer options, and it can be overwhelming to pick up something new when there is so much to be explored. Stay true to your passions and what you have always wanted to try. The internet has a lot of ideas for you to be able to live life more fully. Even when life has dealt you a blow, it’s still important to take some time for yourself to find out the activities and hobbies that are fun or bring you peace. The best thing is that there is no wrong answer, really, so go out and explore who you are and what makes you happy.
