I recently went skiing again and realised that I’ve hit a bit of a wall in terms of improvement so if I want to get better, I will have to commit to lessons. This got me thinking – what else do I want to learn? Why have I never really attended any ‘new skill’ lessons before? Little weirdo as a child, clearly – I was too shy to try anything new! So now I have a new lease of life and want to push myself out of my comfort zone by giving a few things a go. I’ve had some ideas that are totally new to me as well as just improving/allocating more time to existing interests.
Unsure what hobbies you may want to try? Here are some tips to get started:
- Identify your interests: Think about the activities you enjoy or have always wanted to try. This can help you narrow down your options and find a hobby that you’re excited about.
- Do some research: Look for resources online, such as tutorials, videos, and blogs, to learn more about your potential new hobby.
- Start small: When you’re first starting out, it’s important to begin with simple projects or activities to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
- Find a community: Joining a group or class can be a great way to learn new skills, get feedback, and connect with others who share your interests.
- Set goals: Setting specific goals can help you stay motivated and track your progress.
- Practice regularly: Consistency is key when it comes to learning a new hobby. Try to practice or work on your hobby regularly and make it a part of your routine.
The most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the learning process. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things, and don’t get discouraged if you don’t master a skill right away (easier said than done on my end really, I’m cray cray)
- Knitting, crocheting or sewing – teach yourself or you could go to classes
- Gardening – potting in your own home or garden or explore the option of an allotment
- Swimming lessons – learn new techniques or just general improvement
- Hiking or camping
- Learning a new language
- Playing board games or card games
- Volunteering for a charitable cause you care about
- Watching foreign films or TV shows to enhance language skills
- Playing video games
- Exploring new places in your area acting like a tourist and discovering hidden gems
- Learning a new skill, such as coding or woodworking.
- Cooking or baking: Try new recipes, experiment with ingredients, and perfect your culinary skills.
- Gardening: Plant flowers, fruits, or vegetables, and learn about different plants and gardening techniques.
- Photography: Take pictures of people, landscapes, and objects, and learn about lighting, composition, and editing.
- Writing: Explore different genres, such as fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and memoir, and develop your writing skills.
- Playing a musical instrument: Learn to play a new instrument or improve your skills on one you already know.
- Yoga or meditation: Practice mindfulness and relaxation techniques to reduce stress and improve your well-being.
- Hiking or camping: Explore nature, enjoy the fresh air and exercise, and learn about different trails and camping gear.
- Painting or drawing: Use different methods such as watercoluor, acrylic, or charcoal, and experiment with different styles and techniques.
- Reading: Discover new authors, genres, and topics, and join a book club or discussion group.
- Learning a new language: Study a foreign language and practice speaking, reading, and writing.
- Collecting: Collect items, such as stamps, coins, or antiques, and learn about their history and value.
- DIY projects: Make your own furniture, clothing, or decorations, and learn about woodworking, sewing, or crafting. Youtube research helps this!
- Dance: Try out different dance styles, such as ballet, salsa, or hip-hop, and improve your coordination and fitness.
- Traveling: Visit new local places on a budget and learn about history, art, and architecture.
- Volunteering locally: Give back to your local community by volunteering at a local shelter, hospital, or school.
- Sports clubs – tennis, badminton, basketball, netball, hockey, cricket, golf, squash – the list goes on! Great for exercise as well as social aspects
- Pole dancing – sounds random but amazing for exercise and very fun!
- Rock Climbing – great exercise and a fun challenge
Adding a little personal touch to the blog here but these are my personal aims:
Skiing: I absolutely love it but I’m not great so I’ve sort of hit a wall in terms of what I can ‘teach myself’ now and need lessons – I get super frustrated with myself when I don’t pick things up right away even though I appreciate I’m not a robot but.. the struggle is real.
Swimming: I have a floating issue.. I cannot float.. I’d stick with the story that its a medical deffieciecny but I’m hoping a few proper swimming lessons will get me on track. I don’t want to be part of the olympics but fearing deep water is quite limiting so I’m going to push my comfort zone and go for it!
Gym: I’m so awful for this I really judge myself! I just don’t enjoy exercise – I so wish I did. I find it odd because I hate sitting still but I just have a mental block. I’m hoping once you get in to the swing of it then its a gym bug.. is that a thing? I hope so.. I really want to get in to Reformer/ regular Pilates as well! Plus Yoga more too as I do enjoy that!
Horse Riding: This one is SUPER random for me. I just decided it one day and I’m running with it. I don’t have any big asks, I just fancy giving it a go a few times ands seeing what happens! The main aim with this one is again to push myself out of my comfort zone and experience new things!
Languages: I have tried this a few times but not stuck to it. I speak the odd French/Spanish words/very short sentences when abroad but I would like to improve. I don’t expect to be fluent at any point but definitely more confidence would be lovely when travelling! Italian would be handy but I’ve never learned that before so I’m trying to stay semi realistic instead of overwhelming myself..
Reading/Podcasts: Both for learning as well as escapism. I have been doing both of these a lot more often over the past 6 months and can massively notice a difference in myself. I find them so beneficial and that’s why I go on about them a lot on my various blogs!
DIY: I absolutely love home renovation as you may have guessed and I do a fair bit myself but I absolutely know I can improve and learn more. That is an ongoing personal challenge that I’m confident I’ll always have a hunger for – unlike some of the others that I’ve mentioned above that I’m just dipping my toe in!
Gardening – I got in to this too late in the year to make the most of it really but I’m hoping to do more this Spring! I absolutely love the idea of vegetable patches and big greenhouse one day! Soul cleansing stuff
Writing – I’ve mentioned before that I had a blog years ago with random ramblings on.. I guess I’ve always loved writing although will be first to admit I’m not the best at it!
Learning – I absolutely love learning and subscribe to newsletters, follow instagram pages and seek books/podcasts that will teach me about different topics but primarily health/nutrition and investing. I really hope to continue learning more about the stock market, Crypto, NFT’s and so on in terms of investments. Additionally health related content is always relevant because want to be healthy and happy as much as I can possibly help myself be! Even if you don’t always practice what you preach, it’s definitely better to know what is healthy for you.
Sewing – When I was younger it was my absolute dream to be a fashion designer. I still have all the sketches I used to draw and found it really heart warming when I recently found a bundle! I actually went to sewing lessons maybe 5 years ago but didn’t stick to it (very classic behaviour from me!) I don’t LOVE it anymore but it’s definitely something I’d like to try and do a bit more. I used to alter my own clothes years ago but I’m so out of it now! I made some of the cushions we have so things like that are super handy to be able to do!
Cooking/Baking – I absolutely love cooking but I’m not in to baking at all! So I’m going to try and do a little more and see how I get on – starting easy with brownies etc.
Has this blog given you any ideas? What hobbies do you do that you really enjoy? Have I missed anything off that you like doing or want to try?
If you think you could help me in any way with my personal challenges or give any recommendations of places/content/ knowledge in any way I would love to hear from you!
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