We've all experienced what a lockdown feels like- endless days of doing nothing. Initially, it was pretty fun and relaxing; being able to do nothing without the guilt usually accompanied by it is another kind of bliss. But, after a while, and after you've binged The Office three times from beginning to end and you start to see life passing you by, it may begin to feel like the walls are closing in on you. A lot of people also started working from home, which means that, along with basically anything being able to be delivered to your doorstep, you literally have no reason to step out of your home, which in many ways isn't healthy. Recent studies have shown a significant rise in the depression under people since the start of the pandemic, partially due to financial issues and also because of a lack of interaction with the outside world. Now might be a good time to try something new while you have all the time in the world - that said, here are five hobbies you can give a go while stuck at home.
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Photography
If you have a camera, this may be something that will tickle your interest and give you something to work towards. Granted, you're at home with nowhere to go, but there is plenty of beauty around you to capture if you just stopped for a second and looked closely. Photography is a fantastic way to freeze a moment in time and show the world your perspective on life. Whether you're taking pictures of the mini-ecosystem in your garden outside, other family members living with you, or even a bowl of fruit on the table, you can express yourself perfectly through a lens. There are plenty of online photography courses you can take to sharpen your knowledge and skills if you want to take it more seriously or even just excel at your hobby while you have the chance - the point is to pick your camera up and unlock a whole new world you never knew existed. Who knows, you might just start to see beauty in things you never even thought to look twice at.
Cooking
This is something that can make a lockdown feel like a holiday every day. Never fancied yourself a cook? How about making a change and discovering a whole new side to yourself you never knew? Cooking is relatively easy; the key is to know which flavor combinations work well with each other. Start by picking your favorite meals to eat and perfecting them one by one. Afterward, you may want to start experimenting with ingredients you've never tried before. Buy a cookbook online, or follow a cooking page on social media and see where it leads you; maybe you have a hidden chef tucked away inside you! If cooking's not your thing, try baking - how great wouldn't it be to always have a freshly baked batch of cookies in the house? Knowing how to cook is a skill that will never be anything but advantageous to you, and you'll always feel prepared when having guests over for dinner.
Music
Are you one of the people who grew up with an instrument in the house but never got around to learning how to play it? Or maybe there's an instrument you've always wanted to be able to play, but you just never had the time to learn it? Now's your chance! Whether you're considering piano, the guitar, or the flute, there are tons of tutorials online that can turn you into a modern-day Mozart in no time. Just think how fast the time will pass if you're able to chill on the couch and jam away on your guitar while learning your favorite songs. Also, if you want to go the extra mile, consider fine-tuning those vocal cords and learning to sing - you'll be a killer combination with your instrument and angelic voice and be able to entertain yourself for hours. If this is something you're keen on attempting, try some singing lessons to learn the basics and wow everyone with your musical abilities.
Writing
It may sound like effort at first, but jotting down your innermost thoughts and feeling may not only be therapeutic in a way but also fun, seeing as you'll be able to look back on what you wrote years from now and remember the crazy time you lived through a pandemic. Putting Covid-19 aside, try writing about anything that comes to mind; poems, short stories, what you did throughout the day, and how you felt when past things happened in your life. You would be amazed at what it does to your mind's way of processing when putting everything down on paper, and the best part about it is that it might even be good writing! By attempting this new hobby, you might notice a nack you never knew you had. You may even consider remotely writing for an online magazine or blog, which can open a whole host of doors for you professionally.
Art
Almost everyone doodles something on a piece of paper when lost in thought or while on the phone, so why not take it to the next level and actually put some effort into it? You can try drawing, sketching, painting, whatever your heart desires - the best thing about it is the second you've finished, it's already art, and there's never been anything like it before. If you feel like you need some guidelines at first, try researching some handy beginner's tricks to get the ball rolling and see where it leads; before you know it, your entire house will be hanging full of beautiful, one-of-a-kind art.
All of the above are hobbies you can start with immediately and are sure-fire time-passers at the least. The best thing about a hobby is that it is personal and can be the one thing you resort to when needing some alone time even long after the pandemic has passed. So start somewhere, try them all if you want to; you might just discover a hidden passion you never knew you had.
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