It has been two and a half year now since WHO announced the World Pandemic due to COVID 19 virus.
Since then it was a roller-coaster rides for most of the population. Not knowing what to expect for the coming days.
The world seems to stop it's body clock. Many countries declared lockdown. The world that used to be so busy suddenly stop. It was like a waiting game.
Families stay at home. Later on only the essentials workers category were allowed to go out of home.
Two to three weeks at home seems to be good at first. Families started to have enough time with each other. But with the statistics going up it becomes alarming in most countries, some declared continuous lockdown in some areas.
This situation on the other hand, begins to affect the population's mental health status.
Good thing there are hobbies that gives ideas to others how they can cope up with home boredom and prevent mental stress.
So here are the Top 10 Hobbies that sprung out during the quarantine periods and in which you may also tried on your own. These hobbies will at least help keeps your sanity from the negativities that comes with pandemic. This will also unlock self creativities which you never know you had.
1. Gardening or Landscaping
Gardening is a great pastime that allows you to interact with nature. Nature as we all know is a good way to divert oneself from mental stress.
Many has also proven that even with little space at home growing plants will never be a problem. Some prefer ornaments while others grow herbs. That is depending to your choice. But because gardening becomes one of the favorite pastime this quarantine, prices for varieties of plants has also started to skyrocket for the past few months. The word "Plantitos and Plantitos" becomes a household word for many.
Gardening also helps us unconsciously care for our mother earth. It follows that cultivating the soil and tending the plants gives us a first hand look of the importance of taking care of our environment and nature.
2. DIY Home Improvements
Since this quarantine gives a lot of time for us to stay at home, it is also a good opportunity for us to look at the four corners of our home. Think of what else we can do to make home improvements without really hurting our budget. And this is where DIY comes into the scene.
It is a good a thing that we can get inspirations from Pinterest and the locally-inspired Home Buddies and other social media sites to help us achieve the type of house we want for our home.
And since it looks like we will be spending more of our time at home for the next several years with some still in work from home and online class, making our home comfortable for us is one thing that needs to be prioritize.
You will be amazed that comes with a little effort you may be able to create things you do not expect you can do before.
3. Cooking and Baking
I have noticed that since the pandemic begins people started to put interest in cooking and baking. Maybe because it is better to prepare food at home for safety purposes. Also staying most at home means increase in family member's eating habit.
It is also a good opportunity for families to bond together. With cakes, cookies and desserts who will resists!
You can also start improving your cooking skills to serve your family with delectable recipes. Thanks to YouTube with the availability of videos from ordinary people to top-chefs uploading and sharing their cooking expertise.
4. Painting and Drawing
If you have a knock for painting or drawing these will be a great opportunity for you to enhance your God-given skill. Since painting and drawing requires a lot of time spent then this is the right time to pursue your talent. Not only does it gives you the chance to improve your skills but also can be a good source of income while you are at home through commissioning.
5. Watching Movies in Netflix
Since we are deprive to this day of going to movie houses, watching movies in Netflix is a welcome relief.
It is a good family bonding that allows you to go through movie marathons. Make movie reviews with the whole family.
It is also cost saver compare to watching in movie houses.
Others who can afford it and had spaces in their home even converted a part of their house for a movie room. Others are even creative in setting-up movie area in their lanai room.
6. Reading Books of Interest
This applies well for all book-worm peeps out there. You have plenty of opportunities to sit down and indulge in your favorite book or even write your own coffee table book.
Reading books improves your brain connectivity. Increases your vocabulary and comprehension. It also helps reduce stress and fights depression.
I suggest to read more of inspirational books that will aid us in combatting depression caused by the pandemic.
7. Art of Crochet
Crochet is a handicraft in which yarn is made up into a patterned fabric by looping yarn with a hooked needle.
From crochet one can create different patterns such as coasters, amigurumi, cardigans, halter tops, wallets, bags, plant hangers and so on.
It's a good hobby that can divert your attention to negative things and have fun from your designs.
Do grab your hooked needles and start creating unique designs of your own.
8. Engaging with Social Media Apps
One of the most popular activities since the quarantine period. Engaging with social media apps like facebook, twitter, instagram and tiktok gives us opportunities to interact with others outside our home.
This apps brings us virtually to different places, meeting virtual friends, engaging with different people around the world and connecting with old acquaintances by just a click of your phones without leaving the comfort of your home.
Now that travels are very limited, seeing different places in a day is no longer new. Posts and uploads from netizens give us access to this different places.
Keeping yourself fit today is one of the most important thing we had to keep in mind. For keeping fit helps reduce chances of acquiring the virus or at least prevent us from having severe condition once we get positive of the virus.
Exercise improve our health conditions not only physically but also emotionally. It's a good way to control your weight and reduce the risk of acquiring diseases. It also improve your mental health and mood.
Though we get great inspirations doing work-outs in gyms with your gym buddies exercising at home can also help.
Encourage all members of the family to become work-out buddies seems a good idea. You can set-up a corner of your home as your work-out area. Place your yoga mat, use alternative gym equipments you can find at home. It can be a can soup as substitute for dumbells, backpack as a weighted vest, sandbag as medicine ball and so on and so forth.
10. Blogging or Website Creation
Last but not the least is blogging and website creation.
Blogging refers to writing, photography and other media that self-published online.
It is a hobby that allows your mind creativity in writing and also website designing. Not only does it enhance your writing skills but also improve your technical skills in website designing.
Blogging started as an opportunity for individuals to write diary-style entries or online journal where people can share information with other readers on any topic. But it has since become a good opportunity to earn money as more companies started incorporating websites for their businesses.
If you enjoy writing and interested in web designing then I suggest you try blogging as a hobby. There are several blogging platforms that offers it for free. Some of the most notable are Blogspot which what I am using right now and WordPress. These platforms are user-friendly that gives you an step-by-step guide in creating your own websites.
Mentioned above, are just some of the activities that can keep us busy this quarantine period. There are a lot more to do. Just remember, go for the activities you are interested with and you think will help you overcome your stress and anxieties brought about by the pandemic. You will realize later that there is no such thing as wasted time.
So start listing now what you think best suits your personality.
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Happy reading!
