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Hobbies: Creating Positive Experiences At Home Amidst A Pandemic

When we were all initially told to stay home, most of us panicked and were shocked at the notion of being stuck at home. However, some just “winged it” and made the most out of isolation, which was great! They showed that being at home doesn’t have to be so mundane and boring. You can either learn new things or rekindle skills you thought were gone. 

Whether you are starting a new hobby or rekindling old skills, both have benefits that will affect your mental health. Hobbies help you to take some time for yourself. They also help you take a break from your day-to-day stressors. Hobbies provide a way to declutter your mind and to open up your world. Most of all, hobbies keep you in a better physical and mental state. 

Here are some hobbies and activities that we thought you might considering starting while at home with your family:

Home workouts

Here’s something for those fitness enthusiasts out there. I’ve seen this a lot lately on social media, and yes, it’s so good for you and your family’s health. Since your usual gym is closed for the time being, you can start finding ways to exercise and stay in shape at home. Maybe choose Zumba as a starting point. Dancing improves cardiovascular health, balance, and strength. A lot of research shows how dancing can maintain and even boost your cognitive abilities as you age. According to some studies, scientists have found that the areas of the brain that control memory and skills, such as planning and organizing, improve with exercise like dancing.

Gardening

If you’re one of the lucky folks with a back, front, or side yard, then you might as well take advantage of the opportunity to garden. Since the start of the pandemic, a lot of families started growing their own produce. Gardening can help your body fight disease. Your skin uses sunlight to make an essential nutrient: vitamin D. Researchers estimate that a half-hour in the sun can produce between 8,000 and 50,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D in your body, depending on how much your clothes cover and the color of your skin. Vitamin D is essential for hundreds of body functions including strengthening your bones and your immune system. Gardening builds strength, promotes sleep, and helps you maintain a healthy weight. A 2006 study found that gardening could lower the risk of dementia by 36 percent, so gardening can also help maintain your memory as you get older. Most importantly, during these times, gardening can be a calming activity after stressful events. 

Cooking and baking

One of the first cooking trends that went viral in the early days of the stay-at-home order was baking bread. Dry yeast flew off the shelves of grocery stores and, according to USA Today, can still be hard to find. When people get into the kitchen, they are often held back due to factors like lack of experience, trying out new recipes for the first time, and the need for alternative methods or ingredients when what they need isn’t available. So, if you’re a more experienced cook, there’s a huge opportunity for you to help other aspiring at-home chefs. Sharing content that helps answer commonly asked questions online, or suggestions on alternative recipes/ingredients for differing expert levels could potentially be hugely useful resources for consumers during this difficult period.

In general, cooking and baking is fairly relaxing. The process of weighing out butter and sugar, whisking, beating, and folding eggs creates space in the mind, and quells negative thoughts.  The feel of the flour, the sound of the blender, and the delectable smell of the final product all stimulate the senses, which increases feel-good endorphins. 

With families cooped up together, there are bound to be some goofy moments. Why not capture them on your phone for all of the internet to enjoy? If you have teens in the house, you might already be aware that TikTok is the latest social media sensation. Staying home can be fun and healthy at the same time, it’s up to you to make the best of your situation.