As a teenager, I had plenty of hobbies. I used to take art and dance lessons, I used to write in my school’s newspaper and take photos – like real ones, not just selfies! 10 years later, I’m still wondering how I managed to study for school and my A’ Levels and stiiiill make time to enjoy what I liked doing the most.
Growing up, I realised that 24 hours aren’t enough to tick all the boxes on my “daily to-do list” and I have absolutely no time for hobbies. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not being grumpy; I know that the “adult package” comes along with having a daily, boring routine, but it literally kills me. I mean, I’m 25 and I start yawning by 22:00 every night!
I’ve been thinking about my dull routine quite a lot lately, and I’ve come to realise that I need a hobby– apart from drinking. I know that choosing a hobby sounds easy but trust me, it’s not! I get bored very easily, and I don’t want to just drop it a week later. I need a hobby that will keep me interested for a long time. (Jeeez, I feel exhausted already)
I Googled, I asked my friends, I even asked my mum (big mistake), and I ended up with a list of the most important questions you should ask yourself before choosing THE hobby for you!
So,
- What was your favourite activity as a child?
Kids are brutally honest when it comes to what they love or hate, so if you enjoyed doing something as a child, I promise you weren’t faking it! Having said that, I suggest looking for adult versions of what you loved doing as a child. Of course, you are not a child anymore, but your passion and excitement for certain things might have remained the same through the years, so why not give it a shot? It’s possible there’s still some spark there! For example, if you loved riding a bike when you were a child, maybe you should try getting an adult bike to explore new places (apart from your neighborhood this time). 
If you loved to paint or draw, you could go to art lessons, or just buy some paint and canvas and express yourself in your own time! Sounds fun, right?
- Do you have any old hobbies that you loved and you’ve forgotten about?
Sometimes we know what particular activity would make us feel excited and happy but we don’t let it become a running activity in our lives. That’s why we often take up a hobby that we love but drop it a month, or year later because our routine gets in the way. Look around your house and see if there are any hobbies that you completely forgot about; look for any items that will remind you of any hobbies that you once started but never completed. It could be a French book that will remind you of that language you started learning but your job got in the way and suddenly you didn’t have enough time to go to your lessons, or your professional camera which will remind you of your passion for photography. I know this takes you down memory lane but sometimes you have to pick up where you left off because you might have already found your hobby but let your routine get in the way!
- Is there anything you want to change about yourself?
If you truly know yourself, you should be aware of the things that need improving, because let’s face it, there’s always room for improvement! I, for example, know that I’m always stressed, totally impatient and in desperate need for some cardio! Having this in mind, my hobby must allow me to blow off steam, yet relax me at the same time. – I still haven’t decided if I have to join a Yoga class, take some Boxing lessons or just keep on drinking!
The activities that you’ll choose to become a part of your daily routine should be for your benefit, so you might as well manage to kill two birds with one stone!
Hobbies bring a sense of fun and freedom to life and they force us to take a break from our stressful routine. All we need to do is to make some time for ourselves and enjoy them!☺
xoxo,
Andrea
