Finding new hobbies during COVID-19
Leisure time can seem like a luxury for many adults. While it can seem like there’s little time in the day to do more than tend to responsibilities at work and at home, people may have more time to pursue leisure activities than they realize.
In its 2018 Statistics Canada Time Use Survey, the share of Canadians aged 15 and older who used the Internet was 91 per cent, with more seniors reporting Internet use (71 per cent). Results from the previous survey cycle indicated that 83 per cent of Canadians had used the Internet in 2012, with the proportion of seniors online at 48 per cent.
Leisure time seems part and parcel of daily life in Canada, where the average person age 15 and over spent roughly one hour per day engaging in active leisure, which includes activities like drawing, playing an instrument and dancing, and more than two hours per day on passive leisure, such as watching television or reading books.
How people spend their leisure time might affect their perceptions about that time. For example, few people may consider watching television an ‘activity,’ though the Canadian Time Use Survey found that watching TV occupied more leisure time, nearly three hours per day, than any other leisure activity. Finding new hobbies that encourage active participation can make leisure time more memorable.
THINK BACK TO YOUR CHILDHOOD.
Hobbies you once enjoyed as a child may have long since been forgotten, but it can be fun to reimmerse yourself in such interests. Adults who loved to play sports as a child can no doubt find adult leagues in their area, while once budding artists might want to dust off their easels and paint.
REINVENT SOMETHING YOU’RE ALREADY DOING.
Another way to find a new hobby is to consider the things you already do and see if there’s ways to make them better. For example, cooking each night might be made more enjoyable by fine-tuning your culinary skills, trying some new recipes. If you love to read, look through your books on the shelf and see if there are any that you have not read yet.
ARTISTIC PURSUITS. The therapeutic value of drawing and colouring comes from the need to concentrate. Immerse yourself and ëforgetí your troubles while in the midst of a coloring activity. Everyone needs a break from reality sometimes. Craft activities like making cards, gifts, decorations, bookmarks and collages can be immersive and gratifying.
INDOOR GARDENING. You can enliven any room with a pot plant, and there a pot plants to suit any conditions. There are many hidden benefits to growing plants indoors.
ARMCHAIR TRAVEL. Travel videos can be fascinating to watch. Choose a country and some suitable
WATCH YOUTUBE VIDEOS ON A CHOSEN COUNTRY. Try Google Maps or even search online for a country you are interested in. Or check out Ted Talks for interesting social commentary. PHONE CALLS OR VIDEO CHATS. Call family or friends for a chat. It will lift your spirits and provide a welcome break. For an even more interactive and immersive experience, why not video chat using Skype, Google Hangout, or FaceTime.
EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS. It’s easy for anyone to say ‘no’ to something new, but especially so for adults accustomed to their routines. But men and women who are willing to try anything are more likely to find something new to be passionate about than those who shy away from the unknown. You don’t have to make a big initial commitment when trying a new hobby, but approach any new ideas or suggestions with an open mind.
Finding a new hobby as an adult can be tricky. But approaching activities with an open mind may help people uncover new hobbies they can be passionate about.