Rise in people taking up hobbies
The country has been in lockdown on and off for nearly a year now, and many people have taken the opportunity to learn something new.
A survey of 1,000 UK women carried out by online florist Serenata Flowers found that half of British women have taken up a new hobby since the pandemic began, with 67 per cent practicing their new skill at least once a week.
Many people have taken the opportunity to learn something new by heading to the kitchen and garden with cooking, baking and gardening appearing in the list of the most popular new hobbies.
The survey found that 15 per cent of women learnt how to knit, crochet and embroider.
Alice Read posted on Facebook: “I taught myself to crochet in November and I can’t stop. “I love it.” Elaine Wallace said: “Last March during the first lockdown I started up knitting earsavers after many years of not knitting.
“Using YouTube to help during lockdown I have progressed onto blankets and prem baby hats and booties. Also still making diamond art which I also started last March.
“So two new hobbies that have kept me sane whilst working throughout too, this has helped me relax in my spare time.”
When we asked on social media if our readers were taking up a new hobby many said they had taken up diamond art.
This is where you stick diamond jewels on to a pattern to look like a mosaic.
Tammy Bowler shared her custom diamond art piece on Facebook (pictured below).
Lockdown has seen many people explore their creative side, the survey found 12 per cent of women started painting, sculpting, sketching or crafting.
Tracey Hoff said: “I didn’t know I could do it, I started off with water colours now soft pastels.”
Klare Cousins said: “Drawing with charcoals and I’m getting better.”
Research has found there are significant mental health benefits associated with learning a new skill, 26 per cent of respondents that answered the survey by Serenata Flowers said it helps them unwind, 26 per cent said it helped to combat stress while 24 per cent said it allowed them to switch off.
Diane Burgess said that lockdown allowed her to carry out projects that she would never have done otherwise.
She said: “I updated my late father’s GB specials stamp collection which has been lying around for the past six years.
“Then I recorded and researched my late parent’s activities during WWII, adding to it early memories from the 50s -70s as a future family history for the younger members of the family.”
While Mary Penn wrote a children’s poetry book, something that the survey found ten per cent of women took up writing.
Mary said: “It’s for kids that think they can’t be superheroes because they don’t have the stereotypical superhero characteristics you see in every other superhero book.”
Jacqui Hayler has been walking, art work, baking and reading.
Esther Hardie said: “Making loads of soft toys and their clothing.”
Ruth White said: “Always have a cross stitch picture on the go. Got a difficult one this time.”
Other hobbies taken up during lockdown include reading, yoga/meditating or mindfulness, gaming, or dancing.
Nearly 1 in 5 (19 per cent) in the survey said that their new hobby has helped to increase their overall happiness, which is something many people have needed since the start of the pandemic.