How to Practice Self-care with a New Hobby | Here Are Some Great Options
Self-care comes in many forms. Although we tend to focus primarily on things like rest and relaxation when we picture self-care, it’s far from the only option. Indeed, sometimes the most effective forms of self-care are those that encourage us to put ourselves out there. Challenging yourself is, by its very nature, difficult. That said, when we take on something new, we create opportunities to surprise and delight ourselves.
One of the best ways to do this is to pick up a new fun hobby. We’ve created this guide to give you some ideas for new hobbies you can start learning. In order to facilitate community, they’re all activities you can easily do with a group, in-person, or from a distance. Here’s a look at some of the most fun, energizing hobbies you can get started with:
Running a Small Side Business
Are you looking for a new challenge and a chance to boost your career? If so, you might benefit from getting started with your own small side business. Take a look at this Washington state LLC guide to learn more about the legal aspects of starting your own business, and how to protect yourself along the way. An LLC is a popular choice among business owners due to its tax advantages and more flexible management structures.
Starting a business can be a huge confidence booster, and it’s a great way to take advantage of shared passions among your family members or friend group. If you wind up with a successful side gig, you may even be able to turn it into a full-fledged business down the line! Brenda has a Washington-based LLC that she created in 2020 called, Of the Mind Ventures LLC. Reach out if you’re curious about the steps to take.
Embracing Your Creative Side
If you don’t have many opportunities to be creative in your everyday life, it might be worthwhile to get started with a hobby that encourages your inner artist. For example, you can look into joining a local art class, or find a teacher online who can walk you through the basics of painting, sketching, sculpting – whatever speaks to you. If your friends want to get involved, create an online group you can use to share your progress and recent creations!
Not a visual artist? Consider getting music lessons. This is also wonderfully community-centric, as you can gather together and collaborate with other musicians in your life. Although this could conceivably lead to a music career, it doesn’t have to be thoroughly fulfilling. Playing music with others can reduce stress and improve confidence, making your everyday life substantially more pleasant.
Finding Joyful Movement
Finally, we want to talk about the benefits of finding a form of joyful movement. It’s too common these days for people to live entirely sedentary lives. Constantly sitting means you’re robbing your body of the movement it needs to feel its best.
However, stigmas about body weight and size have led many people to have an unhealthy relationship with exercise. You might avoid moving because you feel insecure about how you look, or on the other end of the spectrum, you may only exercise when driven by an urge to punish yourself or make up for eating too much. Either way, notice your thoughts and behavior around exercise.
Seeking joyful movement is a great way to reconnect with your body and heal your relationship with exercise. Joyful movement is all about finding ways to move that make your body feel better – not worse – and which encourage you to stick with it. Step out of your comfort zone and try something you haven’t before, such as dancing, yoga, walking, or rock climbing. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what you chose – only that you give yourself the chance to connect with yourself!
Remember, these are just a few ideas to get you started. There’s a whole world of hobbies and activities out there that might be right for you. Explore the options to find the hobby that makes you feel confident and excited to face the day!
Interested in more on all the facets of health, wellness, and mindfulness? Keep following Brenda Umana’s blog here on beeumana.com!
Photo Credit: Pexels
Thank you to guest blogger, Cheryl for providing us with such a great resource of self-care and hobbies. Get in touch with Cheryl at cheryl.conklin@
