By Rania Dawud

With work and family taking up most of our lives, it is important for one to have an outlet just for themselves. We all need a release that allows us to channel any pent-up energy that ought to build up during the week.

Now with lockdown back into effect, why not use this time to take up a new hobby or learn a new skill? Try gardening, embroidering, cake-decorating, reading, origami… the possibilities are endless! Find something that you’re curious about venturing into and challenge yourself in a new way. 

There are several benefits to taking up a hobby to consider: 

• They can help you become more patient

When you are learning a new skill, you are challenging yourself to something that is often out of your comfort zone. You won’t excel at it right away, you must work at it and you will need to be patient with yourself to get the results you want.  

• They can help you meet new people

Though many hobbies are often solitary activities, they don’t have to be! By reaching out to people with similar interests through clubs or online groups, you could make new friends and connections. 

• They can help relieve stress

As mentioned earlier, the various responsibilities that take up most of our lives can often result in stress, even if they are in fields we love. Watching TV and scrolling on your phone can only provide you with a temporary distraction. Instead, it’s good to make use of that stress to make something new out of it. 

• They can help with your career

Employers often want a variety of skills from their employees, and hobbies allow for developing a diverse skill set in someone. In addition to that, a diverse skill set could potentially provide a stream of income later on through a small business idea. 

• They can help you structure your time

If you have something to do after you’re finished with your responsibilities, having an incentive could encourage efficiency. A hobby is something to add to your schedule and one that would encourage smarter time management decisions. 

• And finally, hobbies are a cure for boredom

Having a hobby will automatically give you the answer to what to do when you're bored. Boredom can be a dangerous leeway into wasting precious time with laziness, and a hobby can turn your efforts into something worthwhile.