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When you have free time available, your main goal is to enjoy how you spend it. Sometimes you want to do absolutely nothing, but other times you want to use your time in a way that feels productive while still allowing you to relax or have a good time.
That’s where hobbies come in. Reading, journaling, doing yoga, or pottering around the garden are all fun hobbies you can take up, but let’s face it, everyone is doing these hobbies. If you’re looking for some new ideas to spend your time creatively, why not try geocaching, gambling, needlework, language learning, or taking care of a bonsai tree?
1. Geocaching
Geocaching is the perfect hobby for outdoor lovers who enjoy a challenge. This recreational activity requires you to use GPS coordinates to find geocaches (hidden containers). There are geocaches hidden all over the world, with around 3,000 in Sydney, and likely thousands in Melbourne and Perth.
This real-world treasure hunt is done using the Geocaching app, which is free to download. Each geocache usually has a logbook where you can jot down who you are and when you discovered the treasure, along with some trinkets. It’s a great way to explore your local area and get outside with friends.
2. Online Gambling
Playing casino games online is a great way to pass the time from the comfort of your home, and you can potentially make some side income while you’re at it.
There are plenty of online casinos available, as highlighted by these Readwrite SG insights, with everything from slots to live dealer poker tournaments. It’s easy to get started with this hobby, since all you need is an internet connection and a smartphone or PC.
3. Crocheting
Crocheting has become incredibly popular in the past few years, especially among women. Needlework, like crocheting and knitting, is seen as a stress-reliever that also allows you to be creative and have fun.
You can crochet practical pieces, like book sleeves, blankets, and coasters, or you can have fun and create monsters from your imagination. All you need is the right needles and yarn to get started.
There’s a bit of a learning curve with crocheting, but there are plenty of free online tutorials available on YouTube for total novices.
4. Learning A New Language
Although you will get by perfectly in the UK if you can speak English, learning another language can be a fun challenge. Language apps allow you to learn new words and phrases within just a few minutes, and you can take these bite-sized lessons every day.
Despite English being the national language in the UK, it’s a diverse country, and many languages can be heard on the streets in urban areas. After English, the most common spoken languages according to the 2021 census are Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese, and Cantonese.
Using apps like Duolingo, Rosetta Stone, or Babbel allows you to learn these popular tongues, or can prepare you if you have future travel plans to countries where English is less common.
5. Bonsai
Bonsai is an art that dates back thousands of years, where practitioners shape and tend plants to create mini-trees. This hobby is highly meditative, creative, and rewarding.
Tending to a bonsai tree will require you to be patient, as these trees can live for hundreds of years. It’s a hobby that requires you to slow down and step back from life’s craziness for a while.
Many consider bonsai to be a very expensive hobby, and although you do need some specialised tools and materials, beginners can get started with nursery stock and simple hardware.
Wrapping Up
Relaxing with a fun hobby should be as high a priority in your life as working towards your professional goals. You need to be able to strike a balance between your life’s responsibilities and unwinding, and finding the perfect hobby is the best way to do it.
Hobbies, like crocheting or learning a language, can help you relax while also teaching you new skills. Finding a hobby is all about your own preferences, how much time you have available, and how relaxed you want to be. While geocaching is perfect for those who enjoy running around outside, online gambling will be a better option for gamer homebodies.
You won’t reinvent yourself if you take up a new hobby, but you will reap the benefits of finding a good way to relax, which will be reflected in your daily life.
