Healthy Hobbies at Home

Let’s make some good news! While many of us may be stuck at our houses and slipping into states of boredom, this does not mean we can’t liven up our home time with some fun new activities. Take an opportunity to venture out of your comfort zone by trying new hobbies and pursuing the passions you’ve put on the back burner.

Start a New Hobby

Finding a new hobby at your house is a lot easier than you might think. It’s time to clear your schedule and try new things!

• Learn a new language with Duolingo: This user-friendly app allows you to learn different languages, anywhere from Spanish to Esperanto. Their interactive lessons are designed to develop your reading, writing, speaking, listening, and conversation skills.
• Learn how to play an instrument with Yousician: Learning how to play an instrument can be very costly and time-intensive, so this app alleviates some of that stress by providing pre-installed instruments for you to learn. While there is no avoiding the time needed to practice, this app helps you save on some of the costs you may face learning the traditional way!
• Practice drawing with How to Draw: This is exactly what it sounds like: it teaches you how to draw. Channel your inner artist and let your creativity flow!

Build a Stronger You

This season of change is a great time to adopt (or refine) some healthy habits. Start by keeping one promise to yourself every day, and try your best to have fun with it!

• Learn new healthy recipes with Mealime: This app helps you discover new recipes and adjust them to fit any diet. An additional perk is that when you input your meal plan, the app will create a grocery list for you!
• Clean your house with OurHome: This app helps you prioritize which parts of your house may need some maintenance. Plus, you receive points when you complete a task, which can be a great tactic for motivating children (and adults!) to get cleaning.
• Get up and move with Start Stretching: Stretching is an important component of any workout regimen and is especially important for those of us who lead more sedentary lifestyles. The app provides images on how to successfully stretch your muscles and avoid injury!

Sit Back and Relax

Sometimes, the best thing we can do for ourselves is to embrace the time given to us and just want to relax. Here are some chill activities to help you wind down.

• Need something to watch, but feel overwhelmed by all the possibilities? Use JustWatch. Start off by picking the shows and/or movies that interest you, choose your streaming services, and let JustWatch take you right to the streaming app to start watching!
• For those of you who prefer a good book, check out Goodreads. Finding a book does not have to be difficult, let an app do the hard part for you!
• Bonus Tip: Meditate! While it’s important to fill our day with activities we love, it’s just as important to allow our minds to rest and slow down. There are many free guided meditations on music streaming apps that can help you get started.

As mentioned earlier, we’re all on this journey together. So, check-in on each other (FaceTime, send an encouraging text to someone, call a friend or family member while you eat lunch), go outside and take a walk, get up and move, or journal! But ultimately, take care of yourself and don’t feel guilty about needing to take a break from social media (or the media in general). Take care of yourself, take care of each other, and don’t forget to BE KIND PEOPLE.