Get Out of Your Rut by Learning a New Skill
Anytime you find yourself browsing social media to pass the time, look into picking up a new pastime, skill, or hobby instead. Your time could be spent doing something productive and engaging. Developing a new hobby can cure boredom, challenge you in new ways, and help you meet people. Here are some skills and activities to pick up at any age with or without a group of friends.
Fitness Classes and Personal Training
You don’t have to be fit to start exercising. According to Livestrong.com, yoga, Pilates, Zumba, and Spin are fun exercises to improve your health, release endorphins, and have fun with friends. If getting outdoors is more your thing, you can join a hiking group. With any of these activities, you can get fit while being social.
If you’re serious about improving your physical health, working with a personal trainer from Swamp Fitness is a great way to find success. We can come to you or set up a virtual training appointment to make getting in shape convenient and effective. Contact us today to get started!
Sign Up for a Race
Even if you’ve never run before, you can start training now, states Active.com. Start off slow and short, and take walking breaks during the run. As you build up endurance, strength, and lung capacity, you’ll be able to add more distance each week. When you reach your goal, you’ll start to improve your running times. Eventually, you’ll graduate from a 5k to a 10k. Training for the race is a big part of the fun because it motivates you to exercise and gives you a sense of accomplishment when you reach your goals.
Learn a New Sport
You might have noticed by now that this conversation favors physical activity. That’s because being active is both healthy and fun, and it can be social as well. You don’t need to be athletic to play sports, especially if you’re not doing it for competition. BBC.com recommends trying out a new sport or practicing something you want to get better at, like swimming, surfing, kayaking, or paddle boarding. Set mini-goals for yourself and track your improvements. The more accomplished you feel, the more likely you are to stick with it. Club sports like softball and kickball contain a social element, so put together a team of friends or join an existing team to meet new friends.
Art Class
Not everyone can or wants to participate in a physical activity, but art can be fun for all ages and skill levels. You don’t need to be Rembrandt to enjoy art class, as art is purely subjective anyway. If being artistic makes you feel good and proud of your creation, then sign up for a class or organize art nights with friends! You can sign up for painting or pottery classes, or set up a fun day at Color Me Mine with friends.
People of all ages can pursue a new hobby, especially those looking for a mental health boost. A new hobby can get your blood flowing, your brain working, and your body moving. It can improve your moods and sense of well-being, raise your confidence, and give you something to get excited about every day. These positive effects can help with depression or addiction. When your spirit is lifted and you have something to enjoy in life, it brings light to the darkness.
Further Your Career
We’ve all been there - you learn a new skill and become passionate about your hobby but can’t figure out how to implement it into your work life. Well, a great way to accomplish this is to start attending online classes so you can turn your hobby into a career. For example, online IT classes allow you to work at your own pace and work anytime, anywhere without putting the rest of your life on hold. Certain colleges, like WGU, even let you turn in assignments at your convenience by not assigning them due dates. Now there’s no excuse to change your career path!
Not all of us have the ability or desire to take classes, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t learn. Most of these hobbies can be learned online as well as in a physical class. Not one for working out in front of others? Schedule a live or virtual personal training session with Swamp Fitness. Art can also be learned at home through online tutorials. There’s no social substitution for getting out there and doing things with others, but that part can wait if you want to take it one step at a time.
Photo Credit: Pixabay
About the Author: Sheila left the corporate world and long hours behind to start her own business. She’s looking, feeling, and working better than she has in years. She’s seen so much personal success with her health and wellness routine that she wanted to share it with others. By creating this blog post and more, she hopes that sharing her story will help you, too.