Did you know that keeping busy makes you a whole lot happier than you would have been doing nothing? So, if you’re looking to fill your mental jar with new activities, here are some Creative Hobbies to Try in 2024.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, we’re here to share some strategies to help you in 5 Ways to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed. Everyone feels overwhelmed, at least some of the time, when a stressful situation gets to be just too much for us to handle. Most importantly, you can do something about it.
Creative Hobbies to Try in 2024
Hand lettering is the creation of artistic lettering. Unlike traditional handwriting, it is more to do with drawing or painting letters as every letter is formed from different repeating shapes. It requires focus and a great deal of precision and creativity, making it the ideal hobby to take your mind off things. Hand lettering is a great skill to have. It doesn’t just fill your time with a creative activity but soon you will find yourself producing beautiful labels and posters for your home and also greeting cards for friends and family. Here’s a guide with tools and tips to get you started. Curious about what hand lettering looks like? Watch this video.
If you love working with your hands, sculpting clay is a great way to engage your creative side, and the best part? Clay can be sculpted not only into decorative items but also functional pieces. For beginners, you don’t really need fancy tools. You can start sculpting using basic hand techniques and add decorative patterns using simple household items like forks, fabrics and even leaves and flowers from your garden. Here’s a great guide to help you get started. Want to take it to the next level? Here’s an Introductory Wheel Throwing Class you can try. Once you are confident, you can even start selling your craft at markets or online.
Chocolate MakingMaking chocolate is a creative hobby that comes with a sweet reward at the end (pun intended!). Not only is it very satisfying, it will also endear you to your friends and family, who will love your delectable treats. Chocolate making is easier than you think and once you get the hang of it, you’ll find yourself experimenting with different toppings and decorations. You can always learn how to make chocolate by following online tutorials and if you prefer a hands-on class, there are also chocolate making workshops in Brisbane like the ones by New Farm Confectionery and Chocolate Country
Leather working might sound complicated but once you have been exposed to the steps and the tools, you will find that it is one of the easiest trades to get into. With stores like Bunnings and Spotlight, you’ll find everything you need to complete your first leather project. The best thing to do when you’re just beginning is to make something that interests you and that is smaller and simple to make so you can focus on honing your skills without giving up. Here’s a good beginner’s guide to leather working. Also, check out this video on leather working for beginners.
5 Ways to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed
Schedule the Most Important Tasks First.
Sometimes we can get overwhelmed when we try to do everything at the same time or think that everything on our list has the same priority. But think about it… why would you work on less important tasks when there are truly important items that are more critical to your work or personal life? First things first, make a list. Prioritise the items based on importance and value. Once you’ve done that, tackle the items on your list one-by-one. That way, you will not only feel more organised but you will be able to focus better on one thing at a time.
Ask Yourself, “Is This Really Necessary?”
Look, nothing is set in stone. You can actually challenge your basic assumptions about your regular habits. Do you really need to spend a whole hour replying to emails or can you do it in between other tasks? Do you need to get that proposal out this very minute or can you actually take care of a more pressing item? In many cases you don’t, but you do anyway simply because that’s what you’ve always done, right? What you need to do is eliminate as many “nice to do” tasks as possible and follow that list you have made based on priority. Not only will you have more time, you’ll also have more time to focus on what really matters – you!
Learn to Say “No.”
Saying yes can really open you up to new opportunities, but realistically, you can’t say yes to everything and not everything you say yes to can be done sometimes. So believe it or not, sometimes you simply need to say no. Other times you can say, “No, unless…” and add stipulations. The same is true with yes: Saying, “Yes, but only if…” creates guidelines. Before saying yes next time, always consider the effect of a request on your most important goals. Will saying yes to something take time away from completing a super urgent report? Or will saying yes to attending an event mean that you will be rushing for a doctor’s appointment? These are the things that you need to consider no matter how you love to assist people around you.
Re-imagine A New Schedule.
If you made your health and happiness a priority, what would your day look like? Would having a nice cup of tea and listening to music before work help kick off a beautiful day? Would brisk walking between work and dinner time help you feel more rejuvenated and happier? Or do you prefer short hourly breaks to stretch your legs? Whatever it is, let your new schedule inspire you and be a natural guide for what you prefer to experience each day. Imagine a new lifestyle, from scratch. You can make it happen.
Challenge Your Perfectionism.
While it’s good to focus on quality, perfectionism can lead us to make projects bigger than they need to be. Perfectionism can also lead to procrastination and psychological distress and as things pile up, the sense of overwhelm grows. To avoid that, challenge your perfectionism. Focus on completing the task first and when you have time, you can go back and take a second look to improve it. As Sheryl Sandberg famously said, “Done is better than perfect.” Know when “good” is “good enough” and your life will change!
