It’s the beginning of 2017, don’t start it off being bored! Now’s a great time to find a new hobby and keep things interesting. Finding new things to do and new ways to plug in can be a big boost to your confidence and enjoyment.

Coloring

This is a hobby that has seen a huge upswing in the past couple of years, and chances are by now you’ve seen an adult coloring book or two in your local store.

Easy to Start

The fun thing about coloring is that there’s no lengthy process to pursue. Most people have picked up a crayon, marker, or colored pencil and spent some time with a coloring book already; this is just a grown-up version of what you already know.

Great for Your Mind & Health

Coloring has been shown to be a stress reliever and a way to keep your mind sharp. The next time you’re stressed out over work, try picking up a coloring book and some quality colored pencils and spend a half hour coloring and listening to music.

Not only will it help ease some of that stress, you may find that the answer to whatever you’re worried about will suddenly appear once you’ve lt it go!

Photography

Photography used to be a lot harder to pick up as a hobby, but in a world of high-definition smart phone cameras and digital editing, anyone can start photography as a hobby pretty easily.

Beginner’s Tip #1: Take a Lot of Pictures

The best way to get into taking pictures is to–well, take pictures! The more pictures you take, the more likely you are to get some good ones.

Also, as you take pictures and you start to look at them and consider them, you’ll develop a better eye for what works and what doesn’t.

Beginner’s Tip #2: Experiment!

There are a lot of ways to explore photography in a hands-on way. Play around with the settings on your camera. Try timers, filters, different modes–even if you’re using a camera on your phone, there are a lot of settings you can try.

Once you’ve taken pictures, you can experiement with editing as well. Try unique crops, interesting filters, minor and more extreme adjustments. Doing this will give you a feel for what you like.

Sewing

Cross Stitch

If you’re completely new to sewing, you might not want to jump in head first. Instead, try something that gives you some familiarity with the process in a way that is a little easier to navigate.

Cross-stitch provides this outlet. It’s done on a small piece of crossed fabric, and you usually follow the instructions of a pattern to make designs. These can range from super simple to extremely complex, so it’s a great way to ease yourself in, and cross-stitch is  a great hobby of its own!

Quilting

Ready to step into real sewing? Simple quilting is a very straightforward way to get started and has a long history in our country.

Quilting involves creating shapes and patterns, then adding a filling and a backing to make throws, blankets, pillow cases, or a variety of other things.

Start simple: find a guide to beginner quilting and stick to the easy things, then once you feel comfortable, step up your game!

Crochet/Knitting

Crochet and knitting aren’t exactly sewing, but they are fabric arts that are closely linked to sewing and hobbies that many find relaxing and rewarding.

Both involve a yarn-weaving process, but each has its own system. Crocheting is a little easier to start with, so if you’re hesitant or looking for a simple way to spend some free time doing something crafty, it’s a good place to start.

New year, new opportunities! Try out one of these hobbies or any others that pique your interest: fishing, hiking, rock climbing, painting, music. There’s something for everyone out there–you just have to find it.

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