When life deals us a bad hand, as it does for everyone sooner or later with unfortunate events that take place, it’s important to give yourself the time to heal. It might be the loss of a dream job, or perhaps even the loss of someone close to you. No matter what it is, it’s important to remember that your feelings are valid and that learning to recover can take time.
In this period, where you may feel your motivations sap away and you’re unsure of where to go next, it’s healthy to find a way forward. Doing so can seem tougher than we had imagined, however. We’d like to offer a way you can put a foot forward though - starting a new hobby. You might not feel like the most engaged and proactive person at this time, but that’s okay, just get started.
It doesn’t matter what approach you take, what matters is being able to put your foot forward in any direction. A small hobby can be fantastic for that because it not only inspires action but helps us build a little momentum. It doesn’t take our mind off the difficult event and our need to recover from it, but it does give us something to occupy ourselves with. In some respects, they can even help us limit the hardship of a very unfortunate outcome.
For instance, science suggests that if someone plays Tetris after going through a traumatic event, it helps to distract our focus and prevents the brain from responding with as much shock as we otherwise would. This has had a noted impact on the reduction of possible post-traumatic stress symptoms. In effect, starting a new hobby can help you process your emotions and give your brain the same means of healing.
In this post, we’ll look to eight excellent hobbies for making it through that tough time in life. Without further ado, please consider:
Small Gardening Projects
Life can leave us reeling from time to time, and when that happens there’s no better way to overcome those feelings than to ground yourself. Gardening helps us do that, literally, by causing us to move soil plant seeds and pull out weeds. Even a single potted plant on your balcony or a tiny herb garden in the kitchen can help create a sense of routine and connection, and better yet, something new to take care of, even at a time when you feel like that’s difficult.
The process doesn’t have to be complicated or overbearing, even watering, trimming, and caring for something alive can give your day a small but meaningful purpose. Snake plants can look nice, are fun to pot, and thrive from neglect. Nature tends to remind us that growth takes time, which is a gentle and comforting metaphor when you’re going through something difficult.
Video Games
You might not be into video games that much, and this is fine. But they have a great way of focusing the mind when you’re going through something. Even playing Solitaire online when you feel your harsher emotions bubbling up can let you process them while also having your mind on something else - it just dulls the edge a little without having to turn to a bad habit like drinking or going out on the town. Some of them even offer pretty great stories or fun competitions to keep you social with other friends who engage in the hobby. Some video games can even help with brain training, allowing you to feel sharper after going through a knock.
Painting With Watercolours Or Oil Paints
Painting with watercolours or oil paints is a forgiving and relaxing way to express yourself, and better yet, you can follow along with an icon like Bob Ross (there are several free YouTube videos in which you can follow along on your own canvas with his recommended colours).
There’s no pressure to create a masterpiece of course, just putting brush to paper and letting colours flow can feel pretty meditative. We recommend this type of paint because even if you’re not as precise as Leonardo Da Vinci, you can still create something calming, nice and pleasant with broad strokes and amateur colour combinations. Just express how you’re feeling, you don’t have to depict anyone or anything to start. Watercolours, in particular, have a gentle quality that allows you to be pensive with the paints and it mirrors the idea of easing into something new. Sometimes you need to get your emotions out, but you may find that art is the most effective symbol for doing so.
Reading Adventure Books
Reading is great when you’re going through a tough time in life, but the truth is that of course, most of the great literature and stories out there deal with the hardships of life too. In some cases, this can feel relatable and empowering, at other times it can feel tough to go through while you’re actually experiencing difficulty yourself.
For this reason, reading adventure books can serve as a fantastic middle ground. They might involve treasure hunting, action, thriller plots, or perhaps historical fiction. There’s a romance to all this, sometimes literally, which means you get to escape for a while. Have no shame about enjoying a pulpy book, sometimes a roller coaster of a tale can put a smile on your face, and help you feel a little escape from your daily life. Not to mention reading is great for your cognitive health and wellbeing, which can feel restorative after the somewhat poisonous effects of trauma.
Playing With Younger Relatives
Connecting with your family can certainly be a worthwhile use of your time after a tough experience. Becoming closer, not further apart from your loved ones does make a difference in how supported you feel.
It’s healthy to visit your family members with younger relatives and allow the fun and joy of youth to help you feel a little better. Bringing a few toys for your nephews and nieces and having a good play session with them can be lovely, and perhaps you can share tea and cake after the fact. When you see the lovely presence of those in your family that you hold above everything else, it’s easier to feel a little more jovial and comforted by that. It also helps you get out of your own headspace and think a little more through the eyes of a child, which is something we could all learn as adults from time to time.
Enjoying A Long Car Journey
Sometimes you just need to get behind the wheel and drive. There’s a meditative quality to this, and you’ll be able to think more clearly while you’re also occupied. You can also feel a little more open about crying in this private space, or listening to music that helps you process your emotions.
Perhaps you’ll head to a local park for a long walk with your dog, head to the coast, book a weekend getaway with your partner, or just drive a long distance, stay in a hotel overnight, and then come back. There’s no wrong way to do it, and perhaps putting some miles behind you can help you come back feeling a tough renewed. It’s not the worst approach to take.
Knitting/Crocheting
We’ve mentioned the value of distracting your body to keep your mind ticking over, and there’s nothing quite as helpful as knitting or crocheting for that task. These wonderful hobbies allow you to create something with your hands, knitting needles and yarn, and perhaps use them for comfort. Winter is coming, so knitting a comforting jumper that fits you perfectly can feel like a real achievement. You can even provide this as a gift to someone else close to you going through a hard time alike.
These hobbies are relatively cheap, and once you get the hang of them they’re pretty meditative and manageable. You can also watch your favourite TV show or listen to your favourite music while doing this, which gives you that sense of comfort and relaxation you’re looking for.
Hiking
Hiking isn’t too dissimilar from going on a long car journey - you intend to put distance behind you, go over terrain, and pay attention to the surroundings. But this is much more primal and interactive. You may bring a dog or a friend with you, and doing so is certainly better for your safety.
Hiking can also allow you to express your physical energies into exercise, and it’s a real workout. Just make sure you find a safe route that has been recommended by others, and purchase reliable footwear that keeps your feet protected. You can even bring a journal with you, meditate a little in a private space, or take photographs. People have been walking to overcome their emotional troubles for thousands of years, and so you’re joining a long line of people who found healing this way. Don’t dismiss it - after a long walk or hike you’ll feel a thousand times better, and will no doubt get better sleep in the evening.
With this advice, we hope you can more easily make it through the period after a hard time in life. It’s not easy to achieve, but with some hobbies to guide and structure your routine, you’ll find a pleasant tomorrow is on its way. We wish you the best.
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HEY! Thanks for dropping by. xo KB