At the beginning of every year, we promise ourselves we’ll do better, be better, and feel better. A few weeks into the New Year, however, those intentions tend to fall to the wayside as we shift back into the same routine. This New Year, let your intentions drive your actions and, rather than letting self-care take a back seat, pick up one of these self-care hobbies, which you’ll find are plenty worthy of your time.
Yoga
If you have a new workout regime awaiting you come January first, you’ll be thrilled that this hobby kills two birds with one stone. Not only is yoga one of the most relaxing forms of exercise, but it can also be physically challenging and excellent for developing muscle tone.
Granted, while you may not be a full-fledged yogi by February, but with dedication and practice, you’ll find you long for the presence of mind and body focus that the mat brings you.
Tarot
Much like astrology, you can take tarot as seriously or lightly as you like. Either way, it’s a fun and mesmerizing hobby that teaches you, albeit in overarching and sometimes vague ways, ways to achieve your goals and build a better you.
Unlike yoga, you can pick up tarot rather quickly with any modern deck and guidebook. You can find spreads online and begin reading for yourself and applying the cards’ readings to your life.
Reading
There’s nothing quite like the mental escape of a good book. Whether you’re reading while soaking in a bath or flipping through a couple of chapters before bed, adding this hobby to your self-care list allows you a moment to quiet the mind and focus on something else.
The key here is to select books that you are interested in. Just because a book is on the New York Times Best Seller List, it doesn’t mean you have to like it. Don’t force yourself to read something that’s not engaging. Find a novel that speaks to you and dive in!
Knitting
Not only is this hobby trendy, but it’s also productive and relatively easy to pick up. While knitting can get expensive, especially if you have elegant taste in yarn, it’s a hobby that results in a feeling of accomplishment since you’re working towards a finished, practical product.
Take a trip to your local hobby store, grab the supplies that you need (you may want to watch a couple of Youtube tutorials for tips on the best products), and you’ll be knitting sweaters (or hats, gloves, scarves, you name it) for your loved ones in no time!
Meditation
Last but not least, there is the art of meditation. This practice has grown in popularity as of late, but the real benefit here is in the mindfulness it brings to your everyday life.
While many scoff at the idea of self-care, meditation is a no-cost way to clear your mind of negativity and focus on something calming and peaceful. It’s helpful in terms of mental health, physical health, and emotional well-being, all of which are essential elements of self-care.