Do you feel like every day, all you do is scroll? Easily reduce your screentime by trying out a new hobby. You might just fall in love with it! Here are some beginner options for when you feel like you “have no hobbies.”
By Jayne Turner – Staff Writer
Knitting or Crocheting
This is a relaxing activity that, once you get the hang of it, will yield functional results! Great for developing hand-eye coordination, building patience, and keeping both hands occupied and off your phone.
Knitting and crocheting are different techniques that use different tools, so you can try both to find your favorite. In general, knitting uses two needles and is better for making clothes. Crocheting uses one needle and results in a thicker fabric.
This hobby is a great one to pick up before the holidays, because you can give out handmade gifts!
You may also be interested in this article on book clubs, which can be another great way to reduce screen time.
Baking
Though you can find recipes online, I recommend grabbing a paper cookbook and using a recipe from that. Or at least printing out your recipe. Baking is creative, yet precise. When you are focusing on measurement, you won’t have time to think about scrolling on your phone.
When you’re done, you’ll have a delicious new baked good! Maybe you bring some of your dessert to a friend, which will engage you in another phone-less activity.
Pick up an Instrument
Guitar, bass, or piano are all great choices to begin learning. Chances are, you know someone who owns one that you can borrow. Or, maybe you already have one and don’t know how to play it!
If none of those appeals to you, you can always try singing. After all, your voice is an instrument! Search up vocal exercises on YouTube and use those vocal muscles. It requires some screentime, but with great payoff.
This Christmas, surprise your family by playing or singing a holiday tune.
You might also like teaching yourself how to code!
Walking Around
As boring as it sounds, walking around can become a great hobby if you find different places to walk!
If you’re the outdoorsy type, you can get into hikes. Even if you live in a city, there are likely to be some nature hikes nearby that you haven’t discovered yet.
If dirt and trees are less than appealing to you, walking around a city can be a great activity! This is my favorite thing to do. If you don’t live within walking distance of a town or plaza, you can always drive there, walk around, and drive home. Grab a coffee, window shop, and soak up the world.
Yoga, Pilates, At-Home Workouts
At-home workouts are the best because you don’t even have to leave your house! You just need to peel yourself off the couch. You are welcome to look up a video, but the goal is to be intuitive with your movements. What feels like it needs stretching?
A great way to reduce screentime is to write down some ideas of what to do so you aren’t stumped mid-stretch session. Also, you can attend an in-person class!
At-home workouts are the best because there is no dress code, no pressure to work out for a certain amount of time, and no one watching you. Just five minutes of movement is enough to get your blood pumping.
Sometimes it feels like you have no hobbies, but it’s as easy as starting something new! The great thing about hobbies is that you can try out as many as you want to find one that you like. They can also get you out of the house and socialize if you join a club.
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Author: Jayne Turner is a freelance writer from Orange, California. She has a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience with an emphasis on language and cognition. She has ten years of musical theatre experience and a lifelong love of reading. Utterly excited by the brain, she brings a fresh Gen Z perspective to the topics that intrigue us most.
