When it comes to being a stay at home mum, you might think (or perhaps you know by now!) that it is exhausting and amazing, and nonstop, and boringโฆ You might think a lot of things. One of the most common things, and itโs been reported much more in the news recently - is that it can be cripplingly lonely. That doesnโt mean that everyone feels that way, but it does mean that some women out there struggle with time to fill, and sometimes no one and nothing to help fill it. When you first have your baby, you struggle to get time to sleep, never mind find space and time for a hobby. So slowly, over the space of a year or more the friends, you used to galavant around with fall away after all a toddler isnโt the most chic accessory at a 5-star restaurant. Eventually, they get a little bit bigger, and you have more time to yourself but nothing to fill that time up with anymore. Now what?
If youโre lucky, you might have some friends around you that had babies or will be having babies soon, and that can give you a rejuvenated friendship! Someone to talk to and share the ups and downs wit, but still, in the evenings when your little one or little ones are in bed, itโs nice to do something for yourself. Me time doesnโt always mean a hot bath and a facemask, sometimes it means taking care of yourself mentally and feeling useful.
So letโs talk about some cool ways that you can keep your brain busy, and who knows, you might find a future career out of it.
Photo by Giulia Bertelli on Unsplash
Get Handy
Some of us possess a magical ability to work with our hands and make the most beautiful items, others of us donโt but, even if you don't that doesnโt mean that you might not like to try your hand at something. There are a few really popular choices for making things with your hands, here are a few of them.
Drawing - You can take a drawing class, most cities and towns have something similar that runs once a week. It is an ideal way to get out there and meet people.
Painting - The same idea, but if you struggle to get childcare, you can watch a little Bob Ross and following along to create some masterpieces.
Sewing / Cross Stitch - This one you can do over weeks or months if they are a more significant piece, it is inexpensive to start, and most people can follow a pattern pretty easily. ย Get acquainted with the local embroidery and sewing shop and youโll be able to build up a relationship with the owner so that you can get everything you need at a great price. Don't be afraid to get stuck in with tutorials, either, so that you can practice on your own in your own time!
Baking - Not everyone should be applying to the GBBO, and thatโs cool, but most of us can whip up a rock cake. Pick out a couple of recipes that you want to learn and get started.
Journaling - Writing about what youโve done, things you want to do, capturing special memories and getting creative while you do it. Journalling is also great for you mentally.
Jewellery - You can pick up a basic (but great value) jewellery making kit online and start right away. If you get really good, you could open an Etsy shop and make some cash.
Reading - If you are really time poor, but you spend a lot of time waiting in the car for kids to finish school, or clubs then you can start bringing a book along to kill that time.
Get Digital
Almost every person has access to a computer, laptop or mobile phone that has access to the internet. So why not make the use of that and either learn a new skill or start using the ones that you have?
Blogging - Who doesnโt have a blog right now? Well, not many, but if you stick with it, you might find that not only can you make some money but there is an active and robust community too. It isnโt for everyone to share parts of themselves online, but itโs a way to connect for millions of others.
Design work - With applications like photoshop, canva, picmonkey and more at our disposal now, itโs much easier to teach yourself how to create amazing things.
Podcasts - You might like to start creating your own, or maybe you want to spend some time getting a feel for some already established podcasts.
Learn Something - Online learning is more accessible, cheaper and much more flexible than itโs ever been. You could opt to improve on the degree you have or learn something entirely new. Even better if you intend to get into the workforce when the kids are all in school, or all grown up. You can learn about some of the great courses you can take online here.
Photography - You donโt have to have an expensive camera to produce amazing photos. An iPhone or any newer model of mobile phone is packed out with megapixels and can take stunning images. Learn to edit with Lightroom, Snapseed or Picsart and start sharing on Instagram of facebook.
Get Outside
This one might seem like mission impossible if you donโt have anywhere nearby, or you just donโt like walking. However, itโs great for you both mentally and physically to get out there. You can even combine two hobbies - getting out there, and photography for example.
Camping - Falling asleep under the stars, listening to the night descend upon the world can be one of the most soothing things that you can do.
Hiking - You might need to invest in a decent pair of walking boots, for you and the kids but taking long walks is great for blowing the cobwebs away. Aside from the cost of getting to your chosen location, this can be a very thrifty hobby if you need to watch the spending.
Gardening - You donโt even need to leave your own home to start this one. Like anything, the more time you spend, the better it will get. Spending small amounts of time pulling weeds, or trimming bushes a lot of calm can be found by tending to something in such a simple way.
Geocaching - This one has become really popular in recent years, it is like a real-life giant treasure hunt - with a lot of people taking part. There are apps now so people can keep track of treasure theyโve found and hidden. As well as share it with others who are doing it too. This one can be done by the whole family, or you might choose to go it alone.
Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash
Get Social
If you are looking to get a hobby and some buddies, then you might like to consider the following types of hobbies.
Book Club - Depending on the type you might end up in a book club, that also somehow doubles as a wine club, and aside from the book, you spend the evening talking about everything else too.
Trivial nights - Tricky if you donโt arrive with a ready-made team, but you can pop along, and they are usually very accommodating to newcomers (just brush up on your general knowledge in advance).
Team Sports - If you are into that sort of thing, check out local sports teams - football, hockey, volleyball and even swimming are great sports to get into. Team sports are known for their almost family-like feeling - which is great if you are in need of some social interaction.
Not everyone is a people person, and thatโs perfectly ok. It doesn't matter if you are a social butterfly or you are in need of some conversation, and a few hours to yourself, the suggestions above have something for everyone.
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