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Saturday, Jan. 25
The Indiana Daily Student

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COLUMN: Creative hobbies to explore this year

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The issue of overconsumption has run rampant in recent years. From $10,000 shopping hauls to greedy (and often grotesque) mukbangs, it feels like wherever I look on social media, I’m viewing overconsumption. Even the act of scrolling on social platforms is a form of overconsumption which can lead to media addiction and depression. 

On the opposite side of consumption is creation, and this year, I am determined to create more than I consume. There are countless methods of creating, such as making music, paintings, books, crafts and more. Here are five simple hobbies to try your hand at this year to promote creativity and decrease media consumption. 

Painting 

I have always enjoyed painting, but I rarely do it because I’m not “good” at it. But recently, someone told me that you don’t have to be good at something to enjoy it and it inspired me to start painting again. 

Creating any kind of art is shown to reduce stress and improve focus, which painting has definitely done for me. Carving an hour out of the day to break out a canvas and some acrylic paints can be the perfect way to ease your mind and relax.   

Journaling 

As a writer myself, maybe I have some bias, but journaling is an incredible hobby to pick up. Journaling can improve working memory, boost self-confidence and increase communication skills 

It can often seem daunting (I’m sometimes stuck thinking, “how do I even start this?”), but there really are no rules when it comes to writing. Some potential entries could include listing out goals that you hope to achieve this month, retelling your favorite childhood memories or describing your dream home. Journal topics can be as complex or as simple as you would like them to be. 

My best piece of advice for beginners to journaling is to just start. Pick up a pen or open a Google Doc and write the first thing that comes to your mind. Set a 10-minute timer and just go with it; you might be surprised at what comes out on the page. 

Photography 

You don’t need an expensive camera and fancy equipment to start getting into photography; all you really need is your phone camera. The great thing about photography? Anything can be a subject: your morning coffee, a bird on a branch, the sunset, anything. 

Similarly to journaling, taking photos can be a way to capture your memories and immortalize your feelings for you to look back on later. I am a pretty nostalgic person, so I often find myself scrolling back through my camera roll and reminiscing due to all the memories attached to the photos saved.  

Taking more photos also helped me to view the world around me in a more positive light, or in other words, to romanticize everyday things. It can be easy to keep your head down and passively walk through life, but when you are actively looking for beauty to photograph, you start to notice just how many beautiful things there are.  

Jewelry making 

My sister is obsessed with jewelry making and says that it’s a great creative outlet when you’re feeling crafty.  

Not only is jewelry making a good form of self-expression and creativity, but it also provides the perfect present to gift your friends and family. Who wouldn’t love a new necklace or bracelet with a personal, handmade touch? 

If you’re unsure where to start, there are plenty of video tutorials for beginners.  

Dancing 

If your interests include getting more physical and breaking a sweat, dancing could be the perfect creative hobby for you. Dancing offers physical benefits like improved cardiovascular health and endurance, but it also provides many mental benefits as well.  

The act of dancing can greatly improve your mood and feel more present and in the moment. It can also be very creative, as it is an outlet to express your emotions and create art through movement. Whether it be original choreography or freestyle, dancing can be the perfect hobby to unleash your creativity and get a workout in at the same time.  

Whatever your skill level may be for any of these hobbies, I encourage you to give at least one a try. It can be difficult to break the unhealthier habits such as doom scrolling on social media or binge watching a whole Netflix series in one sitting, but I can guarantee that integrating these hobbies into your routine and moving towards creating, not consuming, will greatly improve your life. 

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