With the end of the year fast approaching, I’m sure many can relate to the idea of needing to relax and perhaps distance ourselves from everyday life and stress. And no, you don’t need to go to the Bahamas to do that!
Though I’ve centred today’s post around Teens and Young Adults, I think everyone can agree that having interests, past-times and hobbies can play an important part in being able to achieve that.
Hobbies aren’t for everyone, and that’s totally ok! As long as we can wind down and relax in our chosen way is the most important thing.
But for those who are interested in finding a hobby, not only are they enjoyable, giving us an outlet to express and explore our individual passions, they are also integral in providing stress relief. And we can all use that.
While individual interests and pastimes can be used as a distraction and a means of escaping normal everyday life, I want to focus on hobbies because they involve total engagement, immersion, a sense of passion, achievement, and self-fulfilment. And for teens and young people in particular, they can play a crucial role in self-esteem.
Another plus – they are completely individual. There’s no pressure to fit into a norm, and if so desired, they can be done independently, which is particularly important for those who need alone time to recharge; or, they can morph into much more, e.g. long-term goals or career moves.
So, let’s kick it off with –
The Importance of Downtime
There is so much stress in the world at the moment. Add that to the normal everyday stress that teens and young adults have, and it’s insane. Depending on where they’re at, high school, uni, exam period, job hunting, etc, the level of angst could be like a roller-coaster for some.
This is why it’s so important to schedule in downtime. And sometimes, they might need something a little more than Netflix, a movie, gaming, or reading. Though there is absolutely nothing wrong with any of that!
One thing I have learned over time, is that peer pressure, study/exam pressure, job/work pressure etc can make some feel a bit deflated.
That’s where having a hobby that’s loved comes in.
How to Find or Pick a Hobby
It’s true everyone has their niche. Though it can take time for some to find it.
However, if we’re attentive and honest with ourselves, there will always be a tell. And in the case of our children, this will likely date right back to when they were much younger.
For example, my own three kids. One has always been into outdoor activities, sports, and loved pulling things apart and putting them together. One has always been into reading, gaming, and anything to do with imagination and learning. While my third has always been into creative arts. Seriously, I could not have asked for a more diverse family, it’s awesome!
If you’re a teen yourself reading this, think of something that invokes a sense of ‘God, I’d love to do that’.
It could be something creative/artistic like –
- Photography
- Painting/sketching/drawing/pottery
- Makeup/Cos-play
- Online graphics
- Writing
- Dancing
Or something outdoors/nature inspired –
- Again, this could be photography
- Gardening/Horticulture/Bonsai (and no, this isn’t just for old people! No judgey! 😉)
- Snorkelling/Scuba diving
- Horse riding
- Archery
- Hiking/Bush Walking
- Astronomy
Or even something more hands on, like-
- Electronics
- Wood or Metal work
- Model building
- Cooking
- Instrumental
- Sewing and design
The choices are by no means exhaustive!
Now, some of you may be thinking, ‘I/We don’t have the money or means to do that.’ Which is fair enough. But there are always cheaper options for you to get a sneak peak into something, to see if you like it enough to save up and invest in.
Starting a Hobby on the Cheap
I don’t want anyone to think that all hobbies are expensive, because they’re not. It does depend on what is chosen, and how deep into it you want to go, like anything. Even the potentially expensive ones have cheaper options, that won’t mean they’re inaccessible to you.
We won’t be able to cover all the above in this, but it will certainly give you an idea of how to get a taste for something they might enjoy before spending more on it.
Music/Instrumental
- Rental. Well worth it. Nothing worse than buying an instrument, only to discover it wasn’t for them
- Online/YouTube tutorials/CDs (yep, showing my age), to get a taste, and an indication of how much practice will be required
- And if they decide to commit to an instrument – second hand stores. And always compare prices, and if possible, take someone who knows what to look for, for advice and guidance
- If they’re trying an instrument out through school, some are happy to lend as a trial
Artistic/Creative
- Writing stories or poems costs nothing more than time. (And of course, the pen and paper. If they already have access to a computer, equally good). There are plenty of writing related websites, and How-To books available for the beginner. Many offering resources for every budget
- Using a phone for photography. I’m sure every teen knows how to take photos and selfies, but there are still tricks to be learnt to get some great shots. Found this on UNILAD (Facebook page) to give some ideas. But there are plenty of YouTube videos out there!
- There is a plethora of beginner’s art supplies to be found – everything from lead pencil, water/acrylic paint, charcoal pencils, coloured/water pens etc. It’s amazing! And the art paper books range in quality according to budget as well
So, these are only two areas of interests/hobbies, but you get the drift of how to test the water before jumping in. And for some, this level will suffice, others will want to delve deeper.
The important thing, as mentioned earlier, is that it should not be something that will cause pressure to perform or put out a perceived level of quality. It’s about enjoyment, release, relaxation and fulfilment.
If it turns out they want to take things further down the track, awesome. But for now, let them pick whatever interests them at hobby level. Then sit back and watch them grow.
