As I was sitting here trying to figure out how I wanted to start my first paragraph, I checked my calendar because I felt like I was about 3 weeks into these personal self-care post. Imagine my surprise when I realized this is only week 2 lol. I honestly felt like I’ve provided a few good personal self-care options for some reason already. It’s probably self-care post burnout because I have been working on these Self-care Sunday post for a while now (one year next month) and I think they’re slowly starting to run together. I definitely have to work on presenting my Self-care Sunday post differently in 2022.
Associating self-care with hobbies is not something that I’ve ever done or thought of before but if you really think about it, self-care might be a hobby for some people. For example, playing in makeup is a form of self-care and people may do it on the side and classify it as one of their hobbies. This week I want to provide a list of self-care ideas that you may already engage in that you can turn into one of your hobbies. Hopefully there are a few ideas on this list you can add to your current routine.
WALKS/RUNS this can be done in the morning or evenings and I know there are a lot of people who love to start their day off with a run or a brisk walk (some people do this in groups). While walking or running is usually classified as workout, it can definitely also be a self-care hobby because it’s something that you enjoy doing and you do it consistently.
COOKING this is a personal favorite. I’m no chef but I really enjoy cooking and cooking is a form of self-care for me. It makes me feel good and it’s an opportunity for me to be creative, try new things, and new recipes. Sometimes when I feel down or if I’m having a bad day, I’ll try a new recipe and it changes my mood. I know cooking can feel like a chore for some people so this may not be the self-care hobby for you. Cooking helps me connect with myself and with the meal I’m making.
EXPLORING/TRAVELING one and the same lol I just know some people prefer to stay local. People (like me) prefer to travel and get to experience other countries and locations but there are plenty of people who find gems in “their own backyard.”
THRIFTING this is not an area that I have experience in but I’m assuming it’s basically shopping at thrift stores for various items. I was going to use shopping as a personal self-care idea but shopping can add up, and I didn’t want to include a hobby that would be too costly. I think thrifting is a great middle ground because you get to full-fill your thirst for shopping at a fraction (or less) of the cost.
HIKING some what similar to the concept of runs/walks. I think this is a very popular hobby that I’m personally not a big fan of lol. I find it very difficult to relax if the probability of seeing a snake, some wild animal or the possibility of spraining my ankle has increased. I think if you really enjoy being out in nature then hiking is perfect. You can certainly do it alone or with others.
VOLUNTEERING this personal self-care activity is a great for self-fulfillment. Doing things for others really makes me feel great about myself so I’m a big fan of paying it forward or giving back to the homeless or others. This type of activity is a great reminder of how we can easily take what we have in life for granted, it humbles you. Unfortunately volunteering is not often referred to as a hobby but it certainly can be.
CROCHETING/KNITTING historically this hobby has been associated with the older generation (or grandparents or great-grands) but lately a lot of the younger generation (at least my generation) has bragged about knitting or crocheting. Years ago I worked with someone who knitted a scarf for me for Christmas. And I’ve purchased bulky crocheted infinity scarves from someone (around my age group) on social media. This is definitely a skill and a useful and creative personal self-care hobby.
Self-Care on the go are essentially bite size versions of my self-care challenges. It’s open to anyone but it’s specifically created for moms and other working women; who may not have time to participate in all (or any) of the challenges that I provide weekly because of their mommy duties or busy work schedule. You can access the infographic HERE. I’ve been posting them every Sunday since the beginning of the year and I really enjoy creating them. If you’re one of my readers who participate in, or enjoy these options because you find them convenient, leave a comment and let me know what you like about them or what you think I should change. Thanks for going on this self-care journey again with me this week.
By the way, if you’re interested, my Newsletter and Self-Care Accountability Worksheet is now available. The worksheet will act as a supplement to my daily self-care challenges. The purpose is to help you stay on track with your daily self-care routines. If you’re interested in receiving these items weekly, email me at tam33ks@yahoo.com. The self-care worksheet is FREE, but will only be available to my Newsletter subscribers. I will NOT spam you, I will only email once per week.
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Self-Care At Forty 