Making time to do things we enjoy in our free time is super important to our overall well being. As we get older, our schedules get busier and it gets harder to get “me time.” Scrolling through social media often leaves us unfulfilled so it is crucial to find time to do more things we actually enjoy doing!! Below are 5 adult hobbies to incorporate into your life and spice up your typical weekend…

G E T  A R T S Y

First off, if you like to get creative and do things with your hands, art is a super fun activity. Paint by number is a great way to relax and unwind. It allows you to paint without having to learn the skill or start from scratch. All the paint and utensils come together in a pack so it is super easy. After you finish, you can frame your paint by numbers and hang it in your home to enjoy. During the warmer months, you also can get outside and set yourself up on a blanket or at a table and create a beautiful painting that you could even later frame. Nowadays, you can also go somewhere like Color Me Mine or Painting with a Twist to paint without the clean up. The instructors at these places go through every paint stroke step by step making it easy and relaxing for everyone. Doing something artistic with your hands is actually a known stress reliever and can soothe the mind as well as the body. Sometimes it is the little things that bring us the most joy.

J O I N  A  B O O K  C L U B

On the flip side, if creative activities are not your thing, you can always get into reading books. There’s nothing better than opening a book and getting away from reality for a little while. Joining a book club is a really fun and social activity if you’re looking for something new to try with friends!! Pick a book (I personally find great suggestions from Reese’s Book Club!), and meet once a month to discuss over yummy snacks and great conversation. Print some discussion questions, and enjoy a great book with great company. Having a group partake also keeps you accountable to set aside time every week to read.

C O O K I N G

J O U R N A L I N G

Journaling is so good for your mental health. Getting all your thoughts out of your head and on paper is soothing for the mind and soul. There are so many journals out there nowadays for everyone and we even have some at Stile. Papier also has cute journals with personalized touches like your name or initials. If you want more than just blank pages, “Wreck this Journal” has coloring sections, and more fun add-ons to enjoy. I personally love taking 20 minutes to write about my day at the end of the night. It’s something I also will look back on as I get older.

G A R D E N I N G

Our Newtown Square manager, Devon, is an avid gardener and she is giving me all the inspiration to give it a shot this spring. You don’t have to have a big outdoor garden either. You can start with some small indoor house plants that are low maintenance and easy to care for. My favorite houseplant is from produce junction - it is a Peach Lily Plant and it lasts almost 6 months. You just water it once a week and put it near a window with sunlight. It brings such peace and tranquility to my apartment. In the spring and summertime, gardening is a great way to relax and get outside. Our Newtown Square manager, Devon, buys seeds at the local flower store and plants them in her outdoor garden at home - I am going to reach out to Devon for her more in depth gardening tips!!

Living your best life should be important to you! Doing things you actually enjoy and that make you happy can be difficult sometimes with our hectic lifestyles but it is something you can’t forget about. Prioritize yourself by spending time doing fun, wholesome things! We all need a little TLC time off our devices to relax and unwind.