By Rosalie Casavant, College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Well-Being Leader
Everything we do nowadays is online. From school to work to my personal life, I probably spend most of my days looking at some sort of screen. One of the things that always makes me feel better after a long day of work is finding time for an offline hobby. These can be a great way to restore balance in your day and relax. I wanted to share some of my favorite offline activities that help me refresh at the end of a long day full of screen time.
- Going on Walks
Now that the sun is setting earlier, I think it is super important to find time during your day to go outside and see the sun. Whether it’s around campus, along the riverwalk, or at a favorite park, walking can be a great way to reset your body and mind. If you feel the need to recharge, you can walk on your own; if you’re looking for connection, you can walk with a friend; and if you’re looking for a non-human buddy, you can volunteer to walk a dog at the Lowell Humane Society. Walking is something that can be done anywhere with anyone, and is a great option to get some movement into your day too!
- Pottery Painting
I have always been a fan of giving handmade gifts, and with the holiday season rapidly approaching, now is the perfect time to get started making things. Last week, I spent 4 hours at a pottery studio painting by myself, and it was the most relaxed I have felt since the semester started. Painting generally gives you room to be creative, but pottery painting lets you use and display that creativity. Although it isn’t a practical everyday activity, going pottery painting once in a while to unwind is a great way to relax and connect with your imagination.
- Spending time with Friends
Hanging out with your favorite people can be as low maintenance or as high maintenance as you want it to be. If you need to get some work done, grab a friend and go to a cafe. If you need to grab some dinner, snag a friend and head to the dining hall. You can coordinate a get-together with a fun theme, like a potluck or craft night. As I said, it can be as involved as you want, but what matters here is connecting with others and having fun!
- Crafting
If you couldn’t tell by now, creative hobbies are one of my favorite ways to spend time. I think that crafting has limitless possibilities, and it can be a great way to enjoy your time. Here are some of my favorite options for crafting:
- Printmaking is a hobby I picked up within the last 3 years. I love making prints that I can reuse for birthdays, thank you cards, or even posters that I hang in my room. It is always fun to give someone a card that you made with your own hands.
- Knitting is something that I learned how to do in high school. I am not the best, and I can only really knit coasters and scarves, but it is still a soothing activity. It helps me wind down and relax at the end of a long day.
- Bracelet making used to be my favorite summer camp activity. I thought it was the kind of thing that I would get sick of after a while, but once you learn how to read patterns and the basics, it can be a fun way to spend some time and make an accessory!
I hope that you take some inspiration from my favorite offline activities! Remember that it is so important to take some time for yourself, and sometimes, the best way to do that is to disconnect. Prioritize your needs and well-being, and you will definitely see a shift in the way you feel on a day-to-day basis!