College is filled with all sorts of activities and opportunities, and you’ll usually have something to do to occupy your time. For those days or hours when you have a bit of free time or need a break from your studies however, you may find yourself fidgeting for an activity. College is a great time to pick up some new hobbies and expand your skills in an area of interest, and here are some easy ideas to try.
Not only is cooking fun, but it also has practical value. College meal plans can become repetitive as you find yourself staring at a similar menu every day and eating out is expensive and draining on your wallet. Not only does cooking provide you with a handy life skill, it also saves you money while you’re at it. Buying ingredients is cheaper overall than buying a meal and you can find recipes that will keep you within budget.
Make simple dishes such as spaghetti or a grilled cheese sandwich or try out more complicated recipes to test your skills and add ingredients of your own for a more personal touch. If your apartment or communal kitchen has an oven, baking is a great way to entice your friends to join you for a session, after all, who would turn down the chance for some fresh cookies?
College requires a lot of writing. Whether it’s notes, essays, reports, or research papers you will often find yourself spending a great amount of time looking at a blank sheet on Google Docs or Microsoft Word. However, pleasure writing is a great hobby that can both sharpen your skills and provide stress relief.
Keep a blog or online diary on your computer, write short stories or poetry, writing allows a healthy outlet for frustrations and an expression for your imagination. If you want to share your stories with the world there are several online websites that allow you to publish your work for a community to read under a pseudonym. It’s a great way to get started.
Listening to music is common while working or studying, why not create a hobby out of it as well. Start learning how to play an instrument or remix songs with some software on your computer. Look up obscure music genres and start listening to as many as possible. Having music as a hobby doesn’t require you to be a musician, simply find ways to indulge your love of music in a way that’s comfortable to you.
Another option to jumpstart this hobby is to sign up for a music class at your college. Learn about the history of rock and roll, how masterpieces are made, or simply the basics of music theory. There are plenty of options to choose from.
Photography is a great way to get out and see the world from a different perspective. Carrying a camera around with you ensures that you’ll never miss a moment you wish to preserve. Take pictures while hiking with your friends, or of the blossoming flowers in your yard during spring. The most mundane of objects can turn mystical through a camera lens.
Digital cameras can be bought for as low as $40 on Amazon, so there’s no need to rush out and empty your wallet on that $250 Nikon. Chances are your cell phone has a decent camera built in too!
Fitness is a key part of your overall health in college (along with a good diet and adequate sleep), so what better time to take part in sports than during the school year? Most colleges have club sports that you can participate in without being a member of the official team. Be that star player you’ve always wanted to be and have fun with other students playing basketball, volleyball, or any other sport offered at your school.
If you don’t enjoy team sports, some schools have martial arts sports clubs or pools that are open for student use during certain times of the day. Feel free to look it up what’s available on your school website or ask a staff member at your school gym.
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