COVID-19 has certainly taken over our lives and I can feel that after quite a few weeks in isolation many of us are feeling a little edgy. I heard on the radio yesterday, that online shopping in the areas of arts, crafts, active wear, gardening, DIY and home gym equipment are booming. Home baking has taken off as many channel Nigella and my friend Jo Tracey from And Andways can certainly provide some baking inspiration. Just take a look at what was on her menu this week.
This prompted me to pose a question to the Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond Facebook Group:
Hi Sizzlers! Do you have a hobby? What is helping you through this time of isolation?
The answers came in quickly and I was inspired by the variety of hobbies that people are revisiting or trying for the first time. There are so many ways we can overcome boredom and keep entertained during COVID-19. I’m sharing 10 hobbies to try during COVID-19 Isolation, courtesy of the Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond Facebook Group members.
10 hobbies to try during COVID-19 Isolation
1. Water colour Painting
Kathy from 50 Shades of Age is teaching herself watercolour painting with the help of Youtube videos.
2. Photography
Theresa is taking photos of anything and everything. Her latest project was walking through a cemetary taking photos of the headstones and take a moment to reflect in the silence.
Debbie from Deb’s World is in an ‘A-Z of ISO in April’ photo challenge with her family. They are all having fun finding things to photograph around the house and garden, (no further afield allowed), and sharing with each other.
Here is a photo I took over Easter. Mike and I were walking and discovered this beautiful park near our home. I usually walk along the oceanside and never took the time to explore. It is such an oasis.
3. Sewing
Marilyn loves to ‘read, sew, read, sew’. Sewing is one of her ‘happy places’ and Marilyn is currently working on a weekly sewing project challenge.
4. Creating & Mindfulness
Denyse from Denyse Whelan Blogs is using her creativity to pass the time with a mix of designing, drawing, creating & more. She is experimenting by using all types of materials to create patterns. Denyse recently completed a recent 30 day challenge during the early stages of COVID-19. The challenge was to colour or draw & colour a flower a day. It also became a practise in Mindfulness as she concentrated on her project.
5. Genealogy
Lesley is pursuing her love of Genealogy which she told me can be really absorbing. She is enjoying playing detective and has several projects on the go – her own family history, her husband’s family history and also researching a friend’s family history too! Lesley has inspired me to pull out my own records. My two cousins are very much into Genealogy and I have family histories on both my Mother’s and Father’s side.
6. Gardening
Anne and Debbie are enjoying their gardens. Gardening can bring such joy to the soul plus it is a good way to keep fit. I’ve actually noticed that there is more butterflies this year. Perhaps as we aren’t driving as much there is less pollution.
7. Puzzles
Jigsaw puzzles are being completed all over the world and my Best Blogging Buddy, Leanne Le Cras from Cresting the Hill has always been a fan. Jigsaws can be a wonderful way to keep our mind active and sharp. Except of course if you are like my friend Jo Tracey who was missing that one piece! Can you see it?
There have also been puzzles going around Facebook that require concentration to find the difference. Can you find the difference in this one?
8. Online Learning & Fitness
I’ve taken the opportunity to study some short courses through Coursera, which offers many free courses. I’ve maintained my fitness through 3 sessions per week from Strong Healthy Women. Peta Gillian, CEO of SHW has been posting short daily workouts. I also enjoy daily yoga practice through Yoga with Adriene on Youtube. I’m have also been asked to try a Tai Chi at Home App so will see what it is like and give you my verdict.
9. Knitting & Crochet
One of the ST60 & Beyond FB members is Linda Cooper is passionate about knitting. You can find patterns on her website, Mainly Cardigans, Designer Hand Knits by Linda Cooper.
10. Cooking and Baking
As I wrote in my opening paragraph many of us have channelled Nigella and are baking or cooking enough to feed an army. Baking bread for example, can be very soothing as you knead the dough. The challenge is to incorporate some healthier options rather than turning to comfort food. If you are, then perhaps you might like to join in my 7-day Eat Healthy for Life Challenge starting Monday 20th April in the FB Group. No, it isn’t a diet but tips, recipes and ideas for making healthy eating a lifestyle.
If none of the above take your fancy then……..
How are you keeping entertained during COVID-19 isolation? Can you add to my list?
38 Comments
There’s some great ideas here Sue. I’ve also enrolled to do a free online TAFE course in Social Media. That should keep me busy for a few months.
Hi Kathy, I’ve just been a Beta Tester for a Video course which was very helpful plus I’ve almost finished my Fitness Course which I am happy about. x
Great ideas all! I wish I’d had the sewing machine looked at before the lockdown. Lol
I’ve been baking baking baking… still need my veggies though.
Loved the puzzle but too easy.
Keep well and stay safe!
Hi Lea! You clever thing re the puzzle it was obvious once I found it 🙂 Hope you are keeping well xx
Some fabulous ideas here – and thanks for the shout-out! My weekdays are pretty much as they always were – working remotely; but it’s been weekends when I’ve felt like I’ve needed some inspo. Did you see that Australian Ballet is putting up classes too?
My pleasure Jo. No I haven’t seen the Australian Ballet classes but would love that as that is my background having had my own Ballet School in my younger years. xx
Hi, Sue – I love the ideas that you have listed here. Currently, my main hobbies (other than reading) have been born out of necessity. To list only a few, I’ve learned how to make: hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, liquid hand soap, dryer sheets, and dry shampoo for dogs. I’ve also learned how to grocery shop online, how to Zoom and how to cook peas the right way (who knew I’d been doing it wrong all of this time)?! That’s a lot of learning! 😀
Hi Donna, I’m very inspired by all the ideas people are coming up with to keep boredom in check. I also love that you are turning to making products to use. ‘Necessity is the Mother of invention’ so they say. Take care xx
Hi Sue – thanks for the mention – and yes jigsaws do while away a few hours here and there – and I’m reading a LOT atm – on my Kindle because the library is shut. I found a great free site where you can download up to 20 books a day! Plenty of current authors and such a godsend to someone on a budget like me! I’m also enjoying doing some colouring in while I listen to a podcast or two – killing two birds with one stone. x
So many creative ways to stay busy aren’t there Leanne. What is the site with the books? I would be interested in that. At the moment I use Amazon and they have some older but good books for as low as 0.99 .
Hi Sue – just back for #MLSTL and to say I ‘ve shared on my SM – hope you find the book site helpful – it has every book on it that I’ve ever thought to search for – an amazing resource!
Thanks Leanne, I’ve also passed the book site onto Mike. We both enjoy reading so this is a great resource for us. x
Hi Sue, These are all fantastic hobby ideas. I know a number of people who’ve been doing jigsaw puzzles, and tons of people seem to be in the kitchen cooking up a storm. Toni x
Hi Toni, I think a positive from isolation is that people are becoming more creative with their time and revisiting board games and puzzles to keep their brains exercised. x
What a great list of do-able hobbies, Sue, and some of the folks that do them! I stay away from baking because I would just eat it all. But you know I love photography and found an app called Painnt to enhance or change the image with a filter. Of course, blogging is a hobby, too! I could be reading more, but sadly I have a couple of online games to distract me! I also enjoy an online coloring app that keeps me occupied. And last but not least, not necessarily a hobby, but going through drawers, packing and fixing up our house to sell early next year is taking quite a bit of time.
Hi Terri, I haven’t been baking either but have been reading so many books which is my guilty pleasure. It has been a good time to do some decluttering and organising around the home hasn’t it? We will certainly have sparkling, tidy homes by the end of isolation LOL:) Take care and stay healthy xx
Sue, I haven’t developed any new hobbies, but I have adjusted a few old ones to fit the new normal. I am editing old photos instead of taking new ones. We revised the rules of Mahjong to accommodate 2 players, and play every day. It is typically a game for 4 people. We always have a game of on-line Scrabble going and someone is either cooking or baking at all times of the day. Reading books on Kindle (Leanne, please share your free site), and creating new ways to make my morning exercise fun keep me busy. Thanks for nudging us all to stay fit and healthy. Take care.
Hi Suzanne it is the perfect time to do some sorting isn’t it? We tend to put things off until ‘one day’ but now that day has arrived! It has been great to see how creative people have become to overcome the challenges of isolation. Take care and stay healthy xx
Since I am still working part time while retired, I’d have to say “Writing.” It is still something I have to fit in but I had procrastinated for years. In 2018 I promised myself I would write, but it took me a year, actually retiring and another trip home before I dug into the commitment. I minored in Creative Writing in College but all my writing since then has been post grad and professional. So now, I am trying to keep making time for writing and of course reading. I have been in the office way too much, so I am making myself read a book that is not electronic or audio. I just finished a script for a church worship service that I have been wanting to write and excited that it finally came together. Working on a writing project with a friend, that I have been dragging my feet on. Like many others then, I am baking when I can and I bought myself a sewing machine for a retirement gift. I may not get to that until I fully retire, but one never knows.
I love the list, Sue. Our Bloggers are a creative lot and that is a reflection of how we were created. I seems to go together with Leanne’s post on Hope. We will feature this post on the next Blogger’s Pit Stop. Thanks for the great job you do to encourage us all.
Kathleen
Thank you so much Kathleen. My Sizzlers really came up with some great ideas and the genealogy one prompted me to pull out my family history folder. Thank you so much for the feature. Hope you are staying well. xx
Hi Sue, some great ideas here to try and to learn while we’re sheltering at home. I love the beautiful park that you and Mike found near your home. Who knew?! I’ve started an online cooking course, and am also getting back into learning a new language. Life throws curves and difficulties as us, but we can keep moving forward and become stronger and better people. I love you7-day challenge – kudos to you! Take care and be well. xo
A great list, Sue. I’ve taken to trying out new recipes – nothing fancy – just simple, healthy food and trying to make do with the groceries we have. Apart from that, I’m reading a lot.
Hi Corinne, it has been a good time for trying new things around the home. I love to cook although I don’t bake often but yesterday I tried a healthier version of ANZAC biscuits and they taste delicious. I also enjoyed making them. ANZAC biscuits are an Australian tradition the soldiers in WW1 used to make them.
I’ve had ANZAC biscuits, Sue and they’re delish. Glad that you made some healthy ones. We had planned to buy a bake just before the pandemic hit, but that didn’t happen. I’m not much of a baker, but I would like to try out some healthy recipes.
These were very easy to make Corinne and a healthier version which I like. My husband liked them and didn’t really notice the difference which is good. x
I have so many hobbies! And so many projects in the works. Finally purging my craft space and making hard decisions about which projects I am no longer interested in completing.
Hi Leslie a great time for decluttering and deciding what projects to move forward with. I have many ‘free’ courses I’ve started and not finished so I’m doing the same with these. Keeping what I’m really wanting to finish and forgetting the rest. Take care my friend and stay healthy xx
Thanks Sue for the shout out and good to see what others are up to as well.
I hope that as the weather cools we can find some more to do inside but right now, I am loving this autumn weather and plan to walk on the beach tomorrow.
Denyse #mlstl
I love Autumn, Denyse and although we don’t really get the beautiful colours as the leaves change, the weather is at it’s best. Crisp mornings and evenings and warm during the day with sunshine and brilliant blue skies. Take care and stay well, my friend x
Such a great list from wonderfully creative people Sue. I’m enjoying books, riding my bike, doing yoga and daily exercises with my family via zoom. Some days go quicker than others. I’ve for #mlstl
Hi Deb, Leslie’s thoughts on genealogy prompted me to pull out my family history. I think I also told you my cousin sent me some letters my Mum had written to her back in the late 60s and also a couple I had written when I was about 9. Lovely memories. Apart from my course, I’ve been indulging in reading, yoga, and Facetime with the boys. Life certainly hasn’t been boring for me. Take care and thanks for the visit. xx
My situation hasn’t really changed all that much. I’m still working, although I’m doing it from home. But I did get into a funk because we can’t go out as we used to and none of the things that I usually do seem to be helping. So I took up crocheting horribly. It’s something I do once in a while. I’m horrible at it, nothing will come of it, but there’s something soothing in a chain stitch.
I agree about crochet Jennifer I’m not very good at it but it can be soothing. Life hasn’t really changed for me either the only downside is not being able to hug my grandsons but we have been seeing each other through FaceTime so that is a blessing. Take care and stay healthy x
Hi Sue: Such a great list of ideas. I’ve been enjoying my outdoor walks, exercises, yoga, meditation, home projects, and leisure activities (arts, books, concerts, films, language lessons, shows, mostly online). So far not one minute of boredom or lack of things to do. Since mid-March, I’ve tried one new baking recipe in March and one in April. I also looked at some online workout videos to spice up what I’ve already been doing. Take care and have a beautiful week!
I think you always nail it Natalie and great to see you embracing life in #iso. Take care and thanks for stopping by. x
What a great list, Sue. I have to say that since I am still working full-time, I probably don’t have as much extra time as some people. However, I have read more than usual and I pulled out a jigsaw puzzle that I’ve stopped and started several times over the past two years. It’s getting close, so I may actually finish it this time!
Hi Christie, I keep forgetting that there are some people still working in essential services and probably not as affected by isolation as others. I haven’t done a jigsaw puzzle for years but I’ve seen some good ones lately on social media that friends have completed. x