Hello friends, we’re almost at the end of January and it seems like a very long month.  How has it been for you?

I have to say it’s been a mixed month, but I like to focus on what catches my attention in these blogs, and this week it is Chinese New Year.  It is such a colourful celebration with parades and dragons dancing, bringing some colour and joy into dreary January days.  What also grabs my attention is the Chinese zodiac and the way the animals cycle around every 12 years.  The animals are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.  You can see lots more information here: Chinese Zodiac: 12 Animal Signs, Compatibility, Horoscopes (chinesenewyear.net)

This year is the Year of the Rabbit, and tradition says people born in the year of the rabbit are gentle, quiet and polite.  They are patient, intelligent and chic.

This time of year I am always reminded that I am the Year of the Tiger, being said to be independent, and enjoying being the leader and protector of average people. I quite like that.

What does Chinese new year have to do with the title of this blog I hear you ask, well as a facilitator, I often have to think of creative ways to get people engaged and comfortable amongst a group of people who do not know each other. Recently I asked a group to tell each other about their hobbies and the question was received with some mixed reactions.  I was surprised that not too many of the group had time for hobbies, which got me thinking about this area.  The Chinese new year, on an annual basis always sparks my interest and yet I never think to go deeper than taking note of the animal representing the current year and then reminding myself of what animal my year of birth represents. 

I do have hobbies, some of which were sparked off during the pandemic, for instance, my exploration into watercolour painting – having a hobby that you can really get lost in, really helps with mental and physical health, so why don’t we take time to do more of our chosen hobbies or interests.  Well, usually people say they don’t have time for hobbies, and I absolutely get that juggling work and home life can be difficult. We think we haven’t got time for hobbies and yet we can spend a lot of time binge-watching Netflix or scrolling social media, and we convince ourselves that we don’t have time for ourselves.

So how can you start to build a new hobby in your life? Here are my thoughts:

1.  Spend some time thinking about the things that get you excited or things you do that make you lose track of time – perhaps read back at my blog about being in flow - Why Being in ‘Flow’ Can Change Your Life (2022) — Jackie Mandeir

2.  Perhaps recall things you used to enjoy when you were younger and have given up on over the years, as these are where you may get some clues as to what hobby you may like to take up. What hobbies did you take up during the pandemic when we were confined to our homes, that you have forgotten about?

3. Don’t have time, think about a typical week and where you may have some ‘idle’ time where you may get more joy from starting a pastime, as opposed to watching television. Even better if you can build it into a schedule and build a habit in the process, a great book to read is Atomic Habits by James Clear – you can read my book review here: Book Review Atomic Habits by James Clear — Jackie Mandeir

4.  Have a look at what your local libraries, social centres, and colleges are offering or join a local club – this is great because you’ll meet new people in the process too.

5.  What are your friends doing that might interest you – playing a sport, singing in a choir?  What about your family members? Do your parents or grandparents have skills you would like to develop, I’m thinking of cooking, gardening, knitting, and crocheting, ask them to help you learn.

6.  And lastly, be kind to yourself – if your chosen hobby is taking time to master, just go with the flow and enjoy the process.  It’s often best not to have any expectations and take any failures as part of the process.

I hope this blog has inspired you to think about your hobbies and interests. I would love to know what your hobbies are – leave me a note in the comments field.

My Favourite Things This Week

Photo of the Week

Don’t forget to tell me about your hobbies, I would love to know. Bye for now. Jackie