Why should moms have to wait until ‘some day’ to finally earn some down time? Why not enrich every day by incorporating your favorite hobby into the nooks and crannies of the busy routine you already have, instead?
Pressures of everyday life and being constantly pulled in too many directions at once can create stress for busy parents. And unfortunately, high levels of anxiety sometimes seem like a pride point granting you entry into an international over-committed mom’s club.
You can make a decision to avoid the club all together by investing regularly in your favorite hobby. Having a hobby is not selfish, especially if the practice is calming and personally gratifying. When you focus on your hobby, you access a greater sense of self-awareness and flow, which leads to clarity about what you think and how to best act on your natural instincts.
So if you want to be the best parent you can be, get a hobby. All of these hobbies are flexible enough to come with you wherever you go as you shuttle your kids wherever they need to go. All you need is a designated grab-and-go bag with your supplies and you are ready to relax at a moment’s notice.
Knitting.
Not just for grandmas anymore. Knitting is enjoying a hip revival and millions of moms, of all ages, are doing it. Why not you? Also check out crocheting.
Book reviewing.
Writing book reviews is a relatively new phenomenon and makes a great hobby for busy moms who want a little accountability for self-imposed reading deadlines.
Sketching.
Were you a doodler in high school? Then why not carry your sketchpad with you and draw whatever is right in front of you? It’s just as enjoyable as it was back then.
Photography.
Whether you use your smartphone and post images to Instagram or prefer toting an ancient 35-millimeter camera with old-school black and white film, you can capture artful images of everyday situations to share with friends and family.
Watercolor painting.
Luckily for painters, watercolors come in portable kits. Try composing a series of watercolor postcards in the car while you wait for practice to get out to get creatively warmed up.
Travel planning.
Dying to rack up some frequent flyer miles? Spending some time each week travel planning just might quench this thirst in the short run, and lead to some exciting future adventures.
Writing.
Whether you journal, write poems, or draft the next great American novel, writing can make a very satisfying hobby. Commit to writing for pleasure for the long haul, and you may eventually decide to submit your work or publish it yourself.
Sewing.
Whether you sew everyday clothes, doll clothes, or fine crafts, the focused, methodical work of stitching can bring smiles to your face and others.
Jewelry making.
Rings, necklaces, bracelets, pins, earrings, oh my! Beading can also be used to create art, embellish clothing, and adorn just about anything you can imagine.
Puzzle solving.
Sudoku or crosswords, anyone? Engaging in a regular mental workout will help you maintain an active, healthy mind, today and tomorrow. Building actual puzzles works, too.
Needlepoint Embroidery
If you feel like the other members of your household do not necessarily excel at attention to detail, this might just be the hobby for you.
Scrapbooking.
Whether this is the photographic record of your family history or simply a creative collage expressed through random cutting and pasting, this pastime is extremely popular and fun.
