Yarn and Sticks

Although it sounds like a tedious task your grandparents would make you do, knitting and crocheting could be your next favorite hobby. There are some more obvious reasons why knitting and crocheting are encouraged, such as its soothing and stress reducing nature; however, it’s really all about trying something new. Even if your first scarf or hat turns out to be a flop, you gained patience and a little more dexterity. Additionally, the next time somebody tells you they like your hat, you can tell them you made it! 

Rooted in Reading

As quarantine progresses, it seems that my screen time is increasing, while my productivity is decreasing. Like most people, I loop through the endless cycle of Netflix, TikTok and YouTube to fill my time watching other people’s captivating lives. In a time where the activities people can do are highly limited, finding entertainment in other people’s lives is a distraction from the lack of entertainment in our own lives. Currently, most of us are finding entertainment through streaming platforms and social media; however, spending this much time using screens is extremely unhealthy, especially when we are spending excessive screen time for school already. Instead of entertaining ourselves in the form of media, another option is to entertain ourselves with these same captivating stories in the form of books, and then watching the movie. In fact, most people’s favorite movies are originally a book. Therefore, I recommend reading books such as The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon, Divergent by Veronica Roth, The Maze Runner by James Dashner, The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. As they say, “the book is always better than the movie!” 

Become an Off-Brand Gordon Ramsey 

In a time where eating food made in restaurants is restricted, now is the perfect chance to try a new recipe. Whether it’s something out of a box or entirely from scratch, cooking can be an amazing opportunity to spend some quality time with family or even by yourself. Furthermore, if you are one of the countless people who made it their New Year’s resolution to be healthier, cooking your own meals will bring you one step closer to that goal. Getting yourself to start cooking can take a little bit of inspiration, which is why I recommend watching Buzzfeed Tasty videos to get inspiration. The fast paced video and the mouthwatering presentation will get you up and into your kitchen in no time! 

Awaken Your Inner Passions

The allure of a passion project comes directly from its name: passion. Though quarantine days can be long and taxing, that just gives us more hours in the day to start a personal endeavor. Perhaps 2021 will be your year to ride the Tiktok creator wave. Whether you enjoy crafting movie reviews or piecing together elaborate outfits, there will always be a niche for you to fill in. If you prefer a more mellow platform to share your content, consider starting a personal blog on Wix. My cousin created her own account over the summer to document photos and small tidbits about her everyday life as a premed student in Korea. Think of it as a virtual diary. It’s never too late to pick up on a hobby or write memories into permanence. 

Swirls, Swatches, and Sketches

From what I observed on Instagram and Twitter, it seems like Himi Gouache paints are all the rage these days. I’ve tried them myself before—they’re smooth, very pigmented and perfect for beginners! But if you’re looking for a more affordable and virtual option, say no less to the Autodesk Sketchbook. It’s free on the App Store and offers innovative art tools like curved rulers, grid options and blurring brushes. Though my tendencies to create digital art have become more sporadic over the months, I can definitely testify to that Autodesk is the #1 art app to download. Talking about sporadicity brings me to my next point: try challenging yourself to commit to one sketch per day. Your art doesn’t have to be perfect, but consistency undoubtedly ensures steady improvement. I suggest joining an art discord, or following along with a Youtuber you like in order to pace your progress. So long as you have your school iPad (I hope you do…), the possibilities are infinite. 

Run to Escape the Apocalypse!

Exercising and zombies: an unlikely, yet beautiful combination. Chloe Ting can’t convince me to exercise. Neither can loud personal trainers on TikTok. Not even the compounding number on my weight scale. But zombies? I draw the line there. I’m talking about the “Zombies, Run!” app available on the App Store. The premise is very simple: get fit and become an apocalypse hero at the same time. The app processes running routes in your local area to craft unique “missions” to fulfill, coupled with an epic soundtrack and tracking GPS. Perhaps you can befriend a running mate. Or go down the multitasking road and walk your dog as well! Do whatever you can to get those steps in.