Bored? Hobbies can Help!

What's YOUR thing? (remember that ad??) 

Every January, during National Hobby Month, people through the Foothills celebrate their favourite hobbies and try out new ones.
From outdoor activities like swimming or hiking to artsy projects like painting or knitting! 

During this month, don’t just stick to your regular routine. Expand your list of hobbies and share the ones you love! 

Need help?
These people around town can help you get a new hobby kickstarted!

Art 

Whether it's putting pencil to paper or playing with material found in nature, art-making can be a stress-reducing activity that can be rewarding! Researchers have found that creative activities predict significant increases in the next day well being, and promote feelings of calm and contentment.

Music 

Musical instruments are generally a more expensive commitment, and while choosing an instrument comes down to personal preference, there are two more affordable instruments worth trying: the ukulele and the piano.

-Music Central Ltd
-Voice Studio of Naomi Koch
-Lions Music Fest 

Reading 

When was the last time you read a book? Do your daily reading habits center around tweets, Facebook updates, or the directions on your instant oatmeal packet? If you’re one of countless people who don’t make a habit of reading regularly, you might be missing out.

Reading has a significant number of benefits, and here’re 10 benefits of reading to get you to start reading.

-Okotoks Public Library 
-Little Free Libraries near me!

Writing 

The world needs more storytellers! 
Writing is a great way to express your thoughts, emotions, ideas. It’s a way of understanding yourself better. With your imagination, you can even create your own world. 
So, start writing and communicate with yourself and the whole world.

-Authors Night THIS Thursday
-Any Writers near me?
-Local Book Clubs

Dance

Remember when you were young and danced like no one was watching? It's a natural human expression to want to move to music as a form of enjoyment and to release tension.

-ADA
-Heart to Soul

Cooking

Getting dinner on the table fast on busy weeknights is no one's idea of a relaxing hobby. Cooking for necessity, however, is a very different experience than making food for pleasure. Researchers have found that people who endeavour in self-sufficiency projects like cooking and baking experience mindfulness and well-being as a result.

-SPOTLIGHT with Daren Nixon 
-Home Cooking

Or maybe try...

Knitting

With the cold weather upon us and the holiday season not far away, now is the perfect time to get into the hobby of knitting.
And the countless YouTube tutorials and affordable person-to-person online classes make it an easy activity to get involved in, and one that can be stress-relieving, promote happiness and has social benefits

.

-Foothills Advocacy In Motion Society (FAIMS)Foothills Advocacy In Motion Society (FAIMS)
-Clothing for a Cause

What are you picking up this month? This Year?