Hobbies are something you do in your free time to enjoy! Being told to ‘get a hobby’ is often perceived as an insult, but having something to dedicate your time to for your happiness is healthy–especially if you’re being creative. Using your time to create a shirt, make art, or even build some furniture gives you a feeling of accomplishment no matter how small the task.

Some hobbies you may not have considered include running, sports (of any kind), coloring, journaling, cooking, board games, and hiking. They help strengthen your body and/or mind with a fun activity. Going outside has also been proven to aid your mental health, plus, asking a friend or family member to join is always fun. Learning from someone you enjoy about your chosen hobby is a positive way to spend some quality time with people close by. If you would like to create, you can consider painting, woodworking, pottery, crocheting, origami, poetry, designing, scrapbooking, photography, or makeup work. Be ready to get creative and practice your skills with tutorials.

Many hobbies are very costly, but you can always start with items from your home. Going outside for some photos taken from anyone’s phone, making your own origami paper, drawing, and most fitness activities are all easy to start at home and without much money guilt. Starting something new is expensive and jumping in with no previous experience is risky. If you are to start something–which you don’t know if you like–and end up wasting $100 bucks, it may deter you from trying out something new that interests you.

To combat money needs, you can try something simple, or request to try it out without spending money on the materials. You can ask someone you know to teach you and you may get some starting materials while learning some hands-on experience. Another tactic is going out to public places. Make sure you have someone trusted if outside in a foreign area with new people, but if you are working out at the school, borrowing some books, or using some art supplies, you can gain just as much without taking a huge risk. Once you learn a little more about your selected project, you can consider buying stuff of your own.

Learning a new hobby can be hard. It may seem unnatural and frustrating but ultimately rewarding. Once you get into the practice, understanding different patterns and finally completing your first project is always an amazing feeling. You’ve pushed yourself to complete it, and even if sometimes you messed up, you kept going! Eventually, you may want to gift your created items and feel confident in the quality and your own ability.

Ultimately, hobbies are meant to be something you enjoy! It’s okay if you don’t like the first thing you pick, and it’s okay if you aren’t very good (at first), because nobody is amazing. No famous chef hasn’t started without burning food and using the materials they have because they’re where they are with dedication and knowing their love for food and cooking. Above all, make sure you enjoy it because your hobby is supposed to be one to love.