Diary entry 6💋
I feel like all I do is waste time on my phone scrolling. How can I get into new hobbies?
Omg first off same!! We've alll been there when you pick up your phone for a quick scroll and suddenly it's dark and three hours of doomscrolling has passed and you don't even remember or even enjoyed what you have just watched. But don't worry, you're not lazy or broken, social media is literally designed to pull us in and kept us stuck and hobbies are a great way to combat doomscrolling!!
Firstly to create the time for your new hobbies setting boundaries with your phone is a great way. They can super simple like no phone 1 hour after waking up or no phone after 9pm, whatever works best for you! Remember this isn't about punishment, it's about creating little windows of space, you don't need to quit your phone forever if you don't want!! If it sounds good, you could even take a full break/ detox from your phone, you can try one 'no phone' day a week. Choose a day where you're not overly busy and just give yourself the permission to be bored, being bored is the key to your brain being creative in ways to be stimulated and explore ways to fill that doomscrolling space.
To find hobbies you will actually like:
- Look back at your hobbies that you have had throughout your life, would you like to revisit any now?
- Start cosy and fun, autumn is the perfect time for low-pressure, comforting hobbies like baking, reading, journaling, knitting, colouring, or puzzles.
- Use Pinterest as inspiration, you don't need a perfect aesthetic or a haul of supplies to begin. Research recipes with things you already have in your cupboards. Look around your room see if you have any unfinished projects, or craft supplies etc.
- Join things, hobby-based clubs, local girl clubs, creative workshops or even online social media clubs or servers like book clubs.
- Let it be messy and let go of perfectionism, you won't like everything you try and that is totally okay!! You don't need to be amazing at anything, it is all supposed to be fun and low pressure xx
If you still love social media and still want a place for it in your life, you don't have to cut it totally out of your life, you just need to be more intentional. For example:
- Youtube is a create long-form social media platform that is totally unique for you, you can choose exactly what you are consuming wether that is crocheting tutorials or daily vlogs, it is all content you genuinely enjoy!
- Curate your Instagram and Tiktok accounts, unfollow accounts that make you feel bad or bored. Prioritise creators who inspire, entertain you and make you feel good about yourself. Use platforms as part of your hobby, follow crocheters, bakers, readers, crafters etc. That way, when you do scroll, you're at least feeding your curiosity.
If you do scroll, don't beat yourself up it is completely okay and can be enjoyable!! Your hobbies are supposed to be low pressure and fun not a shame device. Don't set yourself unrealistic goals like read 20 books if you haven't read in years. Start small and start curious, half the fun is in the discovery and it does take time. Let your hobby be something that feels good, not a chore xx
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