If you’re like me, the past week or so has changed a lot of plans. All of my classes have been put fully online and, while I expected this to happen eventually, I find myself wondering what my schedule is going to look like after classes start. I’ll still be living on campus, mainly for my job (and maybe a little bit as an excuse to get away from home). I’m still beyond unsure of what that will look like, but I’m fully motivated to learn and try new things. Whether you’ll be coming back to Lexington or staying at home for the fall, here are five new hobbies you should explore to make the most of your time.
Video Games
If your idea of video games is Call of Duty and NBA 2K, you should be happy to know that there’s much more than that. Some of the most profitable and successful games of all time, like The Last of Us and Red Dead Redemption, are praised for their storytelling value. A great game’s story can be just as entertaining as your favorite movies and shows. Once you become interested in the story — which is easy to do with the interactive nature of gaming — you’ll be surprised by how engaging it can be. With the Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X coming this holiday season, now is the perfect time to get into the endless potential of gaming.
Sewing
This one can be a little expensive to start — a decent sewing machine will cost you around $200 — but you can easily offset the cost by saving money on high-quality fashion pieces. Learning how to make your own clothes and accessories takes away any limits on how you express yourself through fashion. Everything you make will be one-of-a-kind and literally tailored for whatever you want.
Stock Trading
Unlike the first two items on this list, you can start stock trading for free. Robinhood, a free stock trading app, is available online or through a mobile app. You’ll get a free stock just for signing up and can invest as little or as much money as you want. It never hurts to have an extra source of income, and getting interested in stocks can give you just that.
Graphic Design
I first learned the Adobe Suite — Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, etc. — early in high school and have used it ever since. Knowing design can be incredibly beneficial for school-related things like presentations and infographics, but can also be a fun way to create your own posters, stickers, wallpapers or whatever else your heart desires.
A new sport
I’ve spent a lot of time binge-watching on the couch this summer, so sports have kept me active and busy. Whether its something more mainstream like basketball or a more obscure, 2-A.M.-broadcast-from-the-Olympics type of sport, finding a way to stay active is as important as ever right now.