madisonksmithh November 28, 2020

Being a nursing student was the hardest thing I ever did, and my family never experienced it so it was also something I went through alone besides with my close group of friends I picked up in school. I previously enjoyed art and exercising, but gave everything up to focus on studying and passing school. Now that I will have more free time on my hands, I cannot wait to start filling that time with fun things to do instead burying my nose in the books!!

I don’t know about you, but my only resolution for 2020 was to just survive! It had been an emotional rollercoaster, and I was already someone who stayed stressed to the max. For 2021 I already made a list of things I want to accomplish and plan on starting now.

I compiled a list of hobbies that I want to try and see if I fall in love (or back in love with). Check them out below! (:

#1. Journaling (or for me, Blogging!)

I chose to use blogging as a form of journaling to express myself and share my experiences! I currently have a following in the United States and other countries around the world, which goes to show just how connected we all are through the internet and life in general.

If sharing your thoughts and experiences are not ideal, then journaling is a great way to relieve stress. It also gives you memories to look back on later. I have a large mason jar in my room that mom gave me. If I have an experience or memory I want to hold on to, I write it down on a sticky note and slip it in the jar. At the end of the year I open the jar, take a trip down memory lane, and then put all of the memories in a bag labeled with the year. My jar for 2020 has not filled up near as fast as my one from 2019, but I still have plenty of time to make more memories. It is never too late to start documenting your happiness.

#2. Exercising

Oh how I used to love working out! It brought me joy to watch my body change and to feel it grow stronger. I was never one to lift light; I didn’t see the point, and now that I have put on pounds on top of the muscle I gained I look extra big. I have a new found appreciation for low weight, high rep exercises like those in Rev+Flow as I am trying to tone and burn fat without adding any more bulk.

I once loved running. If your body is able to, pick it up. Challenge yourself. When I would run, I pushed myself to where I could go five miles without having to take a break! It was a mental accomplishment in addition to a physical one. Now, overweight and with a broken foot that won’t heal, I don’t run because it will worsen the injury and I need to be on my feet all day for my career as a nurse. Spin, swimming, and tennis are all great activities that burn plenty of calories.

If you have not heard of Rev+Flow and are wondering what the heck that is, then keep reading, It is a high intensity, low impact exercise class. It is offered all over the country by amazing women out of Texas. They began with Refit, which is movement with music, and more recently came out with this new exercise course. They have some videos on YouTube if you want to try them and see if you are interested. You will feel like a noodle after class, but your body will love you for it.

#3. Crafting

I have so many things in tis category that I want to try! Most recently I decided I want to begin making door hangers. The round welcome ones are so beautiful, and I think it would be such an amazing feeling to be able to make them and know I did it.

My cousin, Samantha Sparks, owns her own online store making decorative ones for the holidays in all kinds of shapes! She is so talented and inspired me to begin making them. I think the round would be the main ones I stick to, but I definitely want to try out making cute ones like she has in her shop, Sparks Door Decor! She cuts every frame herself and hand paints them, making them all unique.

At night, when it is time to unwind, I go down a rabbit hole of DIY videos and think about how much I cannot wait for my own home to begin decorating. Anyone else?! Drop a comment at the end of this of your favorite crafting channels!

#4. Baking

I think I enjoy baking more than cooking because it has strict measurements for everything. You know exactly what you need to put in, and the results are consistent.

Over the last year I have collected multiple recipes I want to try, and tried multiple that I love. If you follow me on social media, turn on post notifications to know when I upload again. Savannah and I will be having a baking day very soon and I cannot wait to share the recipes we will be making with you! One will be this absolutely amazing chocolate chip recipe I found that is so easy to make.

#5. Cooking

I know I said I like baking more, but one thing I am trying to learn is to cook. I was always shuffled out of the kitchen as a child, and as I grew up I found things I enjoyed more to spend my time doing. Cooking bored me and by the time whatever I was making finished cooking I either didn’t want it or, I was so hangry I didn’t enjoy it.

Thanks to our Instant Pot, I enjoy cooking more. It is so easy to use and there are so many things to cook in it. I am still learning what I do and don’t like, but trial and error is all part of it. My mom is a pro in the kitchen, but she never measures anything, and my dad is a grill master but thats a whole other battle I am not ready for; so I am still trying to navigate a lot of things with little guidance. I like to Pinterest recipes to try and quite a few (either in the Instant Pot or out) have turned out amazing.

#6. Fishing

I love fishing even though I am terrible at it. I have never caught a fish, which is sad considering my PaPa used to fish competitively and always won. I just never get a bite. Despite all of that, I enjoy it because its peaceful.

I haven’t fished in years, partly from school, partly from not hanging out with anyone who fishes anymore. I have a goal to go fishing every few months at least to find time to get away from all of the crazy and just do something that brings me peace.

#7. Reading

I love reading when it isn’t a textbook. Fiction or non-fiction, if it is interesting I love it. When I was a kid, the smell of old books made me happy. So weird I know, but it was one of those sensory things that I correlated with joy.

Reading can remove you from what is going on today, and bring you to a new place. Words, like color, have the power to move people and to change the world. Why else would there be specific phrases we can hear and immediately associate with someone? Reading is a way to access the thoughts of other to build knowledge, or simply to find entertainment. “Tear down that wall…”; “Holiday Hoobie Whatie?” Two completely different situations; one a monumental moment in history and the other from one of my favorite Christmas movies, but both equally as rememberable. Books have that same power; they are stories delivered in a different format.

I have not read for pleasure in years. I hope to pick it back up and begin again.

#8. Adult Coloring Books

I loved coloring as a child. I don’t know when I stopped, but it feels like it came out of nowhere. Now they make adult coloring books and I want to get my hands on one! I will be beginning my career as a night nurse, which I don’t mind. I actually enjoy nights, other than losing my social life part. There is a stretch though from 3-5am where I feel like I need something stimulating to my brain. I used to study, but now I think a coloring book would be a great thing to do.

I compiled a list of some from different stores if this is something you are also interested in!

Amazon

Walmart

Michael’s

#9. Solve Cold Cases

Anyone who knows me knows I have an unhealthy obsession with serial killers and murderers. I watch the shows, the movies, and listen to the podcasts. Most books I read are murder mysteries.

I know this is strange considering my career path is all about saving people. Fun Fact: I used to want to be a homicide detective and at one point a coroner or forensic anthropologist, but I wanted to help people before they died (among other reasons) so I switched to nursing. It isn’t that I enjoy the thoughts of these acts, I hate them and I hate that humans can do such things to other humans with no remorse. I am intrigued by these things because I want to know the why.

I am a very nosy person, and I want to know what makes people tick. What happened in these peoples’ lives to turn them into monsters, and if it is just that they are awful human beings then what is their drive behind this?

https://database.projectcoldcase.org/?name=&gender=&race=&age=&city=&state=Louisiana&zip=&county=&weapon=&offense=&status=&year=&lea=&reported_min=&reported_max=&more= is a site created where families can submit their love one’s cold cases. In Louisiana alone, nearly 1,000 cold cases are listed. That is nearly 1,000 families still grieving without closure or justice. The hope is that someone viewing the site will recognize a person and be able to give any information to help close the case.

If the real thing is not for you, you can have the boxes delivered to your door from Amazon, that simulate a cold case like this one about Harmony Ashcroft who was murdered in 1998.

#10. Photography

You don’t have to be a professional to take beautiful pictures. One thing I like to do when trying something new is to do research. I watch videos from people with experience, and read articles surrounding the topic. This is how I managed to give Matt an awesome at home haircut during quarantine while working on a margarita.

I have watched a lot of videos on photography and the different characteristics of the camera that can be manipulated to alter photos. I want to learn how to take great photos myself, so when I have special events happening in my life I won’t have to necessarily hire a photographer for all of them to get capture the shots I want. If you have no idea what kind of camera to even get, go to a store and ask for help.

Maybe you’ll get into some of these hobbies and find something you enjoy!!

Xoxo, Mads