Thursday 08-10-2020 - 10:46

Hey guys, Cal here! 

 

In this blog I wanted to talk a little about the importance of hobbies and how they can benefit you.

 

When we were in Government lockdown over summer, one of the things that struck me was the unusual amount of time I had on my hands, as I’m sure was the case with many of us across the country.

 

Being forced out of my original routine and then immediately being expected to adopt a brand-new daily structure was not a good time for me. Personally, I prefer having a regimented daily structure and I know that a lot of students that I have spoken to during this period of upheaval have felt the same way.

 

Don’t get me wrong, being up at 8am for work while juggling my own studies was not the vibe, but it definitely beat having nothing to do! 

 

To cope with this lack of day-to-day structure, I turned to hobbies and other things I like to do during downtime. And you may be sat there thinking - well, isn’t that obvious? – but the truth is change is difficult for everyone, and for many, sometimes obvious solutions are lost in the face of large upheavals.

 

 

Keeping Healthy: Mind and Body

 

To try and explain the importance of having a set of things/activities, myself and your VP of Activities, Ellie Pither, have been talking to students about the summer lockdown and how we personally coped during that time. 

 

For some, the implementation of hobbies has just as much to do with having something to do as they do with maintaining a healthy state of mental health.

 

Edge Hill University student, Gaby, told us: 

 

“My lockdown experience was almost like a trip down memory lane. I began to paint again after years; I had not picked up a paint brush in almost 4 years!

 

“It was a strange one in the sense that I did not realise until I started again how much it improved my well-being and helped me get through such a rough time.”

 

She added, “In addition to that I started to read again. Studying a full-time professional degree leaves you little time to do things that are relaxing due to the huge workload. So, I powered through lots of books and cups of tea!

 

“Finally, I made sure that I went out every day with my dog, even if it was for five minutes. I love walking and hiking in general but due to lockdown restrictions just going for an hour adventure with the dog made the world of difference to my mood.” 

 

I had a similar experience when we all first went into lockdown. I had not written any poetry in a substantial amount of time, but with a new schedule I finally had the chance to do so, and it was nice to revisit something that I really enjoy.  

 

For others, lockdown became a time where they could seize opportunities such as volunteering.

 

 

Volunteering

 

We spoke to Edge Hill University student, Gail, who told us: 

 

“Over lockdown I applied for the IMB - Independent Monitoring Board (a volunteer to go into prisons and check on prisoner’s welfare).

 

“I had heard about it during one of my seminars for criminology. I attended several interviews at Garth Prison over the past few months and I have been given a place on the board.” 

 

 

Following Your Passion

 

For other students, lockdown has afforded opportunities to pursue passion projects. Edge Hill University student, Lauren, writes:

 

“During lockdown, I actually started a blog of my own!

 

“I’ve developed the website through Wordpress, but coded a lot of the website myself (perks of being a woman in tech) and only just got to a point where I can focus on writing content. It’s all about being a woman in tech, or a woman using tech, and making technology a fashionable career choice!

 

“If you’d like to check it out, the link is cocktailsandcode.com.” 

 

 

 

A Word from your VP Activities

 

As promised, our wonderful VP of Activities, Ellie Pither, has also talked about the importance of hobbies, especially in times such as these. 

 

“Hi everyone! Over lockdown I found it crucial to try and keep my mind and body active! If I didn’t, I found myself becoming tired and grumpy.

 

“A couple of ways that I kept myself busy was through painting, reading and doing yoga every morning. All three of these hobbies relaxed my mind and body and it got me through the long days of being stuck inside.

 

“I can’t stress enough how important it is to take up a hobby as it gives you a chance to try new things and develop new skills.”

 

 

Stuck for something to do during term time? Why not check out our amazing societies! From roller blading to board games, there’s a society for everyone!

 

This blog was written by your VP Welfare, Cal Chambers. If you’d like to get in touch regarding future blog posts, your university experience, or opportunities at the Students’ Union, check out the VP Welfare page.