A huge thing that has helped me through this pandemic is spending my time in what I knew was meaningful to me. As a student, the huge shift to online learning brought my risk of burnout to a dangerous high. My time spent on schoolwork and the responsibilities I had at home blurred together all the boundaries that I had worked hard to create to maintain some balance in my life. However, it was recognizing the loss of fulfilment in what I was doing, that led me to realizing how I can take advantage of the move to virtual platforms and was able to find opportunities for me to contribute to my community and make an impact from the comfort of my own home. At the same time, now more than ever, I had the time and resources to revisit my long-time hobbies and seek out ones that I’ve always wanted to try.
According to 7 Summit Pathways, hobbies can provide a sense of purpose that can help to reduce stress and rediscover our interests and strengths, especially in times of restlessness or limited activity. This sense of purpose allows us to stay motivated in the daily nuances of balancing everything going on in our lives. Arguably, it is also one of the most effective methods of self-care, in that we allow ourselves to commit to rest and have fun in our own way.
My favourite, most reliable hobby would always be reading. For me, it is one of the best ways to take a break from technology completely, and because it is difficult to multitask, it is a great way to restart my level of focus. What fascinates me most is that no matter the genre, there is so much room to learn and explore different perspectives on the world around us. It is also a great chance to reflect on ourselves.
Trinity Ramos
YQL Awarded Volunteer