Fill Your Free Time

5 Fun Ways To Fill Your Free Time

How are you spending your free time these days? Binge-watching the latest streaming fad (again) or scrolling through your social media feed to see what everyone else is doing? While this can be a fun way to spend some of your time, there might be another way to spend more of your time. Ever think about starting a new hobby?

Hobbies are a great way to reduce stress and increase your social circle. Participating in an activity you love energizes and inspires, so why not search out one (or five) new ways to spend your time? To get you started, here’s a list of activities that could be your next favorite pastime.

Hiking

If you enjoy spending time in green spaces and getting in your steps, why not combine the two and take a hike? Current research shows that spending time in green spaces has health benefits like being able to recover from stress faster and improved mental health. Then if you add walking to your outdoor time, you’re getting in physical movements and all the perks exercise offers, says Curtis Carman, director of education at The Parklands of Floyds Fork.

To get started, Curtis says it’s a good idea to first research the type of hike you’d most enjoy. “Decide if what you’re up for is a short walk or a few miles,” Curtis says. To help you schedule your walk, it’s good to know the average person hikes one mile in around 25-30 minutes. Curtis also says it’s important to bring water and to let somebody know where you’re planning to hike. “If you’re hiking alone, let people know where you’re going and what time you’re planning on being back,” says Curtis.

When it comes to hiking as a hobby, Curtis loves being able to spend time with friends in an unplugged setting. “It’s nice being out in the woods because people feel less guarded,” Curtis begins, “it’s easier to connect while we’re out in nature. And when he chooses to hike alone, he finds comfort in listening to the wind blow and just destressing. So, grab your sense of adventure and try hiking as a new healthy hobby.

Furniture Painting

Looking for ways to channel your inner Vincent van Gogh? Why not paint your own sunflowers on that bedside table and give your old furniture new life? Restoring furniture is a hobby that keeps your creative mind working while making sure your budget stays minimal. Terri Coultrap from Consignments Plus in Louisville says painting furniture is a project anyone can do. “It’s only paint,” she begins, “and if you don’t like it you can paint over it.”

To get started, Terri suggests buying an easy-to-use paint like a fusion mineral paint. This type of paint is easy for beginner use and requires minimal prep. “It’s really very doable,” Terri explains. It already has a built-in top coat and is self-leveling for a smooth finish. If you’re wondering what furniture piece makes a good starter, Terri says a lamp is a great first project. “Everybody’s got an ugly lamp in their house, so why not just paint it and bring a pop of color into your room,” Terri says.

Furniture painting suits the introvert and extrovert because it can either be accomplished in your own home or in a group setting. Consignments Plus offers beginning furniture painting classes monthly providing a great time to meet new friends and to ask about different products. So get your old furniture and new paintbrushes ready because as Terri explains, “Painting can be therapeutic, so restore what you have and make it you.”

Disc Sports

If your dreams center around flying, then maybe a flying disc sport is your new hobby. Disc sports are games or sports that are played with, well…you guessed it, a disc or (its trademarked name) a Frisbee. Two of the most popular disc sports are disc golf and ultimate.

“Disc golf is an individual sport and you’re playing very much the same as golf,” says Colin Grandon, an avid disc sports player for over 15 years. A player must throw from behind the teeing area and subsequent shots are played from where the previous shot came to rest. The hole is finished when your disc rests in the basket or the chains. Colin says a lot of disc golf is played out in the woods so if you’re looking to get out in nature, disc golf is good for that.

Colin explains that ultimate requires a higher level of physical fitness. “This is a continuous type of play, like soccer, when you’re moving around trying to score, but you’re scoring in an end zone like football,” Colin says. Ultimate is definitely a team sport and this is an element Colin thoroughly relishes. “It’s fun playing throw and catch in a relatively competitive environment,” he says.

For a newbie disc player, doing an internet or social media search for local ultimate or disc golf associations or clubs is a good starting point. Then Colin says, just go and have some fun!

Tap Dance Classes

Ever wondered what Gene Kelly felt like when he shouted “gotta dance” in the musical Singin’ in the Rain? If you answered “yes,” then you might want to “shuffle off” to your nearest tap class. Tap dancing as a hobby is a wonderful low-impact workout that improves coordination, balance, and mental focus. Plus, it’s super fun.

Broadway performer and one-time dance assistant to the legendary choreographer Bob Fosse, Gail Benedict knows the benefits of tap dancing all too well. “I always say tap dancing is just walking in time, so you’re still getting in your steps for the day.” Gail teaches beginning tap at The Louisville Ballet School and explains that her class focuses on the basics and fundamentals of Standard American Tap. “My classes are small so my students get lots of personal attention,” she says.

Taking a tap dance class is a great way to make new friends, listen to good music, and get in your exercise. Gail suggests wearing comfortable pants above the ankle to your first class and bringing your own pair of hard-soled shoes. You and your instructor can have a discussion about what kind of tap shoe is a good fit for the future. Your next step? Immerse yourself in the joy of your new tap dancing hobby. “If you have a feeling for music and you can walk, you can learn how,” Gail says.

Beekeeping

Want a bee-utiful hobby that inspires you and supports the environment, too? Beekeeping is all the buzz. It’s a fascinating endeavor that not only improves the pollination of our local flowers and crops, but studies show beekeeping lessens stress and depression. “The bees make me slow down,” says Mary Gerstle of the bees she keeps. Watching the bees flying from flower to flower doing their pollinating work is a reminder of how interconnected we all are, Mary says. “I love that. Bees are just amazing.”

Beekeeping takes some pre-planning so Mary suggests reading up on bees and all the accessories this hobby demands. “You need to decide what type of beekeeping you’d like to do,” Mary says. This requires choosing your hives (the type and how many), the species of bees you’d like, and a safe space for them to live. The best time to begin is in the spring and there are great local beekeeping clubs like the Kentucky State Beekeeping Association where you can learn more about your new hobby and meet other bee enthusiasts. Mary’s favorite part about her pastime, besides the honey, is the bees themselves. “It’s the bees that bring me back,” Mary begins, “the more I began to deep dive into Mother Nature and things about bees, the more I was fascinated by them.”

By Tonilyn Hornung | Photos submitted

Winter 2022-2023 / TodaysTransitions.com