Hope your year has been off to a good start, so far! It’s never too late to pick up new skills and interests, be it for expanding your understanding, or even for personal wellness. I’m all for self-development, and what better way than to take up a new hobby? The best thing about it, is that you are entirely in control of what you want to get into next. Always wanted to paint? Pick up a brush in 2018. Calligraphy videos got you oohing and aahing all day? Go for a workshop and try it yourself. If you’re out of ideas, or just need some inspiration to get going, here’s a list of five hobbies to pick up in 2018.

1. Calligraphy

It’s everywhere; on wedding invites, cake displays, and beautiful handmade cards. So why not pick it up and become a calligrapher yourself? All you have to do is look out for said calligraphy workshops and attend one. Here’s some workshop sites to keep an eye on – Artmkr, Kligraphy, and Stickerrific. Otherwise, DIY it and learn from watching YouTube videos (like how we learn to do everything else). Some YouTubers I enjoy watching – Shayda Campbell, How to Hand Letter, and AmandaRachLee.

2. DIY skincare

As we become more conscious about the things we’re putting into and on our bodies, I really believe that 2018 is the year of DIY skincare. We can see the trend in Malaysia picking up as more and more people have started making and selling their own natural skincare products at bazaars, flea markets, and even online. If you have the interest, it can be remarkably easy to make your own simple scrubs and soaps. You can look for local workshops on how to make your own soaps, or search online for guides on how to make your own coffee grounds products and even lip balms. These homemade natural skincare products would also make wonderful gifts that are environmentally friendly.

3. Composting

A big way to reduce our waste is to recycle where possible. Composting is a great option for all the kitchen scraps like skins of fruits and vegetables, eggshells, and even coffee grounds. Check out this beginner’s guide to composting and start saving your scraps in an airtight container or bag. Harvesting your first fruits or vegetables that used the compost as fertiliser, will be incredibly satisfying, I guarantee it. (By the way, if you’re wondering what to do with all the extra CNY oranges besides composting, check out our list of 10 things to do with oranges.)

4. Traveling

While I understand traveling might not be for everyone, this is for those who always felt like they might like it, but haven’t really gotten around to doing it. Sometimes we need a reminder on how traveling and experiencing new things is not about how far away you are from home. Yes, getting to new places might cost quite a bit depending on your destination, but this can be a reminder to start nearby, and explore what’s around us first. For instance, did you know that Selangor has it’s very own version of Salar de Uyuni? Traveling is more about opening your heart to new experiences than anything else, and taking a break from everyday life. If you’re interested in visiting our Southeast Asia neighbours, here’s a list of places to visit in March 2018, to get you started.

5. Process painting

Gone are the days where painting was only done with the sole intention of creating art. If the idea of having to create something beautiful every time you paint stresses you out, it’s time to look up this thing called process painting. Essentially, importance is placed in the process of the painting, not the end result. As you can imagine, the experience can then be very therapeutic because the pressure of the result is not applicable. This year, I urge you to go forth and paint away your stress.

May the rest of 2018 be great for creating, relaxing, and making fantastic memories. We got this!