If you’ve read any of my other posts, you’ll probably gather that I like to keep busy. What that says about me im not sure, but sometimes I do wonder whether I’ve been subconsciously preparing for something like this. Hoarding hobbies like toilet rolls, waiting for time to kill.
But I also know how easy it can be to get into a rut, particularly when one suffers from an overactive mind and anxiety. So I’ve decided to compile a list of all the more active things I’ve decided to do (for mind as well as physically) when stuck for inspiration.
Running – running for me is less of a sport to keep fit, and just something to get rid of nervous energy. I used to be self conscious, and I think thats exactly when you should do something. Its a very freeing activity, and there’s a lot of great personal achievements you can work towards to keep you progressing.
Yoga – my lockdown goal was to work towards side splits. I’m very, very nearly there. Otherwise, yoga can be done in bite size sessions to YouTube videos or, as I prefer, making up a routine as I go. Sometimes, just a good morning stretch is all you need.
Writing – recently I got back into creative writing, including short stories and something I thought I’d never do – poetry. There will be critics out there (I haven’t been brave enough to present any original works yet) who think writers should have a certain style, say things in a certain flowery way. But I think writing, like art, should be allowed to be in any style, because that’s your voice. Some of the most enjoyable poetry I’ve read gives me an insight into someone’s experience with raw words, and some of the best stories I’ve read make me hear a real voice.
Writing, as research has taught me, is very much based on personal preference. Individual scenes might be best written separately and not necessarily chronologically, but I find the authenticity of the progress, for want of a better word, is best found from the beginning. Just make up a character, perhaps one based on yourself or a personality trait, and go with it. F Scott Fitzgerald and Charlotte Bronte used characters based on themselves, and you can too.
Cooking – up until recently, much of my baking was out of a box, but that’s a one time deal. But now I have quite a collection of essential baking and cooking tools (as well as a search history showing a lot of hits for BBC Food). So far, my projects have included sushi, cinnamon rolls, cheesecake and carrot cake. I did try those fluffy Japanese cheesecakes a couple of times but it has more of an omelette consistency once its cooled.
Tidying – yes, tidying. Organising. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, I truly think tidying might be one of the most therapeutic things you can do. Tidying, organising, they give you control over your space and, in some ways, your life. Dramatic maybe, but mentally, I always feel happier in a clean room with fresh bedding and all my washing exactly where I know it should be. I also like to organise my books, not for the fact that they’ll be organised, but for the process of sorting them, into whatever system strikes at the time. Genre, alphabetically, author, authors alphabetically, anything goes. I personally have mine based on read, fiction and nonfiction. The other night, I did sort my gemstone collection too. Just to look at the pretty colours.
Paint a Mental Picture 