16 Stylish Pass Times To Pick Up this Holiday Season
16 Stylish Pass Times To Pick Up this Holiday Season
By Madalyn Dudley — December 10, 2024
Cold temperatures and burnout can make many of us want to curl up on the couch and stay stationary until the first day of the spring semester is upon us.
Article cover image from Dupe Photos.
While we all deserve time to rest and should listen to our bodies as we recover from a challenging fall, we must take time to recharge while also stimulating our creative sides. Whether you view winter break as a time to relax or a time of celebration, there is a hobby that can excite us in new ways as we look to unwind and get in touch with what brings us joy.
1. Embroider your personal touch
Embroidery is a timeless craft that not only allows you to focus your thoughts on a project but also leaves you with a beautiful final product that you can gift to family and friends this holiday season. You can embroider names, special dates, and even inside jokes on clothing or fabric pieces, or you can use a premade design like this one from Etsy that gives you everything you need to complete the craft.
2. Perfect your handwriting
The art of calligraphy can level up any holiday party or Christmas card with only a gentle swipe of your pen. This beautiful art form is a skill that will never go out of style, and the time and effort you put into it is likely to be greatly appreciated by whoever is the recipient of your work (even yourself!). Begin practicing your skills with beginner kits like this one from Written Word Calligraphy.
3. “Start” your sourdough journey
With influencers such as Ballerina Farm and the sourdough starter “Eloise” taking the internet by storm, 2024 has been the year of sourdough bread. It has now never been easier to begin your own starter at home as many content creators have taken the time to break down the exact steps you can take in order to begin baking your own sourdough goodies within a week. Take a look at this guide to get a glimpse into the few ingredients you need to start baking: An Absolute Beginner's Guide to Sourdough Starter and Bread from The Kitchn.
4. Branch out to a new genre
A classic hobby that never truly gets old; reading is a great way to either expand your knowledge base through insightful nonfiction or escape reality through captivating fiction. The 2024 New York Times Best Sellers is a wonderful place to look for the perfect book to engage your mind by the fire.
5. Learning a new language
If you are the type of person who is always looking for new ways to learn, there is no better time to discover a new language than during winter break. With no classes or projects on your plate, you can focus your attention on your new language. Apps such as Babbel and Duolingo are wonderful learning platforms that allow you to learn the language at your own pace.
6. Challenge your cooking skills
Let your family and friends be your own personal food critics this holiday season. With extra time on your hands, you can perfect that chocolate chip cookie recipe you’ve been messing around with or you can even pick up a new obsession like crafting your own pasta.
7. Crochet your closet
You will never buy winter accessories again after you begin crocheting your own chic pieces. Crocheting truly has no limit as the popularity of crocheted sweaters, hats, and scarves continues to rise. After you perfect your craft, you have a skill that can provide heartfelt holiday gifts for life.
8. Tailor your old styles
Oftentimes, many of us use holiday breaks as a time to go throw our closets and make some tough decisions to make room for incoming gifts. Instead of tossing your older styles, take the time to play with the pieces to see if there is any possibility of “upcycling” them into a more innovative, useful piece in your closet. If the piece no longer has a place in your space, you can also use it as a way to practice your tailoring skills if you are currently a beginner in the sewing world.
9. Needlepoint your next decoration
Many people find needle-pointing a daunting craft as they have a biased notion that each project takes “too long”. However, with the perfect starting materials and a project that fits best with your schedule, you can make the perfect new accessories for your home or wardrobe in due time over the holiday break. Visit Needlepoint.com to get started with everything you need!
10. Melt and mold your favorite scent
Candle-making was on the rise in 2024. If you’re looking to experiment with shapes or scents of candles, look no further than the thrift store to get your project started! Thrift a fire-safe container, (preferably dark-colored), purchase your wax and oils from Amazon, are start making your home smell amazing.
11. Play with clay
Clay crafts are such a simple and cheap way to show someone you love them by crafting a memory you share. With one quick Pinterest search, you can find hundreds of clay craft ideas to make over the holidays. All you need is an oven, a tub of Crayola Clay, and some paint, and you have everything you need to start crafting.
12. Low impact exercise
Even in your exhaustion following the semester, it’s very important that you continue to find creative ways to move your body to maintain good physical health. Low-impact exercises such as yoga and pilates are wonderful exercises to help you practice your breath patterns and stretching techniques so that you can release the stress from the semester. These exercises can be practiced at home via YouTube videos or in person at a studio; both options are great opportunities for you to move your body in new ways.
13. Thrift your new favorite piece
Sometimes the greatest gift or new outfit can be found right under your nose. If you are looking for ways to use a few hours of free time, take yourself to the thrift store and allow yourself to imagine innovative ways to include different pieces into your everyday life. From clothing to home decor, thrifting opens up the opportunity to completely revamp your style with a cheap cost and minimal harm to the environment. A win-win!
14. Junk journaling
What better way to reminisce on the memories from 2024 than to begin your junk journal? If unfamiliar, a junk journal is a scrapbook of sorts that allows you to use your old photographs, memorabilia, and other “junk” together to create your own personalized memory hub. The art of junk journaling is that it does not have to be perfect, it is yours and yours only, so you can make it whatever you want it to be so that it best mirrors your memories when you reminisce on it in the future.
15. Explore your hometown
Oftentimes the most beautiful landmarks within our towns will bring tourists from all over, but we have personally never seen them. Even in the smallest of towns, each have something special that is worthy of exploration. Whether its a hiking trail, business, or even an excursion, take time to research your hometown and take day trips to help you rediscover the magic within the town that raised you.
16. Try a new painting method
Although we have all painted in some way before, whether in art class or professionally, it is always fun to discover new ways to create art using old skills. Even if you have never been artistically inclined, many painting methods don’t require any skill at all, just a creative mind. Pinterest and other apps have several examples of at-home art pieces done by artists of all skill levels that can help you discover a new technique that could excite you. Also, never discount electronic painting methods, as some of the current best art pieces in the world have been done via an electronic device.
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