Hobbies for Homebodies: A Little Refreshment for the Introverted Mom

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“What are your hobbies?” Ugh. I hate that question. It just reminds me that for a long time, I didn’t have any. Despite the articles emphasizing how important it is for moms to keep up with their hobbies and passions, I didn’t. The person I was 10 years ago doesn’t fit in to my world anymore and neither does her hobbies.

Although I craved an outlet, I simply didn’t have time for a hobby. To be honest, caring for and schooling 4 kids under the age of 7 wipes this introverted Momma out. By the end of the night, sometimes all I can do is put on Netflix and eat something delicious.

That was my hobby for a while. I studied the many flavors of Ben and Jerry and then moved on to Talenti. As fun as that was, my passion for ice cream and Netflix stopped being a source of refreshment and started leaving me even more depleted (despite the 10 pounds I gained). I needed to make better use of my time and what little energy I had left at the end of the day.

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I have come to understand that as an introvert (an INFP to be exact, for you Myers Briggs enthusiasts), I desire to refresh and create at the same time. Here are some ideas in case you find yourself in a similar conundrum. I hope these get your creative juices flowing and make that time between their bedtime and your bedtime a little bit sweeter.

  1. Learn A New Language– Have you wanted to learn a new language? I really have no pressing reason to learn American Sign Language, but it is something I have always wanted to learn. This website has courses for free! If American Sign Language does not interest you, check out YouTube for introductory lessons for a language that grabs your attention. 
  2. Flower Arranging– I know I am not alone in thinking that flowers can transform any room from ‘blah’ to… um… a little less ‘blah.’ You might be like me and just stick the bunch of carnations you get from the grocery store into a vase without much thought. But there’s an art to arranging flowers in a visually pleasing way that I had never considered before. Why not go out and get some flowers from the farmers market and learn how to arrange them? I don’t know this woman, but she is VERY excited to be arranging flowers. That’s who I want to learn from! 
  3. Cake or Cookie Decorating– Again with the YouTube suggestions: ever since I witnessed my husband fix his car using YouTube, I am a firm believer that you can use it to learn anything! Anyway, there are tons of videos on cake decorating and construction. Your first few times are probably not going to be Pinterest-worthy, but if you practice and enjoy it, who knows? Maybe you’re the next Martha Stewart (minus the felony-hopefully). 
  4. Write A Book – Most introverts enjoy reading a good book. Have you ever thought about writing one? If so, start outlining your characters, plot, and brainstorm some general ideas. Get the ball rolling and get your ideas out of your head and on to some paper. If you’re more of a blogger, then get brainstorming on some topics you’d like to write about. Your voice is unique, why not share it?
  5. Brush Lettering– There are some really wonderful introduction books available to learn how to do this, and art can be incredibly cathartic regardless of skill level.  Listen. You do not have to be the best. There are learning curves, and you will mess up. The enjoyment isn’t always in the finished product but in the journey it takes to get there. 
  6. New Musical Instrument– I know you may think that instruments are hard and expensive, but that’s not necessarily the case. There are ukuleles available for less than a hundred dollars and you can find intro lessons on – you guessed it- YouTube. And if you stink at it and hate it, give it to your kids! It’s such a beautiful instrument. Anything that transports me from my messy kitchen to paradise with one chord is worth learning.
  7. New Hairstyles- If you YouTube “hairstyles for _____ hair” you will get a million new ideas for your hair. There are people out there who actually have time to play with their hair and put it on the internet for the benefit of all. Anytime I want to stray from my signature messy bun, I look up a few new ideas.

     So there you go – some ideas for lovely, home-based hobbies. I realize now that I should have named this post “Things You Can Learn From YouTube,” so I hope you’ll forgive me. What’s important is that you really do take some time for yourself to recharge in a truly meaningful way. 

1 COMMENT

  1. I love this. Having a hobby as a mom is hard, but it is so refreshing to do something for ourselves…when we have the time and energy! I’m glad I’m not the only mom who enjoys ending my exhausting day with ice cream and Netflix though. 😉

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