An unexpected change in your lifestyle can create moments of leisure that you did not have before. By doing useful activities in your spare time, you will become more energetic, you will be more satisfied with your days, and you will strengthen your creativity as well as your enthusiasm. For example, you can practice a new hobby, volunteer in an association, learn a foreign language or join a religious institution.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Enrich your skills
Step 1. Broaden the scope of your knowledge
Enroll in a university course for adults. Take advantage of your free time to learn as a dilettante and acquire knowledge that has no direct impact on your job or the course of your professional career. Engage in this learning only to learn in peace, without stressing yourself.
- There are plenty of choices. You may have always wanted to explore archeology, learn ballroom dancing, wilderness first aid, hang gliding, or make jewelry.
- Find clubs in your area that use the Meetup app or a website to communicate with other people.
Step 2. Gardening
It’s a great way to have fun and manually work to create food for family and friends. Cacti are curious plants that produce beautiful flowers and they can last forever. You can also easily grow herbs either in an artisanal setting or to complement your recipes.
You may have good gardening experience. In this case, redesign your garden or modify your crops. Try to change your approach and create for example a meditation garden or a garden in Persian fashion
Step 3. Get a taste for cooking
Make this activity a pleasure instead of a chore. Discover new recipes to have fun and not out of necessity. Take a cookbook and practice. You can also look at the ingredients you have in your fridge or cupboards, and search online for a recipe to use them. For example, search for "Broccoli, Pineapple and Jalapeño Recipes."
- Spend an afternoon baking cakes or learning a new activity.
- When you have mastered your tasty recipes, organize a relaxed dinner for your friends and family.
Step 4. Learn a foreign language
This is a great way to stimulate your curiosity. This will make it easier for you to understand other cultures and get to know other countries. Find a language book online or at the library. You can also read magazines and books or watch TV movies, shot in your chosen language.
By learning a new language, you will be able to communicate with people who may not speak French
Step 5. Choose painting or drawing as a hobby
An art activity is a great way to fill your free time. You will have the opportunity to express yourself and learn a new skill. The kinds of paints are numerous: acrylics, inks, oils, enamels, frescoes, water soluble oils, pastels, dry pastels, watercolors, spray paint and graffiti. If you prefer drawing, grab a sketchbook and charcoals.
- Arts and crafts contain many ideas for passing the time. Painting is so rich that you can limit yourself only to this discipline.
- To purchase your materials, visit your art supply store or craft store.
Method 2 of 4: Help your community
Step 1. Go to a place of worship
It can be a temple, a church, a synagogue or a mosque. You will have the opportunity to participate in activities in your neighborhood and meet endearing people. In addition, you will revive your spiritual convictions. Search online to find a suitable place of worship near you.
- You don't have to adhere to any set of beliefs to join a religious organization.
- For example, Unitarian-Universalists, who have Christian roots, accept people of other faiths, such as atheists, humanists, agnostics, pagans, freethinkers, secularists, and liberals of all stripes.
Step 2. Volunteer in your spare time
You can participate in a cleaning operation in your neighborhood. Volunteering is a great way to integrate into community activities and make friends. Remember that a cleaning operation will be a good opportunity to spend time outdoors and breathe fresh air. It will also have an excellent impact on your environment.
Encourage others to volunteer. Talk to those who attend local churches, youth associations, scouting or non-profit organizations
Step 3. Take part in food drives
Often these actions are organized by non-profit associations, charitable societies or public libraries. If you want to serve your community, connect with the promoters of a food drive and find out how to participate. You can also ask for donations from food stores or passers-by in church plazas.
- If you are not interested in a food drive, you can choose another volunteer activity. Offer to help at a thrift store, fundraise for nonprofits, or work in soup kitchens.
- Very quickly, you will find that volunteering is a very rewarding experience, because your help will reach many people.
Step 4. Volunteer online
Web activities are right for you if you live in a rural or remote area, or if you favor virtual relationships instead of direct contact. Write texts for nonprofit organizations, such as newsletters for charitable societies. On the other hand, volunteering online will expand your circle of friends and experience a deep sense of accomplishment.
To find volunteer proposals, either online or in direct participation, visit the VolunteerMatch or France Bénévolat website
Method 3 of 4: Advance in your career
Step 1. Strengthen your professional network
Not being in the office doesn't stop you from building professional relationships to advance your career. Connect with friends or invite your coworkers over for a late morning brunch. Take advantage of a late evening meeting to offer cocktails to colleagues you want to get to know better.
- If your time is limited for networking, spend a few moments during the week for your contacts without the stress of a busy schedule or obligations imposed by your work or by yourself.
- Join an association of entrepreneurs such as BossClub PME or the Confédération des PME, in order to forge links with people like you and to provide coaching.
Step 2. Organize your agenda or schedule
It's easy to get overwhelmed with work obligations, meetings, work, social gatherings, etc. Spend about ten minutes of your time to organize your agenda or your schedule. The clarifications that you will bring to the dates and times of your meetings will reduce your stress and help you keep your appointments.
If you don't have support, try writing your commitments down on your cell phone calendar. This will help you organize yourself better and be on time
Step 3. Make friends
Try to have them in your school, your workplace, your church or your surroundings. Don't isolate yourself in your spare time. On the contrary, strive to communicate and find the people who are dear to you. Schedule weekly or monthly meetings with your friends. Go out unexpectedly once in a while and reconnect with family members you've lost sight of.
By doing this, you will have more opportunities to rekindle your relationships, share your ideas and have fun
Method 4 of 4: Improve your health and well-being
Step 1. Spend more time reading
Regardless of your preferred literary genre, this activity will stimulate your mind and make sense of your free time, whether it is reading poetic, literary, philosophical, biographical or fictional works. As you read, you will broaden your vision and enrich your vocabulary. Reading will help introduce you to other ideas and cultures that you never knew existed.
To find interesting works, visit your neighborhood library or a bookstore near you
Step 2. Have a pet
If you've never tried, now is the time to pick one. Pets demand regular attention and can distract you in your spare time, either playing or walking with them, or preparing food for them. To find a pet, consider visiting an animal shelter.
- You can choose to have a fun animal like a cat or a dog. Thus, you will have an affectionate companion, whom you can leave alone for hours.
- If you're short on time or looking for discretion, go for a fish.
Step 3. Focus on your spirituality
When you have nothing to do, you are relaxed. So you have time to reflect on spiritual matters and think about your whole life and your goals. You may be active, but even if you are not, you will be brought up to reflect on your spirituality, for it is part of being human. By taking care of this issue, you will take action that will have a positive impact on your personality.
- After a few weeks of daily prayer, you will notice positive results. You will be calmer and more focused.
- Prayer of contemplation uses similar methods, but in a Christian context.
Step 4. Learn to meditate
Start by sitting quietly for about 20 minutes and breathe naturally. Count to 10 after each inhale, then repeat. Meditation creates something that you will focus on so that you stay fully in the present moment and avoid being distracted by your imagination. This activity will help you be calmer and protect you from negative thoughts and feelings.
Look online for apps that offer guided or self-guided meditations
Step 5. Exercise to stay in good physical shape
It is possible to use your free time to complete your exercise program. You just need to train for an hour in order to maintain your physical condition. You can lift weights in your garage or do push-ups in your living room. If your leisure time is limited, spend 15 to 30 minutes exercising at home.
- Adapt your training program according to your free time. If your days aren't busy, run a few miles or play sports at home.
- To exercise away from home, join a gym and do weight lifting, gymnastics, or cardio exercises on machines. You can also run in a park not far from your home or workplace. Another option is to join a climbing group.
Advice
- If you are into a hobby, consider the following possibilities: learning a new computer programming language, writing a short story or a play, making jewelry, designing graphics, doing amateur photography, or learning a new dance. You can also play golf, woodwork, or learn to play a musical instrument.
- Don't overload yourself too much. You risk spoiling your fun by having too much to do at once. Leisure activities should be enjoyable. Avoid falling into the frenzy.
- Take the time to try new activities. At first you may have difficulty, but later, when you get used to it, you will experience more satisfaction.
- Remember, your free time is entirely yours and you can do what you want with it. You can stop an activity, such as leaving a church, a voluntary association, or quitting a hobby. It's your right.
- Take advantage of your free time to relax.