Taking up a new hobby is the perfect way to keep things interesting and develop new skills. Whether you’re a whizz in the kitchen, an avid reader, or actively seek an adrenalin rush with rock climbing or white-water rafting, hobbies play an important role in life.
In fact, research has shown that people with a hobby are less likely to suffer from stress, low mood, and depression. Better still, enjoying a leisure activity is good for your heart as it can lower your heart rate.
As well as the physical, social, and mental wellbeing hobbies can bring, activities such as playing a musical instrument, reading, doing puzzles, or painting, can help improve brain health and prevent dementia in later life.
If you fancy taking up a new hobby, here are some of the most popular in the UK.
Manchester’s favourite hobby is drawing
Drawing is a great way to improve your creative skills and can help you start to see and think about things in a different way.
Any artist will tell you that there’s often more than one way to solve a problem and drawing encourages fresh, open-ended thinking and creativity.
There are many different art classes on offer in and around Manchester, including life drawing classes, creative drawing, and abstract art.
You can even combine hobbies with a “Sip and Paint” class, where you can get creative while enjoying a glass of wine, or two.
3 top trending hobbies in the UK during 2021
1. Rock climbing
Rock climbing is a great cardio workout and brilliant for burning calories. Scaling a rock face, whether real or indoor will help define your arms and legs and train every part of your body.
As well as the physical challenge, rock climbing also stretches your mind, as working out your next safe move presents a positive mental challenge too.
There are several indoor climbing centres in and around Manchester and proximity to the Peak District National Park means there’s a wide range of great outdoor climbing locations you can also visit.
2. Roller skating
Roller skating isn’t just for children.
Skating regularly will help you lose weight and improve muscle definition, without taking a toll on your joints.
Fitness boost aside, roller skating will keep you young at heart and socially engaged as you’ll undoubtedly meet like-minded people who love to roll too.
Paradise Skate World, set to open in June, welcomes everyone from beginners and casual skaters to more passionate and experienced skaters. As the website says, “This is about attitude, not ability; skating, music, socialising and cocktails, colliding with deep space fantasy and good-time-only vibes.”
What’s not to love?
3. Gardening
Eco-friendly and good for your physical and mental health, gardening is a fantastic and easy hobby to pick up. While you might not immediately associate gardening with exercise, those who dig will tell you that raking, shovelling, and even planting can all help get your heart pumping.
Whether you grow flowers or food, spending time outdoors in nature is good for the soul and something every family member can get involved with.
If you’ve downsized and don’t have a garden of your own, or simply want to meet new people, you can volunteer your time and help create great community gardens. Manchester Urban Diggers have a wide range of projects across Greater Manchester.
