Chronic illness makes every day look different. Sometimes I have enough energy to go out into the world and fill my day, but other times I barely have enough energy to change out of my pajamas. And on those low-energy days, what do I do during my down-time? While occasionally I need to just lie on the couch and binge Gilmore Girls for the seventeenth time, other times I still want to do something, just something that is enjoyable and re-fills my cup. Like a hobby. But how do I find a hobby, especially when my chronic illness is inconsistent and my symptoms are different depending on the day?
Fear not! I’ve compiled a list of chronic-illness-friendly potential hobbies for all interests and energy-levels.
If you’re creative…
Creativity looks different in every person. I never considered myself a creative person because I couldn’t draw a realistic image of a puppy dog or put together a visually appealing bulletin board for Vacation Bible School. But those aren’t the only types of creativity! Exploring your creative side in the form of hobbies could look like…
#1 Painting, Drawing, or Coloring
My husband is an excellent artist. When he draws something, you can actually tell what it’s supposed to be! And People Hope’s Founder, Anna Kowlessar, is a skilled painter. Whenever I see one of her completed works, I want to buy it and hang it on my wall for all to see. If those are activities you’ve had an interest in before but were never sure where to begin, buy some paint or pencils and a blank slate. Your pictures don’t have to be perfect or worthy of being hung in The Louvre - they just have to be an expression of you.
And if you love putting color on a page but really and truly lack an artistic ability, like me, try coloring! There are coloring books available for all your favorite television shows, travel locations, and beyond. Coloring can be relaxing, and you’ll feel more accomplished than if you draw yet another flower that somehow still looks like a pile of fettuccine Alfredo.
#2 Crocheting, Knitting, or Sewing
If you love to create something out of nothing but would prefer to avoid the mess of a paintbrush or colored pencil, try crocheting, knitting, or sewing! There are benefits to all three. You can easily find an instruction book on Amazon or in the craft section of your local Walmart. You can create something that you can wear or give to those you love. The repetitive motions of crocheting, knitting, and sewing can be extremely comforting. And you can complete your latest creation while catching up on this week’s latest episode of The Bachelorette!
While these previous activities are more typically thought of as conventional expressions of creativity, creativity can also look like…
#3 Gardening
Maybe you love spending time outdoors, but your chronic illness has limited what you’re able to do outdoors. The college I attended in North Georgia was nestled in a mountainous area with plenty of opportunities to explore, hike, and traverse the scenery. But as my chronic illnesses became more prevalent, this became less of an option for me. One way to still spend time enjoying nature is gardening!
Gardening is an expression of creativity because you can choose what you want to grow. You can choose where to plant each seedling and how you want to tend to the things that sprout. You can enjoy how the flowers look or how the vegetables taste after they’ve grown. And much like a painting or a piece of needlework, your garden can also bring joy to those around you.
#4 Cooking
Personally, I cook purely out of necessity. We must eat, so food must be made. I do, however, love watching cooking shows, especially if they feature Gordon Ramsay, and I am continually blown away by the number of people whose joy in life stems from creating a new dish. They take a random assortment of ingredients, and in what seems like no time at all, they have composed a dish that not only looks amazing but also tastes divine (or it better, otherwise Gordon Ramsay might just chuck your raw piece of chicken across the yard).
Cooking is an expression of creativity, whether you’re coming up with a recipe from scratch or replicating something from a beloved cookbook or Pinterest board. Cooking can be a hobby, and I can be a taste-tester for you (just throwing that out there).
#5 Hair and Makeup
Hair and makeup is not always viewed as an art, but it absolutely can be. Makeup can range from everyday-neutral looks to special event looks to costume makeup. Makeup can be used to enhance your natural beauty or completely transform your appearance. Hair can be cut, curled, braided, blown-out, teased, tamed, and everything in between. And the amount of makeup and hair products that are marketed through your local Sephora? Endless. You could buy a new product every day to test out, and you wouldn’t come close to experiencing all of them.
How someone does their hair and makeup is a creative expression of who they are as a person. Perfecting your ability to do hair and makeup for yourself and others can be a great confidence booster and a fun hobby.
If you’re passionate about a topic…
We are all gifted in different ways and passionate about different things. Maybe you’re passionate about one of the hobbies listed above. Maybe you’re passionate about spreading awareness and providing support for the chronic illness community. Or maybe you consider yourself a movie and literature expert and are passionate about sharing your opinions with others. If there’s something you absolutely love talking about, researching, or deep-diving, then consider making it your hobby to talk about your passions. There are a few different ways to do so.
#6 Launch a Youtube Channel
People have been expressing themselves via Youtube for years. Today you can learn about pretty much anything from a simple Youtube search. My husband learns how to build gaming computers and what new technology to buy or avoid from Linus Tech Tips (our dog really enjoys listening to Linus too - we often leave these videos on for him when we leave the house). I learn how to make beautiful and delicious smoothie bowls from Nicole the Nomad (do I actually make them? No - as previously stated, I don’t love making food. But I know how to!). And when I was in high school, my best friend taught others how to recreate makeup looks through her beauty channel 15SomethingBeautiful (she stopped when we went to college, but I’m trying to convince her to start it up again to review baby products, since her first son is due this summer).
The point is, anyone can make a Youtube video, and anyone can find an audience of like-minded people who are passionate about the same things. If you feel passionate about a topic, knowledgeable enough to share that topic with others, and patient enough to learn basic video editing skills, start a Youtube channel!
#7 Start an Instagram Account
Maybe you have the passion and knowledge of someone with a Youtube channel but prefer short-form content and interacting more directly with a community. Start an Instagram account! Through reels, static posts, or stories, you can connect with other like-minded individuals on Instagram and form a real community. Personally, I feel so understood and supported on my chronic illness journey because of accounts that were open about their struggles and took the time to foster a community among their followers. I’ve also discovered most of my five-star reads from the bookstagram community.
Much like a Youtube channel, anyone can make an Instagram account and find an audience. Also like a Youtube channel, an Instagram account is not physically demanding and can be run regardless of whether you’re flaring. These accounts might even be a good distraction while you’re flaring!
#8 Write a Blog or a Book
If you prefer to stay away from all forms of social media but still have the passion and knowledge of someone with a Youtube channel or an Instagram account, try writing blog posts or even a book! Don’t worry if grammar isn’t your strong-suit. If you want other people to read your writing, then you can always find someone to edit your work first (editing happens to be a hobby of mine). And if you don’t want anyone to read your writing, then you can just write for yourself! There’s something deeply therapeutic about putting your thoughts and feelings on a page then re-reading them. Not only is there an emotional release, but writing can also help you process thoughts and feelings that you’d have more trouble processing if they remained swirling around in your head.
You don’t have to be Ernest Hemingway or F. Scott Fitzgerald to write. At the very least, you’ll spend time writing and it will benefit you therapeutically. But who knows? Maybe you’ll get published and reach countless individuals with the written word.
If you love learning new things…
If you don’t feel the desire to share your knowledge with others via YouTube, Instagram, or the written word, but you love learning new things, there are ways to expand your educational horizons.
#9 Try a MasterClass or SkillShare Subscription
There are two amazing websites called Masterclass and Skillshare where you can watch videos about topics that interest you and learn from professionals in that field. Are you interested in learning cooking from Gordon Ramsay? Fashion design from Marc Jacobs? Filmmaking from Martin Scorsese? Country music from Reba McEntire? These are just some of the many topics you can learn about on MasterClass or SkillShare. For roughly a $15 monthly subscription, you’ll have access to the vast library of courses taught by professionals in the field (psst…we’re not being paid to suggest these). If you have disposable income and free time, learning can be a great hobby.
#10 Find Universities With Free Online Courses
If you don’t have disposable income but still have a predisposition to learn, there are some universities that offer free courses online. For instance, if you want to learn more about theology and the Bible, Dallas Theological Seminary offers free online courses. Completely, 100%, no-strings attached free. While you might have to do a bit of research to discover the universities that offer free courses online, there are hidden gems just waiting to be discovered and adopted as a hobby.
Finding a hobby that’s the best fit can take time, but there is something for everyone, regardless of your interests or abilities. And it’s so fun to bond with new friends over a shared hobby! If you decide to try one of these hobbies listed above, share with our Focus Fix Fam community to let us know how it goes. If you have another idea for a hobby not listed above, share that too! It might be just what someone needs.
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Written by: Bailey Humphrey, EdD
If you love "The Bachelorette," a good podcast, artisan grilled cheese sandwiches, or are just a human being in general, it's time to "accept this rose" and become BFFs with Bailey. A High School English teacher and cheerleading coach by day, Bailey's off-hours are often spent in her living room curled up with a book, a Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso in hand, and her German Shepherd/Border Collie mix, Willie, at her feet. We have nothin' but good things to say about this fabulous member of our volunteer Writing Team!