By Jackie Ayala, Editor
Somehow, 2025 managed to fly by and it is now already 2026! The new year brings in New Yearโs resolutions, whether youโre aiming big or small. Itโs safe to say many of us might have โlower screentimeโ added onto our lists after a year of constant doomscrolling without trying. Even if lower screentime is not on your resolutions list, 2026 is the time to start fresh and try to better yourself little by little; whether itโs waking up at a decent hour, limiting your TikTok watchtime, or making sure every single assignment is done on time. What better way to add some adventure this year than by figuring out a new hobby!
While it may be harder than I make it seem, here are a few suggestions to try out to get you started! These ten hobbies are not just enjoyable, but they also help improve your mental and physical health for the new year, while also steering you away from social media.
1. Baking/cooking
While this may be a basic one to start off with, being able to create something in the kitchen is not only a useful skill for everyone, but also helps you try new foods you may never have thought to eat or make! You would be surprised how easy it is to make something from scratch! Chocolate chip cookies usually take no more than thirty minutes (prep and oven time). Not only can it be super simple, but Northern Healthcare says it reduces stress, enhances creativity, and stimulates your senses! Easy and accessible recipes are everywhere, whether itโs in a recipe book or a simple Google search.
I have taken up baking this new year, which has resulted in me being the banana bread maker every time we have some overripe bananas left. Not only am I off my phone, but finding and trying new ideas has managed to strengthen my connection to all five of my senses. Not to mention, a banana bread loaf disappears in two days in my household. Goes to show your loved ones will eat up the enticing things that will appear in the kitchen once you pick up a bowl and a mixing spoon!
2. Reading
Another slightly basic one, Iโll admit. But with the endless amount of screentime Iโm sure we all had this holiday break, a nice book is something we all could use! Iโm not saying to find the oldest, longest book you can find and try to give it a read; picking up a comic book, manga, romance, fantasy, or even nonfiction book helps in many ways in comparison to the tiny computer in our pockets. Itโs not always about expanding knowledge but rather looking away from your screen, which has been known to shorten our attention span, according to The Oxford Blue, and work that brain of ours!
That being said, it has been a trend lately to read as many books as possible this year to be seen as a true โreader.โ As much as I would like to read a hundred books this year, that feels impossible as a student! Read as slowly or as quickly as your brain can handle. Itโs not about how many books you can read, but rather the action of taking in a story you enjoy.
3. Photography
No camera? No problem! The miniature computer in your back pocket is more than enough to get into photography. While yes, this will add to your screentime, it will certainly decrease those TikTok hours. Taking photos allows you to take the world around you through a different lens, strengthening your mindfulness and creative thinking. Through photography, your observation skills strengthen, whether it’s photos of nature, museums, or everyday objects in your life. Playing around with lighting, angles, and editing (hundreds of apps exist to help achieve the look and style you want) can unleash your creativity in more ways than one.
If you begin to find you have an interest in photography, a camera might be a good investment for you! Instead of snapping your Instagram photos with your phone camera, digital or disposable cameras add a good vintage-vibe to your Instagram feed. Choosing a digital camera over your phone also allows you to be away from your screens and more in the moment without any notifications distracting you.
4. Journaling
A more intimate hobby which may seem awkward at first, journaling is known to help reduce stress and anxiety, improve mental clarity, and improve your communication skills, according to the Child Mind Institute. While people may say to write every day, that is harder than it sounds. Sometimes we have nothing to say at all, and thatโs okay.
A journal should be there when you need it, as opposed to being forced to write every day for 365 days. Sometimes you will write every day for a week, or you may not write a single day the next. Journaling also does not need to be about your problems every single time you write. It can be lists, random thoughts, or reminders, maybe even your coffee order, so you donโt forget it.
Iโve been journaling for four years now, and I can say it has helped me gather my thoughts and understand my own feelings when I wasnโt sure how to communicate them to others. Whether itโs on random sheets of paper or you have a dedicated journal, it doesnโt need to be neat or decorated โ although a few stickers will help boost your serotonin whenever you reach for the journal! โ but it serves as an outlet for who you are; thatโs the purpose of journaling.
5. Sudoku/Crossword
If youโre looking for an activity to further exercise those brain muscles of yours, a Sudoku or Crossword book might be for you! Sudoku helps to stimulate multiple parts of your brain as youโre looking for patterns, thinking multiple steps ahead, and strengthening your memory. On the same spectrum are crossword puzzles. While they broaden your vocabulary, the National Institute of Health says that crosswords stimulate your brainโs thinking and learning capacity.
Whether itโs a physical book or an online source, these games not only help your ability to retain information but also allow you to expand your knowledge through these small challenges!
6. Hiking
If youโre looking to get outdoors more, hiking just may be the thing youโre looking for! One of the best parts about East Tennessee is the numerous hiking trails available to everyone to enjoy the beautiful mountains and scenery that nature has gifted us. Hiking is shown to have multiple health benefits, especially from the amount of walking typically required. Your muscles and bones get stronger over time, and your balance improves as well.
Washington Trails Association says hiking brings greater feelings of positivity and reduces feelings of sadness and depression. With seasonal depression beginning to rise in the majority of people, hiking allows you to get outside as the season changes to warmer climates and experience the world again after being cooped up inside due to cloudy and cold weather.
7. Coloring
For a stress-relieving hobby, try picking up coloring! No need to spend money on overpriced markers or fancy coloring books; the bare minimum of Crayola crayons and a Hello Kitty coloring book is more than enough to boost your serotonin and reduce stress. The Mayo Clinic Health System explains how coloring can help with fatigue and improve your sleep as it calms your brain.
While this hobby grows through different coloring books and better quality markers, donโt assume you need to blow $100 on a ten-pack of alcohol based colors! Remember, this is something to better you and your health! Start with what you have or what you can find in your price range.
8. Exercise
A hobby most of us may dread to start, exercise has more than just benefits for your physical health. While you do gain more muscle, better health conditions, and strengthen your bones, it also improves your brain function. Through exercise, your energy and memory increase as you focus on the physical activities youโre doing. Itโs not always going to the gym and overworking your body on machines, either. It can be as small as going on a walk, bike-riding, or even swimming.
Exercise can be an intimidating topic for people, especially if social anxiety gets the best of you. Try going with a friend or do it in the comfort of your own room through videos on the internet! That being said, go at your own pace and take into account your bodyโs own limitations.
9. Gardening
With spring coming into bloom, gardening might be a new habit you would like to pick up! With so much time on your phone, gardening can help gain a connection to nature and is proven to be another stress reliever, according to the Mayo Clinic Health System. Not only that, but growing your own vegetables and fruits improves your diet and allows you to decrease grocery costs. Getting a breath of fresh air helps your lungs clear out after being inside for the majority of the day, whether through work or at home. Not only are you getting clean air, but youโre also gaining Vitamin D through the sunshine!
10. Sewing
While it can be just as stress-relieving and serotonin-boosting as the other hobbies, sewing also helps save money in the long-run. Mending your favorite tops or creating something new out of unused clothes increases their longevity, so you donโt need to buy more. With an increase in overconsumption and clothes filling up landfills, sewing is a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to rebuying items of clothing. A fancy sewing machine isnโt needed at all! A small sewing kit does wonders, especially if youโre only looking into fixing your favorite t-shirt.
This new year, picking up something new just may be what youโre looking for to get away from your phone. We all could use some time to live in the moment without feeling the need to open TikTok or Instagram reels every second. Take the time to learn something new without feeling like you need to be good at it right from the beginning. Thatโs the beauty of learning and picking something up for yourself.
Sources:
Bobby, Joel. โColoring is good for your health.โย Mayo Clinic Health System, 15 August. 2022.
โExercise and mental health.โ Healthdirect Australia.
Leffelman, Lindsay. โMind & Body: What Hiking Does for Your Mental and Physical Health.โ Washington Trails Association.
โThe Mental Health Benefits of Baking.โย Northern Healthcare.
Patrick, Shilpa et al. โThe usefulness of crossword puzzle as a self-learning tool in pharmacology.โ Journal of advances in medical education & professionalism, vol. 6,4 (2018): 181-185.ย ย
โThe Power of Journaling: What Science Says About the Benefits for Mental Health and Well-Being.โ Child Mind Institute, 28 January 2025.
Wimmer, Lisa. โDig into the benefits of gardening.โ ย Mayo Clinic Health System, 12 Jul. 2022.
Zaveri, Jui. โTikTok and the Death of the Attention Span.โย ย The Oxford Blue,ย 23 May 2023.
