How are you my friend?
While I am very happy that it's fall, and I'm definitely going to be clinging onto the season as long as I can, I have Christmas on the mind this morning.
I'm already getting the question "What do you want for Christmas this year?" from family members, and normally around this time I'm absolutely clueless as to what to ask for.
And, most years, I'll end up just asking for random things I can find (or life basics I need). One year I literally asked for body wash and face moisturizer because that's the only thing I could think of lol.
But this year, thanks to my effort in recent months to make my life more enjoyable, I am prepared!
And I thought maybe you could use a little inspiration too!
My theme: things that add genuine value to my life. And for me, that's looking like hobbies and self care.
I have been really trying to add hobbies into my life lately because I know the value they bring. And let me tell you, the results have been amazing.
Making it a priority to do something I enjoy each day (or as many days as I can) instead of living the whole wake up/work/go to bed/repeat life has made a big change in my happiness levels.
And I'm finding that the more I let myself explore new hobbies and learn new things, the more things I want to try.
If you want to start living a more intentional, enjoyable, and valuable life, I encourage you to start with hobbies. Any hobby. Bonus points if it allows you to practice creativity.
I am NOT an artistic person. And after dealing with years of anxiety and depression, I felt like I wasn't very creative either.
But the thing about creativity is that it's a muscle, and all it takes to get better at it is practice.
My hobbies lately have been: reading (a lot), doing puzzles, doing LEGOs, and writing.
But I actually just invested in something I've been wanting for YEARS: an iPad.
I needed a new computer for work anyway, mine is about a decade old and slowly dying, and I have been wanting to use Procreate for a loooong time. So I finally got myself an iPad, and started a Skillshare course that teaches me how to use Procreate! and OMG I love it so much.
Getting to work that creativity muscle has been so much fun and so good for my soul, as cheesy as that sounds.
But anyway, this is a long-winded way to tell you: invest in yourself, try new things, and make hobbies a priority in your life.
And this upcoming holiday season, if someone asks you what you want, ask for something that's an investment in yourself and your happiness.
And because I like to add some good examples to back up what I say, here are a few of the things I will be asking for to encourage a inspiring, creative, and hobby-filled life:
A Home Pottery Starter Kit- if you've been interested in doing pottery, this starter kit comes with everything you need to get started- air dry clay, tools, paint, plus a book that teaches you how to use it all.
A Jiggy Puzzle Subscription- if you love puzzles, this membership is perfect. Each month you get an exclusive puzzle sent to you by Jiggy, which is a brand that creates puzzles with artwork made from female artists. Seriously amazing.
A Kindle- if you like to read, a Kindle will be your best friend. Plus, the Paperwhite version like this one is much easier on the eyes than a normal tablet.
The Complete Gardener's Guide book- If you love gardening, or want to get into it, having a book like this one to read this winter will set you up for success come springtime. I read Martha Stewart's gardening book last winter and learned so much, so I'm looking forward to reading this one and learning even more!
A Skillshare Membership- If you want to learn a lot of new skills, a Skillshare membership is the way to go. And, it's giftable! This is where I'm learning how to use Procreate, and they have courses over seriously anything you might want to learn. This is truly a gift that keeps on giving!
Also, if you have any hobby-related (or cozy living related) things you're adding to your Christmas list, please share!
In the next few weeks, I'll be going all out making gift guides, so share with me what YOU'RE asking for and help a girl help other people out!
Hope you have the best week!
Rooting for you,
