Winter is usually hard to survive. We all feel that the “deadline” of the end of the year is near, and it’s time to find out if our performance this year was good or at least – good enough. What we have done, what we have to postpone to the “maybe-later-land”? It’s a good process to check how did you do this year. No judging, just to check what to improve next time, what changed in your career, or plans, or life.

But don’t forget about the one thing that we all have a tendency to forget. Check your mental health wellbeing! It’s as much more important (or even more) than every single thing you have achieved. Wellbeing has a direct influence on your performance! 

In our previous article, we already shared with you 50 ways to improve your wellbeing and we also published a guest article from Keira, where she shared her tricks to keep wellbeing in check. Today we prepared some other approaches to support your mental health wellbeing. 

What is student wellbeing and why is it important? 

According to Wellbeing People, the term “wellbeing” represents “healthy, contented and prosperous condition we all aspire to“. What does it mean? In simple words: feeling good about your healthy, happy life. 

It will mean something different to each one of us. We have different needs and dreams, and possibilities. Of course, when you’re doing your PhD or working full time, it’s easy to just focus on one thing, then come back home, turn on Netflix to relax, and go to sleep, because tomorrow is exactly the same day. Probably this method will work for some time, but this is one way to the burnout. And if you can still prevent it, take care of your mental health!

How to improve student wellbeing? 

There is a lot of different methods and approaches to improve your wellbeing. We’d like to share with you one, very easy and effective way that we’ve tested ourselves and it has proven very effective. 

Here’s the solution: find a hobby. Something that will be different from that what you’re doing daily. If it is possible – away from the screens. Even better: find a group of people that do a similar thing and will help you start or just keep going. We don’t exist in the vacuum, so I’m sure there is somewhere someone who likes things similar to your taste! 

Student wellbeing activities – list of 15 low-cost, home-friendly hobbies you can try even today 

To help you improve your wellbeing, we prepared a list of 15 low-cost, home-friendly activities that help you relax and improve your mood. You can do it alone or you might need some friends 🙂 I don’t like doing pointless things. Even if I have some fun, I like them to have a real influence on my life, improve my skills, especially when I don’t have to actually work on them. Besides the relaxation, those hobbies actually will help you work better! 

1. Board games.

It’s kind of old-school, but it became very popular again. There are countless options, depending on your preferences: you can become a strategist, or look for gold, or just build a train line across Europe! Or maybe even chess? Do you remember how popular it became after Netflix’s Queen Gambit? In the background, it might help you develop skills that will help you with project management. 

2. Puzzles.

More on the calm side but it will improve your focus and ability to pay attention to the details! 

3. Paint by colours.

You like your hands dirty, but you have a white empty paper freight? Not to worry, you can find printed materials with the exact colours you need to create your first masterpiece. The outcome will surprise you! It helps to improve focus, patience and paying attention to the details. 

4. Learn to play a musical instrument.

It’s rather a long-term commitment, but I’m a living example that you can learn to play the ukulele via YouTube tutorials. Instruments like the ukulele are easy, small, quiet enough to play in the flat and not to bother people around. It’s also not very expensive! It will help you to build focus and the music community is always a wonderful place to find friends 🙂 

5. Cooking!

It’s time to try food from every place on earth. In time we can’t really travel that easily, we can do the next best thing: try to learn it yourself! YouTube offers a range of people who can teach you step by step how to make everything from Polish pierogi (dumplings!), Turkish pide, to sushi, ramen… Opportunities are countless, and it all depends on how much do you like to eat!

6. Sculpting in clay.

Clay is a quite affordable material that you can buy in hobby stores or online. And again – find a group or YouTube tutorial to learn how to step by step create your first sculpture. Don’t hesitate to ask for help! It’s always easier if you have somebody to show you the first steps.

7. Crochet.

I know what do you think! Am I a grandma/granpa or what? No way! I didn’t know that, but crocheting is way long past that! Can you imagine you can create whatever you want with some piece of yarn and a little hook? I was surprised too. When I discovered the whole universe of people who create not just clothes or decorations, but also wonderful toys that are called amigurumi, I was shocked and fascinated! I met a lot of people around the world that are sharing their passion online, and I assure you, we’re not a bunch of old ladies! This is a fantastic way to improve your manual skills as well as focus and stress management. You’ll find online a massive amount of tutorials and if you need any advice, just drop me a message! 

8. Knitting.

It’s pretty similar to crochet – because of yarn – and totally different because of the opportunities that open once you learn how to manage two needles! If you live in a rather cold place, I’m sure you wouldn’t mind owning a really warm pair of mittens or a beanie. Do you know that you can actually make it yourself, and it’s neither expensive nor hard? Again: check local groups, Facebook groups, check tutorials on YouTube. If I can do it, you can too. 

9. Punch needle.

We’re still talking about yarn, but used in a totally different way! You can create fantastic wall decorations or even rugs! You don’t need any special skills to start, I’m sure it’s easier than crocheting or knitting. You can get some starter packs online and just start creating. The sky is the limit. Similarly to every manual hobby, it will help you to improve focus, build a strong base of focus and stress management.  

10. Embroidery.

That sounds grandparent style, isn’t it? You couldn’t be more wrong. Check this photos I found on Instagram: those works are simply amazing. Embroidery takes more patience and focus, but also improve those skills. You don’t need much to start, you can even find ready sets just to try out!

11. Learn a foreign language!

This is a great way to spend time. Learning about other cultures and their language is a way to open up your horizons, and make new friends. I speak fluently in a couple of languages and I know that sometimes it’s a lifesaver (especially when you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere in southern Serbia!), and I’m thinking to learn another one! Learning new languages help you build confidence, and improve your memory! This activity you can also connect with Netflix – just watch it in a foreign language!

12. Sports.

Any type of sports – from home fitness, walking, running, swimming, hiking, dance, yoga, Zumba… Anything that makes you feel alive. Physical activity needs to be in balance with the time you spend sitting. If you work in academia, you probably will spend a lot of time in one position. It is crucial for your health to move your body! Even simple walk around the blocks. Anything will work. The more the better, but remember that anything you’re doing at work won’t matter if you’re health will be in danger. If it is possible to minimise back pains (and other pains) it’s possible to act now! 

13. Photography & editing.

This hobby involves a screen, at least for the editing part, but photos are a great way to improve your focus and attention to the details, and wake up your creativity! To organise even an improvised photo studio you really don’t need a lot of money and space. Of course, it’s easier if you have either money or space, but sometimes it isn’t necessary to succeed. Check Kika’s videos about photography and her creative approach to it. Doesn’t it look like great fun? You can also learn how to edit photos in Lightroom or free apps like Snapseed. You don’t need a fancy camera, sometimes your phone is all you need!

14. Bullet journal, calligraphy, scrapbooking and all forms of creative writing.

Those are ways to organise your life and memories. I think is a perfect way to actually frame time, I’m sure that combined, it will create great memories in the future! All of them are usable in different ways so it depends on you how you will use them in your life. Maybe as an album or journal?

15. Build a model.

Maybe you like to try some aeroplanes models or Meccano? Or try to build some constructions, buildings, maybe train lines? Or maybe you’d like to try yourself in building a robot? Legos? Don’t think it’s waste of time. As long it keeps you relaxed, it’s worth it. 

Okay, but… I don’t have time for some hobby!

I’m sure at some point we all were thinking like this. It’s totally understandable: we all are busy, we have deadlines, we need to deliver projects, papers, read another book for the research… Also: those are mostly a creative hobby and I don’t have skills. Do you know that as long as you want to do something, you can? Even though it’s hard at the beginning. Or you’re not good at it. As long as makes you happy it is totally worth it. Nobody to judge, just you and time for yourself.

We’ve got you. You’re busy. But do you know what will happen if you don’t find time to do something else? 

You will run out of ideas. Of motivation. Of willing to pursue more. To be more than a PhD student. You can be whoever you want, do – whatever you want to do. 

We all have 24h per day. It all depends on you how you’re going to spend the time you have. You don’t have to work as a robot to achieve your goals and success. You don’t have to put a massive amount of time into a hobby. Sometimes a few hours a week is enough. When you let yourself relax, put your mind in something different, your subconscious will still work. And may help you generate even better ideas! 

What would you add to this list?