Missing My Hobby

Moving to college truly changes your life, and in my experience, it’s a pretty hectic change. I was in a new state, living in a dorm with someone I had met on Instagram, and managing a packed schedule with classes scattered all over campus. About a month in, with all the changes, I realized I had neglected something that made me happy: crafting.

A Mindset Shift

Crafting is my favorite hobby. When I realized I had lost that part of my life, I was disappointed but also understood why. With all my classes and new friends, I felt I didn't have time for my hobbies.

Honestly, that wasn't the case! If I wanted to keep my hobbies in my life, I knew I needed to change how I thought about them and how they fit into my day-to-day routine.

Allocate Time

One way I brought crafting back into my college life was by treating it like a class. I was lucky enough to have a day of the week when my classes got out early. When I realized this, I marked a two-hour block on my calendar that day as my craft time.

Placing that "class" on my calendar held me accountable. Every time I started to make plans, I knew that my crafting had its time, and I couldn't reschedule that special part of my life.

Join a New Group

Another thing I realized about college is that there is a club for everything. This means your hobby most likely has an entire club dedicated to it! I recommend finding those organizations and getting involved.

This not only allows you to continue your hobby in college but also lets you meet many new people who already have at least one thing in common with you.

I also remind myself that hobbies don't have to be done solo. Host a craft night with your roommates or ask people in your class to play basketball later that day.

Start a movie club that meets in the dorm common room. Do your hobby and create a community around it!

Enjoy the Little Moments

My last piece of advice for continuing your hobby in college is to use the small moments of free time you have. Reading is another hobby of mine. I bring a book with me in case I get to class a little early. This may be difficult with some hobbies, but it's still time you can use for yourself.

These small moments are also opportunities to build community. Use the five minutes after class to text your hobby group and ask them to meet up later that week.

Most importantly, your hobby should be your happy place. Fit it into your life in a way that makes you the happiest!

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