If you are feeling like you are getting swept up by your work and other responsibilities, we feel you. It is easy to lose sight of the fun in life when you have to think about your career, family, and your finance.
Like clockwork, many Singaporeans live by a routine of sorts. Work, eat, go back home, and repeat; it can be hard to find enjoyment and purpose in life. Yet, life doesn’t have to be like that. In fact, it shouldn’t.
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Enter: hobbies. Hobbies are an essential part of life. According to an article by the University of Reading, picking up a hobby can benefit one’s mental health. The way it works is simple: when you pick up something you enjoy, dopamine is released in the brain to help you feel pleasure.
Of course, there are other benefits to various hobbies – for example, reading can help in preventing dementia.
While it can be daunting to pick up a hobby (no matter your age), the joy of finding something you enjoy and are willing to devote your time to is unparalleled. Keep reading to find out what are the various activities you can start – and where to go for lessons if you would like hands-on help.
You’ve probably had this thought before: I’m too old to pick up an instrument. However, we disagree.
Learning a musical instrument – or about music in general – as an adult differs greatly as compared to learning it as a child. While you may learn slower than an eight-year-old, you can make up for it with diligent practice and a strong passion for the instrument you are learning.
In fact, the Oxford Handbook for music learning highlights that an adult’s lived experiences and memories can help make up for any struggles they may have when it comes to learning speed or handling of the instruments. This can come in various ways such as how one interprets music or grasps the feel of the song.
Another aspect that can really make a difference will be the type of learning environment you are in. You must take into account whether you learn better with supervised teaching or through remote learning through videos.
If you are looking for places to learn instruments as an adult, here are some options to consider:
- Studio72 is where to go for drum, ukelele, guitar, and keyboard lessons.
- Joy Music Studio has flexible adult lessons for piano, guitar, violin, ukulele, and drums.
- Chinese Instrumental Music School offers lessons for all ages in dizi, erhu, pipa, guzheng, and other instruments.
All three schools listed above cater to adults who are just starting their musical journey.
At the end of a long day, sometimes the only thing that can cheer you up is a big cookie or a slice of cake. But how about making it for yourself?
Baking is a hobby that anybody can pick up, and many people do it well into their golden years.
The art of making baked goods is a creative process. Finding creative aspects in everyday things can help encourage enthusiasm and increase well-being. During the pandemic wave in 2020, bread making even saw an upsurge of enthusiasts – social media feeds were full of attempts and successful creations.
Thankfully, baking is a skill that you can easily pick up from YouTube videos. All you have to do is search for a recipe and follow the instructions. However, if you are looking to get down to the nitty-gritty, taking a class may be a good idea to properly understand why certain ingredients are used (as well as additional help for difficult techniques).
Bells Baking Studio offers an eight-day course that is Skillsfuture-credit eligible. You can learn how to make traditional and modern recipes whilst learning industry techniques. Those aged 21 – 39 years old can have up to 50 per cent subsidy on their course, while those 40 years and above get up to 70 per cent subsidy.
Looking for an artistic outlet that will help you wind down from a long day? Brush calligraphy and watercolour painting are great options for a tumultuous mind.
With brush calligraphy, learning how to write and practising the up and downward strokes will help you develop fine motor skills. Painting, on the other hand, can help to expand on your emotions and gives you an outlet for you to bring your feelings to life through the medium.
Brush calligraphy and watercolour painting are two skills that go almost hand-in-hand. A popular aesthetic is that of calligraphy on top of translucent colours for an almost magical feel.
If you are looking for a place to learn both at the same time, Fleuriste‘s Brush Calligraphy and Watercolour Florals course is priced at $395 and will teach you how to paint gorgeous blooms and write with a flourish. It is also claimable by Skillsfuture.
You are never too old (or young, for that matter) to begin growing your own little garden!
Whether you want to grow your own oasis of indoor greens, vibrant flowers, or edible plants, there’s always a difficulty with each plant that will leave you feeling challenged. And when the plants grow as you want them to? There’s no greater joy and pride as a plant parent.
Getting into gardening requires some work on your part. You’ll have to research the types of flowers you want to grow, the different types of fertilisers you want to use, and, if you have pets, whether the plants will be toxic for your furry friends.
While gardening can seem like a lone hobby, Singapore has communities that love to share all about it. Gardening Facebook groups are abundant and serve as great platforms for plant lovers to share about their plant babies, share tips, and even give away some plants they no longer want.
Do you get enamoured every time you see a barista masterfully create latte art for your cup of coffee? Many would think it impossible to do it in your own home – but if you have the right machine and are willing to invest in it, anything is possible.
Latte art is for all coffee enthusiasts out there who want to enhance their own coffee-making experience. However, picking it up by yourself may be tough.
If you are looking for some classes to get you started, Klook and Nineteen95 have two-hour workshops for you to learn the basics. From there, learning from YouTube videos will prove much easier than if you didn’t have a foundation for it! The classes will also help you determine whether latte art is something you are willing to pick up; the prices of machines can go up to the thousands.
Pottery is an age-old craft that has also been used as art therapy in some studies, where it helped many elderly patients raise their self-esteem. This other study included participants who called pottery a “creative outlet”. Not only that but since it is a process that requires multiple steps, it was also found that participants focused more on each individual stage rather than the end product, allowing them to better enjoy the whole experience overall.
Of course, pottery isn’t something you can easily do at home or pick up unless you have all the equipment. Luckily, there are a range of different pottery studios in Singapore offering classes to teach you the basics and get you started on your journey.
Here are some to consider:
- Common Touch has one-time experiences and short courses for beginner to intermediate potters. They also have a range of exclusive workshops to create vases, incense holders, and more.
- Seek Sophie has a two-hour hand-building pottery workshop held in a garden studio to make you feel like you are surrounded by nature while you work.
- The Potter’s Guilt includes an OTOT programme for alumni. Learn the craft with them and have access to studios to further your skills..