Capital city living sure isn’t easy at the best of times. What with the underground commutes, the busy streets, the £10 lunches and the miserable weather, it can get downright exhausting just running through your weekly 9-5. Sometimes, all everyone needs is a little peace and quiet. A lazy, cosy, home-bound Sunday. A slice of TLC.
And that’s where we come in. Here are five no-commitment, easy-to-pick-up hobbies that you can do from the comfort of your own living room (and/or kitchen, bedroom, study) to help you wind down amidst the chaos of west London. All character building, all great small talk for your upcoming first date.
1. Homebrewing
Homebrewing has never been easier than in the 21st century. Whether you’re a gin fiend, a whisky connoisseur or a beer enthusiast at heart, modern technology has all the answers you’re looking for. Homebrewing is, by official definition, the fermentation of your own alcohol at home, specifically for small scale, non-commercial purposes. And you can get involved, easy as pie!
Numerous kits and guides are available online, such as those at www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk, ranging from cheap to very not cheap. There’s an entire culture around homebrewing and it’s growing fast. And the best part of all? The actual process hardly any work at all. Once you’ve got the fermentation started, you only need check in every couple of days. The drink does all the work for you and the end result is a totally original beverage made by yours truly. Be warned, it may take one or two practice runs before your beverage is anywhere near palatable…
2. Card Mastery
Nothing says classy like a dab hand at cards – hold ‘em, baccarat, blackjack – and this skill no longer requires a casino. These days, everything’s online and streamable right from your home PC from sites like https://www.mrgreen.com/en/blackjack, jackpots included. You can play big in online tournaments, play small as you like or play for no cash at all, with live dealers and introductions to every game type at your disposal.
Why bother getting all dolled up when a big win can be achieved while snuggled on the sofa? Get enough practice in and your next poker night with friends will be a prime opportunity to show off.
3. Home Fitness
Gym memberships are like… so 2015, don’t you know? If you’re hankering for a quick and easy way to get fit, look no further than your bedroom floor and your trusty yoga mat. Home fitness is as convenient as exercise gets – with routines available online from places like https://www.nerdfitness.com, beginners and veterans alike can get their sweat on just three feet from the shower and in total privacy.
Be warned, your dog may be very confused by all the banging and jumping about, to begin with: an adjustment period may be required.
4. Adult Colouring
Remember colouring? Remember that? Turns out, it’s just as great as an adult as when you were a kid. So great in fact that there’s now an entire industry centred around adult colouring books. For better or worse, crack open one of these modern tomes and you’ll find fewer Disney princesses and more spiral patterns, flowers and floral scenes for you to fill in, to your heart’s content.
It’s reportedly an incredibly relaxing, satisfying pastime, with the only requirements being a spark of imagination and the ability to stay within the lines (not as easy as it sounds, in some cases).
5. Baking
Everyone loves cookies. By proxy, everyone loves home bakers. Turns out all you need is a hot oven, a good recipe – try https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/baking-beginners if unsure – and a healthy dollop of determination. Baking is a great hobby to pick up no matter who you are because it can be as easy or as complicated as you want to make it. A souffle might take dozens of attempts to rise, for example, but brownies are quick to master if you’re willing to practice. And the best part about baking is, even if you fail, it’s probably tasty anyway!
With failure comes progress and with progress comes burgeoning talent! So brew that raspberry gin. Work on your six-pack. Ruin that six-pack with a dozen chocolate chip delights. Whatever peaks interest, give it a go and keep on going. We promise you won’t regret it.
