Start the year right by committing to some work-life balance
New year, new hobbies. While it's perfectly alright to stick with what already works for you, it also can't hurt to explore what else Singapore has to offer. After all, this is likely the time of the year you feel most buoyed by hope and optimism. Before the new year afterglow fades away, try out woodworking, mushroom growing, or even medieval fencing – and who knows, something new could stick. We've rounded up some brilliant new hobbies you can shoot your shot at in 2021.
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An overlooked craft, woodworking will keep you nimble and creative. Whisk yourself away to the kampung at Ground Up Initiative, where their craft division Touchwood carries out foundational woodworking for adults. Pick up knowledge of wood types and learn your way around hand tools as you work on a craft project over the three-day course. Soon, you’ll be comfortable enough to embark on your own DIY efforts at home.
Climate change has dominated the global consciousness for years, and it’s high time we took individual action. Consider upcycling – by flexing your creativity, you can transform what you would otherwise throw away into something new and useful. Turn milk cartons into coin pouches, plastic bottles into terrariums or scrap fabrics into cup holders. It’s simple enough to take inspiration from online sources, otherwise, follow local organisations like Terra SG to find out when they're holding workshops at community events.
Think flower arrangement is easy? Think again. It takes some careful planning to create aesthetically pleasing bouquets. The flowers themselves are also a real mood lifter, and putting them together promotes stress relief, mental dexterity and socialisation. Enter the beautiful world of floristry with our selection of the best floral arrangement workshops in Singapore, and take your pick from basic to intermediate and advanced courses.
Just kidding. We mean, grow your own mushrooms. Sustainable practices and DIY culture like home gardening and sourdough baking was a huge deal during circuit breaker times, so why not stock up your pantry with homegrown mushrooms too? Start off easy with a grow kit from Mushroom Kingdom – it has all the ingredients you need to get those little fungi sprouting in less than two weeks.
If you’ve drooled over the elaborate weaponry and sword fighting scenes in Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings and other medieval era shows, historical European martial arts (HEMA) might just be the sport for you. At Bastion, students study different weapon systems dating back to the medieval period, including the Messer, the longsword and polearms. If that sounds a little geeky to you, don’t knock it till you try it – we hear it takes enormous strength and stamina to excel at it. But don’t worry, the folks at Bastion will start you off easy with a safety course and simple footwork.
Pottery studios in Singapore are filling up with students eager to get their hands dirty. This art form requires exquisite focus and body control – hard to pick up initially, but great for zen once it clicks. At the end of the day, you get beautifully glazed pieces you can gift, display or use as tableware too. Explore hand building and wheel throwing options at some of Singapore’s best pottery studios and sign up for a trial session now.
Can just getting out of the house be a hobby? Well, after being cooped up for so much of 2020, we’ll count it as a win. And there are loads to explore on our tiny island – check out the best hiking trails, scenic cycling routes and outdoor watersports activities. Soar above the city at these rooftop gardens, or gain some easily accessible respite from the city at these secret and hidden parks. Whether it’s hiking, cycling or wake surfing, there’s bound to be something that might stick and turn into a lifelong passion.
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