by Chris Johson

Created on: January 17, 2007   Last Updated: January 24, 2007

Top Ten categories of hobbies with my favourite examples!

1) Reading - Reading is my very favourite pastime and the beauty of reading it there is a limitless supply of books and you can find a book on most topics. If reading a book is a little heavy or you simply don't have time, subscriptions to a magazine or taking a newspaper are excellent ways to pass the time.

2) Sport - Whilst reading is the food of the mind, sport is essential for a healthy lifestyle whether just a weekly run to stay in shape or a serious team sport. Sport can give so much and gives back to you socially, physically and can help your state of mind as much as anything else. For fitness, nothing is more effective than boxing, and for team building their are limitless possibilites.

3)Day Trips - Going to visit new and interestning places is a really good way to expand your outlook and experience new things. Whether a stately home, castle, theme park or football match, these enhance your cultural perspective and are a good way to spend time with people.

4)Write a letter - It seems the days of writing a letter are fading away, to be replaced by text messages, phone calls and emails. However, there is nothing quite so personal, touching and fulfilling as the exchange of letters. To sit down and write a letter takes time and has a much more personal touch to it.

5)Take in a show- Going to the theatre, a concert or the cinema are really fascinating and enjoyable ways to spend time, and is the perfect thing to do with all manner of people whatever your relationship with them.

6)Art - You no longer need a fantastic drawning and painting skill to be a competent artist and to enjoy art you do not need any skill at all, just a willingness to try, learn and have patience. A good piece of artwork is one of the most satisfying things to create in the world.

7)Board Games - If you're bored (pardon the pun) then a good sociable way to spend the time is to play a board game. It can be a simple game requiring no real thought like hungry hippo, or a challenging intellectual exercise like chess and sometimes scrabble.

8)Learn a language- Learning a language can open up countless oppurtunites because it gives you the ability to converse with a whole new society, allowing an even vaster amount of people available for you to speak to. You can also read literature and websites in the new language.

9)Listening to music- In the comfort of your own home, how often do you do nothing but solely listen to music. Just sit and relax and really take in the music, and when you listen to it in future you will find it much more enjoyable because you are more able to appreciate it.

10)Take up a new class - Taking up an entirley new hobby that you have never tried before or don't know much about is a great way to meet new people and learn new skills. Dancing and Martial Arts classes are commonplace, but if the physical isnt for you why not do a small qualification in something you're sure you enjoy but never really got round to doing. Going back into education at an older age is something anyone can do, as two of my grandparents and mother would testify.

:) Have fun x

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