The days are getting shorter, the air colder, it is time to find some fun activities and enjoy the long evenings of the upcoming corona-winter. This dark time of the year can get tough, even in normal years, it is important that we take care of ourselves, now especially.
In my last text from two weeks ago, I wrote about how I spend most of my day in front of the computer and felt like I needed to get away from it. Since then, I took a few long cycling trips on sunny days. But I also needed something to do in the evenings and resorted to a strange hobby.
I fill in the fields marked 17 with a bright red
I remembered it from my childhood and ordered a ‘painting by numbers’-set. Now I fill in the fields marked 17 with a bright red, the ones marked 6 with a bright green, to create a beautiful flower bouquet. I like to paint, but have zero talent, so I thought this might be a good idea. I used to like ‘painting by numbers’ as a child, and now, I have to say, I enjoy it again. Though it is not a very cool activity, it is a nice way to pass some time. Moreover, it is very relaxing, almost meditative.
Together with my boyfriend, I did some other activities that we last enjoyed as children. We baked some cookies and crafted Christmas decorations together. Now we are working on an advent wreath (those are ring-shaped fir branches, equipped with 4 candles and other Christmas decorations), as coming Sunday is the first advent. More people seem to have had this idea, as the supplies we needed to craft the wreath were sold out in many stores.
Being inside the same four walls all the time can start to feel uncomfortable quickly. From my experience, I can recommend four things:
- Pick up old hobbies
- Get out of the house as much as possible
- Call friends and family regularly
- Treat yourself!
Now is the time to fulfil our wishes, that we usually would not. Why not get that new bike, those arts and crafts supplies, or that cooking book, to stay happy and healthy in the upcoming months?
Katrin Heidemeyer came to Wageningen in 2014 to do her Masters. She started her PhD at the Laboratory of Biochemistry four years ago. She hails from Germany.