Boredom—it’s a widespread affliction. During busy days, many always yearn for vacation and have nothing to do. Nevertheless, once their wish is fulfilled, they find themselves at a loss for what to do. Without a single idea, they end up squandering the day away in bed or on their phones. However, one should never waste time complaining, “I’m so bored….” There are endless hobbies that one can take up in any time of boredom, especially during summer vacation. Like Cara Tang (12) notes, “starting a new hobby is good because it keeps you busy from just this world.” Personally, she “picked up making miniatures as a new hobby” and finds it “very challenging and fun.” Try something new, or revive an old hobby from your past. In this article, I’ll cover a few hobbies I enjoy and recommend for anyone, even if it isn’t summertime.

Drawing

It almost appears to be commonly thought that drawing as a hobby is only feasible for bonafide artists, but this belief is highly incorrect. Drawing is a form of expression, not a privilege reserved for the talented alone. Think you can’t draw because you can only draw stick figures? You can always learn. Hardly any artist starts with a Picasso-level skill set. Those with such a skill set got to where they are through practice, practice, practice. Of course, the level of training an individual requires differs from person to person, but practice is the way to go regarding improvement. Still, you don’t need to be “good” to draw. Art is about creating whatever you feel like and having fun with it. However, if you want to improve, be classically trained in the fundamentals, or take up art as a serious hobby, consider starting art lessons or researching online tutorials. Drawing is an easily doable and cathartic hobby for anyone willing to take up a pencil and paper.

Photography

Another easily accessible hobby for many, photography is another form of art that anyone can enjoy. As long as you have a camera or some device with one built in—such as a phone or tablet—you’re good to go. It’s your artistic or unique perspective that makes a photo. If you don’t know where to start, try snapping shots of anything you see. Stand or crouch or lie around at different angles; perspective can completely change a picture and help you see the mundane differently. Photos can also be edited to your liking and make outstanding records of personal memories or precious moments with loved ones.

Video gaming

Although too much of it can be unhealthy, gaming is a great way to kill time. Especially with games that have strong storylines, you can immerse yourself in magical and fantastical lands, exciting sci-fi cities of the future, and much more. Most games have an array of quests/missions, opponents, or a general “grind” aspect to them, so you won’t find yourself short of content to keep busy with. One should be cautious of not getting too addicted to video games, but there are infinite unique games that can be fun for anyone.

Writing

A quick or time-consuming hobby depending on your desires, writing is a versatile and valuable hobby that can be done traditionally or digitally. Similar to drawing, you can do whatever you want with it. Write about your day, or construct a vast universe if you feel creative. Writing can burn through the hours if you’re interested in perfecting your skills or being especially creative. Before you even realize it, day turns to night and vice versa. Once again, like drawing, you can express your thoughts with writing, and the hobby can act as a release or emotional outlet.

Overall, these hobbies might lean more towards the artistic side and my personal preferences, but they are great options for anyone with time. If the hobbies listed above don’t tickle your fancy or you have difficulty formulating other options, think of hobbies centered around your strongest interest or try out what your friends or other loved ones enjoy. Even simply taking a stroll on the beach or basking in the sunlight streaming through your window are good options during the summer. No matter what, there is a hobby for everyone.