The Sprightly Spud

Don’t get me wrong, if the right bloke came my way, I’d be perfectly happy to take on a relationship. I’m content on my own, but certainly not ‘anti-company’. This does not mean, however, that there are not a number of sights and practices I find utterly sickening:

Couples enjoying walks in nature

Couples strolling to their local tennis courts clutching rackets

Couples heading out for morning runs, as they prepare for marathons they plan to complete together

Couples attending self-development style activities, such as cookery classes, together

Spot the theme.

Am I bitter? Perhaps. Yet I’m determined that singlehood can be equally as effective a stage of life in which to nurture hobbies that nourish your soul, it just takes a bit of guts sometime.

Initiating Your Hot Girl Hobby

The perfect pastime does not simply emerge out of the blue. Finding your one true leisure pursuit may well require research. What’s hot in your local area? Perhaps there’s a new Pilates studio offering introductory rates, or a book club looking for members. Personal benefits aside, you’ll be helping the local community, so its a win win.

Alternatively, you might want to look at reconnecting with a childhood sweetheart. Albeit the pair of jodhpurs you had when you were seven may be a bit cosy these days, its perfectly possible that some of the muscle memory that enabled you to be a British National Under 10s Show-jumper still remains. Harking back to talents honed in your youth could give you a head-start on self-satisfaction. Whether you’re 24 or grazing 40, there’s something heartening in realising ‘you’ve still got it’. Plus, for many people the inconveniences of homework, exams and high-school social commitments got in the way of their childhood pursuits, so maybe now is the perfect time to dig out those boots?

Whilst horse-riding may seem like a pretty niche way to occupy yourself in adult life, and it certainly isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, spending time amongst animals is proven to deliver a host of health benefits. Anyone lucky enough to be a pet parent knows that they provide companionship, and thus prevent loneliness. Not only this, but petting animals can lower cortisol levels (for both man and beast), and, unlike humans, our furry friends’ love tends to be virtually unconditional.

In summary, weekly llama walking may just be more beneficial than a boyfriend.

An alternative route to discovering your hot girl habit, may be exploring an unfulfilled pipe dream. Did you always want to try roller-blading as a child, but were told it was too dangerous by a parent? Maybe you had aspirations of being a championship diver, but lived too far from a pool. Life’s too short not to give everything you want to a try, so delve right to the bottom of your innermost goals, and let rip.

As adults, we are equipped with the independence that we don’t have as children, so whilst being a beginner can be utterly terrifying, it lets you develop confidence, creativity, and perhaps new skills for your repertoire. Personally, I always wanted to be a gymnast. Despite persistent efforts, my parents were (quite rightly) concerned that I was to clumsy for a career in tumbling. Now, more and more opportunities for grown-ups springing up, I’m free as a bird when it comes to hitting the parallel bars…

Aerial yoga, campanology or cultivating bonsai forests are unquestionably exciting and valid ways to spend your singlehood, but, on occasion, searching for simplicity may be wise.

Our adult lives are filled with stressors. Rent, deadline, fixing the dishwasher, deciding when to wash your hair… It’s literally endless. Thankfully, being single means we don’t have a partner to worry about. Nevertheless, there’s an argument to say that the best hobbies are, well, easy. If a leisure pursuits involves too much effort, its not going to be fun, and you’re not going to reap the benefits. For example, that scuba diving course you enrolled on might have seemed like a wonderful idea at the time, however, three weeks in, it may start to get tedious. Not only did you have to shell out nearly £400 on a buoyancy compressor – whatever that is – but attending the sessions involves lugging all your kit into the car, spending 40 minutes in motorway traffic, then not arriving home until 10pm. At this point, you’re soggy, cold, and starving, thus the fun seems to have escaped through your snorkel.

If scuba-diving is your dream, then the effort may feel worthwhile. If not, keep your new hobby low-key. The fitness realm screams about the value of achievability and consistency. Three 30 minute workouts a week, completed without fail, will elicit more results than 7, three hour training days, only executed when you feel utterly superhuman. Hobby-wise, this might translate to swapping scuba for a long podcast walk.

An hour plodding round the park, decaf latte in hand and headphones on has the potential to turn your day around. Firstly, there is ample choice for podcasts which expand your mind; what’s to stop you becoming an expert in Ancient Greek Archeology, or learning the intricacies of a whale’s digestive system? This being said, laughter also releases endorphins, so you could just chuckle along to the musings of your favourite reality TV star. Next there is the obvious benefit of gentle exercise, as there are few of us who wouldn’t gain from a gentle stroll. Finally, being outside in nature may reduce stress, improve sleep, and promote healing.

Podcast walks are free, accessible and don’t feel like an overwhelming task at the end of a heavy work day. Essentially, the ‘hot girl walk’ is extolled for a reason.

Another well-known source of wellness, is, of course, creativity. Looking for an activity that explores your imaginative side may leave you feeling even more content with your solo situation. Not only are activities like drawing, scrapbooking or knitting ideal for doing on your own, but can help you access a near-meditative state of deep focus, or ‘flow state’. This can help you truly switch off from the outside world, and potentially facilitate better processing of negative emotions (that last nasty breakup?). Critically, whether you’re designing dresses or writing songs, you’re engaging in self-expression, and triggering a release of dopamine. At the end of the process, the minimum reward is a sense of achievement, and at best you may be treated to a tangible item with which to adorn your home.

It’s important to note that creativity is not just for the artistically gifted. Photography, for example, is a great option if you draw like a toddler, and can help you slow down and gain an appreciation for the beauty of the world around us.

Finally, if singlehood does have you feeling a little on the lonely side, then look for a hobby with a social side-effect. Uniting over a common goal, focus, or passion is a guaranteed way to find like-minded people who you want to meet up with outside of the club. To put things simply, all eleven individuals attending the Thursday night origami lessons at Woolwich Common Community Centre, are there for the same reason. Whether that reason is learning to ice occasion cakes, or chat about crossword clues, you are blessed with an automatic icebreaker, meaning levels of social anxiety plummet, and making friends becomes drastically easier. Furthermore, so many of us literally only see work colleagues on a regular basis, and thus would would never have met Carol who – though 10 years older than you, and mother to six kids – turns out to be your long lost soulmate.

It may take some trial and error, but whether you choose to go in or out of your comfort zone, there is certainly a hot girl hobby out there for you…

Getting Over The Threshold

Even after you’ve honed in on your ideal pastime, there’s a good chance anxiety could rear its ugly head.

And this may be even uglier than your ex.

They key is to remember that you are doing this for you. Take a deep breath, steel yourself, and enjoy the empowerment you are gaining. This is your opportunity to grow and thrive as an individual, free from the burden of your partner’s painfully slow running pace!