Hobbies Help me Relax!

Entry One:

I have many activities that I do to "recharge my battery" a few are reading, knitting/crocheting, and painting. These activities may seem like just things to do or fun ways to get out of doing work. To me however, they are activities that help me to relax. I read every night to calm my thoughts and to take my mind off what I have to do tomorrow or what I should have done differently today. Some people may make lists but to me this only keeps my mind running because I just come up with a million things to think about. Reading is my favorite activity because for one moment I am not me living my life but I am a character in a book living a fairy tale. Knitting/crocheting is one of the those activities that after you learn takes very little thought process at all. You just keep going and repeating the pattern; if you mess up you correct your mistake and keep going. I enjoy knitting because I can never sit still and it is an activity that allows me to concentrate on what is going on and not what I am doing. This year my RA taught me how to paint. I started on an easy paint by number. I like the way that it is a productive activity yet it lets me take a break from work that I have to do.
I recently transferred to Goshen College. I always watched Grey's Anatomy. A few of my friends decided to make a time every week, Thursday nights at 9 pm., to get together to take time out of our hectic schedules to enjoy each other's company. This activity has given me something to look forward to during the week.
I found that though my activities are small they are personal to me. I find that through these activities I have been able to "recharge my battery" and take the time necessary to release my stress.
I believe that these activities will be of great use to me in my future profession. At the end of a hard day I can do some small tasks such as knit and paint while spending time with my family. Being able to read such things as books/newspapers I can enjoy my reading and relaxing while also catching up on the news or reading new genres of books.


Entry Two:

If you had told me that I would be running for fun and not only running but running 5Ks I probably would have thought you were crazy. Over the last few years I have begun running a few days every week to release my mind and to stay in shape. For the first few weeks I would have told you there was nothing recharging about running at all, however, now that I am not only running but racing I truly enjoy the concept of running. There is something so releasing about the air rushing by your face and the way your feet hit the pavement. I have spent many hours running and walking on beautiful trails with friends or by myself. I believe that taking some time to do something healthy for the body and relaxing for the mind is very important when you are living a very stressful life. I know that I need to take a few minutes daily for myself. Running helps me find a way to get away and think back and reflect on lessons I taught or lessons I will teach without getting wrapped up in another activity.