Winter here in Florida was colder than expected this year. Between the chillier temperatures and the wind, my favorite hobby, paddle boarding, was suddenly off the table for a while.
And with that, something shifted in my routine.
The water had become such a regular part of my life that when it disappeared, I felt the absence more than I expected.
When I couldn’t go to the water, I had to find something else.
The Forgotten Things I Once Loved
Before I moved to Florida, I had a handful of hobbies I genuinely enjoyed. Crocheting, diamond art paintings, scrapbooking, and card making. Quiet, creative things that filled my time in a different way.
But once I moved to Florida, being outside in nature really became my priority. Paddle boarding took over as my main source of calm, movement, and joy.
I didn’t stop loving those indoor hobbies. I just stopped making space for them.
Coming Back to Old Hobbies
This expectedly cold winter nudged me back toward those quieter activities.
I picked up my crochet hooks again and started making little pieces of home decor. I ordered a new diamond art kit and found myself settling into the slow, repetitive rhythm of placing each tiny piece. I started making cards again, first for Christmas, then for birthdays, putting more thought into something as simple as sending a note.
And I finally caught up on last year’s memory journal and started a new one, committing to taking at least one photo each day.
Some days it’s just my dog.
Other days, it’s something small that I don’t want to forget.
While I’d still rather be out on the water paddle boarding, I realized something surprising.
I missed these hobbies more than I thought I did.
What These Hobbies Give Me
Each one offers something a little different.
Crocheting is calming in a way that sneaks up on you. The repetition, the rhythm, the way your hands stay busy while your mind slows down. It gives me something to do while watching TV so I’m not automatically reaching for my phone.
Diamond art is similar. It’s a bit tedious, a bit repetitive, but there’s something satisfying about watching the image slowly come together. It lets me feel creative without pressure.
Memory journaling has been one of the most meaningful. It forces me to slow down and notice my life in small pieces. To capture moments that might otherwise pass by unnoticed.
And making cards feels intentional in a different way. It’s a small act, but it’s a way of showing up for people. Of letting them know I’m thinking of them.
The Kind of Joy That’s Easy to Forget
None of these hobbies are particularly exciting.
They’re quiet. Simple. Sometimes even a little repetitive.
But they’re meaningful.
There’s no pressure to be productive or “good” at them. No expectation to turn them into something bigger. I can just sit, go at my own pace, and enjoy the process.
And maybe just as importantly, they pull me away from my phone.
Less scrolling.
More creating.
More presence.
Why This Matters More Than It Seems
This winter, even though it wasn’t what I would have chosen, gave me something I didn’t realize I needed.
It slowed me down.
It gave me space to reconnect with parts of myself that existed before this chapter in Florida. Parts that didn’t disappear — they were just waiting.
These hobbies weren’t just ways to pass time.
They were ways to come back to myself.
The Bigger Reflection
Sometimes we think we need something new to feel better. A new hobby. A new routine. A new version of ourselves.
But sometimes, what we’re actually craving is something familiar.
Something that already brought us joy.
We just stopped making space for it.
And maybe that’s the real lesson.
A Gentle Return to Joy
Joy doesn’t have to be big or exciting. It can just be quiet, familiar, and simple.
A crochet project on the couch. A page in a memory journal. A card sent to someone you care about.
Sometimes joy isn’t something we have to go out and find.
Sometimes it’s something we come back to.
💌 Your Turn
Is there something you used to love that you haven’t made time for in a while?
Maybe this is your reminder that it’s still there, waiting for you.
If you’d like to share, I’d love to hear about it in the comments.
If you’re ready to take your own gentle first step, I’d love to invite you to subscribe to my newsletter. You will receive a free download of my 5-Day Self-Care Reset Plan. It’s a simple way to start making space for yourself again, in just five minutes a day.
Feel free to visit my Etsy shop for resources to help you on your journey. I also have a free private self-care interactive Facebook group for women that you can join here.
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