When the weather gets colder, you naturally tend to spend more time indoors – especially if you’re not a fan of winter sports and snow. And, while you may want to spend all winter binge-watching some of your favorite shows, why not take up a hobby?

Hobbies are those things you enjoy doing when you have some downtime. They can help you relieve stress or offer you some needed relaxation. They can challenge your brain as you learn something new. A hobby can help you find hidden talents. They might even help you advance your career or find a source for additional income. They really do have many benefits.

If you’re looking for a new hobby to fill some time between a good Netflix binge, then maybe one of these will spark your interest.

• Cooking and Baking: Are you a good cook? Bad cook? Expert cook? No matter where you are on the spectrum of cooks, winter is the perfect opportunity for you to brush up on your skills. And the best part? You get to eat what you make!
  • If you want some extra help perfecting your skills, look for local cooking classes. You might find that your favorite restaurant has classes or even your local community college. If you’ve got some skills, there are many online tutorials that will have you following along and preparing delicious meals. And, if you think you’re pretty good, but looking to elevate your skills, challenge yourself with more complicated dishes.
• Photography: Do you love taking photos? Then maybe it’s time to work on your photography skills. If you have a DSLR camera, you might find some online courses that teach you all of the ins and outs of your camera. If you’ve mastered your DSLR camera, perhaps it’s time to think about photo editing and taking a class in Photoshop to really enhance your images.
  • Even if you just enjoy taking great photos with your phone, there are online courses that can help you take better photos. Do a quick search, and you could soon be taking Instagram photos that grab people’s attention.
• Knitting and Crocheting: You may have thoughts of your grandma when it comes to knitting and crocheting, but you shouldn’t. Knitting and crocheting is a great activity for people of any age. It’s very relaxing, and it can be done while you’re watching television – so that’s a bonus!
  • If you’re new to knitting and crocheting, there are lots of online tutorials that can have you creating a simple project quickly, such as a scarf. As your skills build, you can move onto more complex projects, and soon you will be creating gifts for family and friends. If you think you’d do better with a little hands-on help, check the calendar for your local library. They might have times where people can come together and work on their knitting projects and chat as a group. Also, your local craft or yarn store may offer classes.
• Exercise: If you’re looking for a more active hobby this winter, how about some fitness activities? Whether you want to learn yoga, increase your strength, or even run a 5K, you can start training now. YouTube has lots of yoga videos to get you started, and you can head to the fitness center at any time to work up a good sweat.

Hobbies have lots of benefits, and winter is a great time to enjoy your favorite one or engage in a new one. They’ll help you pass the time until spring arrives!