In the fast-moving world we live in currently, taking a few moments for yourself to enjoy an activity you love doing is vastly crucial. At least for me, I try to include as many hobbies into my routine as I can. In your current uni life, there will be a number of things you do for fun: a sport, a hike, or a handicraft (people I know are really getting into crocheting lately!). If you’re looking for hobby suggestions that don’t cost a lot and actually put your mind at ease, you’ve come to the right blog. Here are my top student-friendly recommendations:

Commonplace journal

I’m forever the number one advocate for journalling. I always say it has the capacity to somehow calm your mind and is the most therapeutic activity one can do. Keeping a commonplace journal is a fun and enriching thing to carry out. You basically just need to write. It should usually consist of excerpts, quotes, and ideas you get from reading a book. However, you can also include thoughts and insights from movies, shows, or plays you watched recently, daily anecdotes, an interesting concept you learnt in class, etc.

In this digitalised age, writing by hand has almost become outdated. But it doesn’t have to be. To spark your imagination, remember things more precisely, and to acquire new information, a commonplace journal comes in handy!

Embroidery

Growing up, I always heard my mum and aunt talk about their love for embroidery. I saw their old art pieces lying around and always felt fascinated. It apparently used to be a regularly practiced hobby. It takes a bit of concentration and learning, but once you get the hang of it, you’d be amazed by the designs you can create. The Range or The Works in Belfast will most definitely have a kit – and I’m pretty sure they are less than £3!

Scary makeup

Last Halloween, someone taught me how makeup can be used to create realistic wounds, scars, scratches, and black eyes. All you need to do is buy a few different makeup products and fake jelly blood (I swear there’s a name for it!) and you can totally pull off an edgy horror movie-like fake injury. This is something I didn’t realise people did by themselves. Always thought you needed a proper artist to get it done smoothly, but apparently not!

Cosplaying

You don’t necessarily have to invest money in this hobby if you don’t want to. Any artefact lying around can be your prop. Any piece of clothing can be fashioned into a costume. As long as you’re having fun, creativity has funny ways of showing itself. It doesn’t have to be for TikTok or for IG reels, it can be just for your eyes as you take the time away from doom-scrolling and work with what you have. DIY techniques and thrifting are the least expensive ways to go about this as a student.

Hiking

While all your side quests don’t have to be outdoorsy, it’s good that some are. Hiking does not just help you get fresh air and connect with nature; it gives you a chance to explore the kind of places you like and also acts as a great form of physical exercise. A few trails are famous for hiking in Belfast – you may have heard of the Cave Hill one that starts close to Belfast Castle, or the Cregagh Glen park which is 15 minutes away from the city centre by bus. 

Moreover, there are lesser-known trails which are equally awesome. The Belvoir Forest Park is a wooded, scenic area great for a long peaceful walk, especially on an early morning. The Black Mountain is another famous spot for hiking! If you’re hesitant to go alone, Queen’s has its very own hiking club you can join!

Gardening

Again, a great way of connecting with and giving back to nature. In the world of high carbon emissions and destructive trends like fast fashion, it is important to have hobbies like gardening. Even if you don’t have a proper gardening space where you live, you can always volunteer. The BT9 student accommodation is always looking for student volunteers to help out with gardening. You can also offer to do this for Wee Chicks who I once saw had a volunteer opening for gardening. It’s the perfect activity to help grow more plants and trees, as well as learn about them.

These are my top hobby suggestions you can consider while having a break from your busy student life. Even if none of the above appeals to you, it’s always worthwhile to discover your hobby and focus on your niche interests!

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Magdalene Natasha Charles Anthropology and English | Undergraduate Student | India I'm an undergraduate student pursuing Anthropology and English at Queen's. Originally from Chennai, India, I've now moved to Belfast for my studies. In my free time, I like to write poetry, and I've self-published my own collection ('Subdued Cries' on Amazon). I'm an aspiring novelist and I hope to inspire people through my writing journey. I also journal, and am fond of frolicking (or taking calming walks) through parks and gardens. I'm extremely passionate about reading and my current favourite is The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I'm constantly looking for ways to improve my personal and professional skills, and hope to gain meaningful experience during my time here at Queen's.