Easy, Low-Commitment Hobbies for Single Moms

This is a guest post.

Mom, you’re doing great. With all the hard work you do, you deserve some relaxation time. It might feel like you have no free time as a single mother, but some hobbies can be easily incorporated into your schedule. Making time for yourself with activities like journaling or exercising gives you the energy to continue being a good parent.

Here are a few easy, low-commitment hobbies you can try.

Digital Scrapbooking

Digital scrapbooking is a convenient hobby you can do on your phone or computer without buying anything. You can use apps or software like Canva, which provides templates with different styles, borders, texts, and graphics. Whether you want to record memories from vacations and trips or keep track of your kid’s special milestones, scrapbooking is a great way to unwind through creative expression.

Coloring Sheets

When you’re pondering what hobby to choose, it helps to think of activities you used to love in childhood. If you enjoy art and coloring sheets, try adult coloring books. It’s easy and requires little funding and skills. With this therapeutic activity, you can spend 10 minutes a day creating beauty for beauty’s sake. Coloring helps with stress relief and can give you the space to reflect on your day and process any emotions or thoughts you may have put aside.

Bullet Journaling

Bullet journaling is an all-purpose space to document and organize your life. The unlined paper allows you to journal any way you want, whether to-do lists, meal plans, habit trackers, journal entries, doodles, or diagrams. You can tap into your creative side with colored markers, stickers, and tape, or keep it simple. It’s up to you. You will need a few hours as an initial investment to set your bullet journal up, but once you have started, it takes a little time.

Swimming

Swimming is a no-impact sport that benefits your whole body. It strengthens your muscles, improves stamina and balance, and relieves stress and tension. You can incorporate this activity into your life by signing your kids up for lessons and using that time to swim some laps. It works to everyone’s benefit. You get your recommended 2.5 hours of moderate aerobic activity weekly, and your kids improve their swimming skills.

YouTube Dance Workouts

Dancing as exercise is fun and increases self-confidence while maintaining physical fitness and releasing stress. You can boogie alone while your kids are at school or have them join you and make it a family party. There are loads of 15-minute dance workouts on YouTube with different music and themes. It doesn’t matter how you look or how perfect your moves are. All that matters is that you have fun.

Embroidery

Those with basic sewing skills are a step away from making awesome designs with this needlework activity. Start with a hoop, embroidery floss, and an online guide or YouTube videos. It’s an activity you can do while you watch Netflix or listen to the audiobook you’ve been meaning to start.

If you like unique clothing, you could start an embroidery project by stitching cute patterns on denim or your children’s jackets and pockets. You can also embroider designs on shoes, make personalized napkins and towels, or create embroidered cards during the holiday season. This activity can encourage your creative juices to flow and may even lead to a successful side hustle.

Puzzles

Puzzles are an excellent stress reliever. Completing one is similar to meditation because the needed focus and concentration frees your mind from stressful thoughts. Puzzles are also a social activity, so you can get your kids involved and keep them entertained while you get some stress relief. There are so many options to choose from. You can start with 2D puzzles and work up to more challenging versions that require you to solve a mystery or build a 3D model.

Some puzzles you can try include:

● Puzzles shaped like leaves or houses with unique pieces

● Wasgij puzzles requiring you to figure out what will happen next to the characters on the box

● 3D puzzles to recreate monuments like the Statue of Liberty or the Eiffel Tower

Origami

Origami is an easy hobby that doesn’t need lots of commitment, money, or time. You can make origami while waiting for your kids to finish ballet classes or extracurricular activities. All you need to do is buy paper and start folding. There are online guides or books to help you make exciting shapes like tulips, finger puppets, and even dragons. Start by creating basic designs and work up to beautiful, intricate ones.

Take a Few Minutes a Day to Do Something You Love

A single mom is a full-time job with no breaks, schedules, and responsibilities all year. However, it’s essential to find something you can do for yourself. Taking the time for enjoyable activities helps you feel refreshed and rested enough to be your best self.

Author Bio

Cora Gold is a motherhood and wellness blogger and the Editor-in-Chief of women’s lifestyle magazine, Revivalist. Follow Cora on Pinterest and LinkedIn.