An easy way to incorporate fun and achieve goals is by trying out a new hobby. If you’re not sure how to get started, here’s a list of eight new hobbies to try out in 2023. 

(Source: Getty Images)

1. Hiking

Getting yourself out into nature for a vigorous walk is a beneficial hobby to try out. According to National Park Services, hiking can improve your heart health as well as strengthen your muscles. 

In addition to this, there are mental health benefits, according to a study done at Stanford University. This study compared the physical and mental effects on two groups: one that spent time walking in nature, and another that spent time walking in an urban environment. Those who spent time in nature showed significant changes in the brain, such as decreased rumination of negative thoughts. Participants also had improved moods and showed a calmer state of being. 

2. Foraging

“Foraging” is a word you’ve most likely heard in your history class when you learned about early settlers. Foraging is the act of collecting food in the wild.

Before you skip over this hobby, thinking you’d rather buy your food from the grocery store, consider this benefit. Food that is grown in and picked from the wild hasn’t been chemically altered or modified.

Alexis Nikole Nelson is one Black woman who is leading the charge and has used Instagram and TikTok to highlight the importance of foraging. Nelson shares on her channels her adventures of going into the forests and onto the beaches to find things such as acorns and edible seaweed. She brings her findings home to cook and create something delish. 

If you’re intrigued by this hobby but aren’t quite sure where to start, hobbyknowhow.com shares 10 places in the United States where you can forage to your heart’s content.

(Source: Getty Images)

3. Learning to play an instrument

When it comes to playing an instrument, many people attended piano lessons as a kid or were in band. For those who didn’t grow up playing an instrument, it can feel like you missed your time to learn. 

If you’re questioning whether 40 is too old to learn to play an instrument, the answer is no. According to musichousechool.com, there are many benefits to learning or relearning how to play an instrument as an adult. These benefits include reducing stress, preventing Alzheimer’s disease, enhancing patience and discipline, and providing a creative outlet.

4. Thrifting

Whether through garage sales or utilizing Facebook marketplace, you’ve most likely done some thrifting. 

What has probably been more of a seasonal activity, something you do when you’re spring-cleaning or moving, can turn into a yearlong hobby. 

Thrifting is a great way to save money and prevent items from piling up in landfills. It can be like a modern treasure hunt as you find unique accessories that can enhance your wardrobe or home decor. It can also enhance your creativity by enabling you to put together things that you wouldn’t normally come across. 

5. Restoring furniture 

If you enjoy thrifting and want to exercise your creative juices a little more, you can try restoring furniture as a new hobby.

Restoring furniture not only is a fun and useful activity but also can be a side hustle. Refurbishing old tables, chairs, and sofas is about seeing the potential beauty in something that was discarded or broken. 

To get started, take a look at items you already have in your home. Reach into the back of your garage for the discarded dresser or lounge chair that is collecting cobwebs. If you don’t have anything in your immediate vicinity, try taking a walk or driving down your neighborhood streets to see what’s been discarded at the side of the road. Even a neighbor’s garage sale can offer some furniture that needs refurbishing.

(Source: Getty Images)

6. Playing paintball — for both men and women

This may seem like a hobby that’s more common for men, yet there are many benefits for women who get into the sport. Besides crushing gender stereotypes, paintball is a great way to exercise, blow off some steam, and let your hair down. If you’re new to the activity, here are some suggestions to get started from hobbystrategy.com.

They suggest layering up and wearing protective gear such as kneepads. Paintball isn’t a gentle sport, so having plenty of protection is important in being able to enjoy the sport. Additional advice for newcomers is to focus on playing on a team to better support one another. When out on the field, keep moving and don’t be intimidated by the other players. 

7. Hosting game nights

Hosting a game night is a low-cost and fun way to socialize without leaving the comfort of your home. 

If you’re interested in hosting, Dicebreakers.com suggests getting started by creating a guest list. It’s ideal to have a mixture of competitive and noncompetitive people. Next, you’ll want to schedule a time and location. 

Once you know when the game will be happening and who will be attending, you can choose the right games. You can set up games as the host or invite guests to bring their favorite games. Lastly, you’ll want to make sure everyone feels comfortable by providing a welcoming space.

If you like the idea of a game night but don’t want to take on all the responsibility of hosting, you can ask a friend to co-host with you. 

8. Learning a new skill

Whether you want to find a new job or excel in your current position, learning a new skill is an important activity to take on. If you’re not sure which skill you should learn, focus on high-income generating skills such as SEO, copywriting, video editing, coding, AWS cloud, and project management.

For 2023 the best way to achieve your goals and enjoy more of life is to combine a goal with a fun new hobby. For instance, you can incorporate hiking into your goal of getting into shape. You can try thrifting or restoring furniture to support the goal of creating a new stream of income. When you can find the balance between hard work and enjoyment, goals become a little bit easier to achieve. 

The post 8 New Hobbies to Make 2023 More Fun appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.

The winning artist will: 

• See their work on the Google homepage for a day
• Receive a $30,000 college scholarship 
• And the winner’s school will receive a $50,000 technology grant. 

One of this year’s judges is Elyse Fox, the CEO of Sad Girls Club, a nonprofit committed to destigmatizing mental wellness for millennial and Gen Z women, girls and femmes of color. She’s also a member of the Rare Beauty Mental Health Council. Other judges include Selena Gomez and Juliana Urtubey, the 2021 National Teacher of the Year. 

Go to this link here to apply: https://doodles.google.com/d4g/

The post Doodle for Google Contest for Girls of Color appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.

Over the years, Oprah has shown us time and time again that the spaces in which we live and work should be filled with things we love and inspire us. She always says that you should be in a position to use your life in a way that shines and uplifts. You can’t do that in an uninspiring space.

In 2015, I transitioned from an oversized cubicle in an office to working from home. I was also in the process of moving to another state, so I had zero office furniture. I found myself with a make-shift desk (stacked books) and a pillow as my chair. Not very inspiring at all. The struggle was real.

As I tried to work productively from the floor, I daydreamed about Oprah’s office and how I wanted just a fraction of what she had. I certainly didn’t have a Nate Berkus to work his magic, but what I did have was a little creativity and Pinterest. I realized I could still create my perfect work-from-home space, on a budget, that I would love and feel inspired in.

With more people working from home these days, it’s important to create a space that is conducive to productivity and reflects personal style. The reality is that home and work have to coexist. You still want to be able to separate where you do business from where you sleep. It’s possible to do, and you don’t have to spend a fortune in the process.

Before you begin, ask yourself a few questions:

• What will you be doing in the space?
• How much desk space do you need?
• What type of equipment is required?
• Will you be making Zoom or conference calls?
• Will you be the only person in the space?

Answering these questions will help you determine the best area to work from and what to do about noise and privacy. After you’ve given some thought to how you work and what you need the functionality to be, the next step is to create a dedicated work area.

I have a one-bedroom apartment, and I did not want to utilize my living room or bedroom. The couch and bed are just too comfortable for me to maximize on the amount of work I need to do, and it’s too tempting for naps. So, I converted my dining area into my office space.

Believe it or not, the dining room is the most common room of the house to convert into a home workspace, mainly because it’s an area that is not often used. Having a desk there allows me to visually section off this space from the other areas in my apartment.

Pinterest is a great hub for ideas on color palettes, furniture, and décor. I decided that I wanted a white desk, but the ones I found were just too small. IKEA came to the rescue at under $50, and I was able to select the size I wanted and the style of legs. I added a chic office chair from Wayfair that, at the time, happened to be on sale.

Remember: This is your workspace. So, it doesn’t have to be a traditional desk. If you prefer a table, standing desk, or something like FluidStance to limit your time sitting all day, those are great options to consider.

No one wants to work in a dull, boring workspace. The best part about creating your perfect home workspace is that everything you don’t like at your work office, you can do differently at home. If you’ve had to put up with dim lighting before, give yourself the gift of natural light by opening up the windows. I found that desk lamps also help brighten my mood and keep my eyes from straining, especially from wearing glasses all day.

An important element for me is that my workspace has to be functional. I added a cubed organizer from Target ($40 for eight cubes), as well as decorative bins from Amazon ($28 for four). These hold notebooks, books, tech items, and small décor. When you are working with limited space in your home, you may want to add shelves, drawers, or multi-use storage to avoid additional clutter.

If you love bright colors, candles, photos and art, and other accessories, you can personalize your space the way you really want to. I take advantage of this to show off my personal style and things I love. Doing this will make you feel better while you’re working, and being more comfortable and happier while you’re working will make you more productive. I have found that being surrounded by my favorite books, personal photos, and art keeps my anxiety in check.

Working from home can be rewarding because it provides the opportunity for comfort and efficiency. Even an existing small space such as a hallway can be a perfect place to create a small home office. Get creative and work your best life.

The post Creating the Perfect Work-from-Home Space appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.

Although it was released in store earlier this month, you can now purchase it online for £89. The single-breasted design has already proved a massive hit on Instagram, due to not only the gorgeous wide lapels, the on-trend, oversize fit and super cosy wool texture – but also the fact that Vogue Williams, Holly and fashion blogger Erica Davies have all rocked it. Now if you don’t know who Erica Davies is – let us enlighten you. Erica is a huge fashion influencer and has always been a big fan of M&S, having single-handedly made THAT starry-print constellation dress a sellout last year.

Speaking about how to style the purple coat of dreams, the chic mother-of-two advised: “Do not fear the purple hue. It works SO WELL with navy blue, bright yellow (yes really), orange or red AND emerald green. It’s a completely useful shade if you want to inject some colour into your life. And who doesn’t want that? We couldn’t agree more, E.

She added: “I used to feel like I could only wear a certain type of clothing and I think sometimes you just get stuck in a bit of a rut and wear the same thing over and over again and you create rules for yourself, you think ‘ooh I can’t wear trousers because I’ve got a big bum’ and you create some sort of rule book of your own and sometimes you’ve just got to go ‘right, I’m going to tear up that rule book and I’m going to experiment or I’m going to find my trouser, or I’m going to find my V-neck top or I’m going to find the place that does the perfect T-shirt’. It’s about finding the right things.”

“Anyone can get dressed up and glamorous, but it is how people dress in their days off that are the most intriguing.”

Ali, who gave birth to the couple’s baby daughter Isla in September, looked gorgeous in a black maxi dress that featured an off-the-shoulder neckline. Holly was also her typically stylish self, wearing a white summer dress, while Scarlett looked lovely in a zebra-print number.

MIDDLETON’S BABY’S NAME REVEALED

The gang, who were joined by their other female friends and I’m a Celeb co-host Dec, appeared to be in high spirits as they were pictured chatting and laughing. It’s all go-go-go for the cast as I’m a Celeb returns on Sunday night. This year’s celebrity campmates are expected to be revealed the day before but the various star sightings at Brisbane Airport have already given the game away.

• Presenters Holly and Dec have also been drumming up excitement over on their social media accounts.
• The This Morning star shared a photo of the pair on Instagram.
• Holly and I are looking forward to welcoming you to Australia next Sunday night.

There’s only a week to go before I’m a Celebrity returns to screens, and ahead of the launch, show’s leading ladies have been enjoying some downtime together. Presenter Holly Willoughby, who has stepped in for Ant McPartlin this year, was pictured having a laugh with Scarlett Moffatt, who co-hosts the spin-off show, I’m a Celebrity: Extra Camp. The TV stars were joined by Declan Donnelly’s wife Ali Astall on their day out in New South Wales, Australia. Photographed in a suitably verdant setting alongside her co-presenter, Holly looked ready to take on anything with a retro Cowgirl-esque outfit. Dressed in the supercool Danish brand Ganni, a.k.a the go-to designer for influencers worldwide, Holly wore the ultra cute ‘Salvia’ suede mini skirt in dark camel with frill detailing that buttoned all the way up at the front.

The post Mildred & Duck appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.

Although it was released in store earlier this month, you can now purchase it online for £89. The single-breasted design has already proved a massive hit on Instagram, due to not only the gorgeous wide lapels, the on-trend, oversize fit and super cosy wool texture – but also the fact that Vogue Williams, Holly and fashion blogger Erica Davies have all rocked it. Now if you don’t know who Erica Davies is – let us enlighten you. Erica is a huge fashion influencer and has always been a big fan of M&S, having single-handedly made THAT starry-print constellation dress a sellout last year.

Speaking about how to style the purple coat of dreams, the chic mother-of-two advised: “Do not fear the purple hue. It works SO WELL with navy blue, bright yellow (yes really), orange or red AND emerald green. It’s a completely useful shade if you want to inject some colour into your life. And who doesn’t want that? We couldn’t agree more, E.

She added: “I used to feel like I could only wear a certain type of clothing and I think sometimes you just get stuck in a bit of a rut and wear the same thing over and over again and you create rules for yourself, you think ‘ooh I can’t wear trousers because I’ve got a big bum’ and you create some sort of rule book of your own and sometimes you’ve just got to go ‘right, I’m going to tear up that rule book and I’m going to experiment or I’m going to find my trouser, or I’m going to find my V-neck top or I’m going to find the place that does the perfect T-shirt’. It’s about finding the right things.”

“Anyone can get dressed up and glamorous, but it is how people dress in their days off that are the most intriguing.”

Ali, who gave birth to the couple’s baby daughter Isla in September, looked gorgeous in a black maxi dress that featured an off-the-shoulder neckline. Holly was also her typically stylish self, wearing a white summer dress, while Scarlett looked lovely in a zebra-print number.

There’s only a week to go before I’m a Celebrity returns to screens, and ahead of the launch, show’s leading ladies have been enjoying some downtime together. Presenter Holly Willoughby, who has stepped in for Ant McPartlin this year, was pictured having a laugh with Scarlett Moffatt, who co-hosts the spin-off show, I’m a Celebrity: Extra Camp. The TV stars were joined by Declan Donnelly’s wife Ali Astall on their day out in New South Wales, Australia. Photographed in a suitably verdant setting alongside her co-presenter, Holly looked ready to take on anything with a retro Cowgirl-esque outfit. Dressed in the supercool Danish brand Ganni, a.k.a the go-to designer for influencers worldwide, Holly wore the ultra cute ‘Salvia’ suede mini skirt in dark camel with frill detailing that buttoned all the way up at the front.

The post Mysticism and Magic appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.

Although it was released in store earlier this month, you can now purchase it online for £89. The single-breasted design has already proved a massive hit on Instagram, due to not only the gorgeous wide lapels, the on-trend, oversize fit and super cosy wool texture – but also the fact that Vogue Williams, Holly and fashion blogger Erica Davies have all rocked it. Now if you don’t know who Erica Davies is – let us enlighten you. Erica is a huge fashion influencer and has always been a big fan of M&S, having single-handedly made THAT starry-print constellation dress a sellout last year.

Speaking about how to style the purple coat of dreams, the chic mother-of-two advised: “Do not fear the purple hue. It works SO WELL with navy blue, bright yellow (yes really), orange or red AND emerald green. It’s a completely useful shade if you want to inject some colour into your life. And who doesn’t want that? We couldn’t agree more, E.

She added: “I used to feel like I could only wear a certain type of clothing and I think sometimes you just get stuck in a bit of a rut and wear the same thing over and over again and you create rules for yourself, you think ‘ooh I can’t wear trousers because I’ve got a big bum’ and you create some sort of rule book of your own and sometimes you’ve just got to go ‘right, I’m going to tear up that rule book and I’m going to experiment or I’m going to find my trouser, or I’m going to find my V-neck top or I’m going to find the place that does the perfect T-shirt’. It’s about finding the right things.”

“Anyone can get dressed up and glamorous, but it is how people dress in their days off that are the most intriguing.”

Ali, who gave birth to the couple’s baby daughter Isla in September, looked gorgeous in a black maxi dress that featured an off-the-shoulder neckline. Holly was also her typically stylish self, wearing a white summer dress, while Scarlett looked lovely in a zebra-print number.

MIDDLETON’S BABY’S NAME REVEALED

The gang, who were joined by their other female friends and I’m a Celeb co-host Dec, appeared to be in high spirits as they were pictured chatting and laughing. It’s all go-go-go for the cast as I’m a Celeb returns on Sunday night. This year’s celebrity campmates are expected to be revealed the day before but the various star sightings at Brisbane Airport have already given the game away.

• Presenters Holly and Dec have also been drumming up excitement over on their social media accounts.
• The This Morning star shared a photo of the pair on Instagram.
• Holly and I are looking forward to welcoming you to Australia next Sunday night.

There’s only a week to go before I’m a Celebrity returns to screens, and ahead of the launch, show’s leading ladies have been enjoying some downtime together. Presenter Holly Willoughby, who has stepped in for Ant McPartlin this year, was pictured having a laugh with Scarlett Moffatt, who co-hosts the spin-off show, I’m a Celebrity: Extra Camp. The TV stars were joined by Declan Donnelly’s wife Ali Astall on their day out in New South Wales, Australia. Photographed in a suitably verdant setting alongside her co-presenter, Holly looked ready to take on anything with a retro Cowgirl-esque outfit. Dressed in the supercool Danish brand Ganni, a.k.a the go-to designer for influencers worldwide, Holly wore the ultra cute ‘Salvia’ suede mini skirt in dark camel with frill detailing that buttoned all the way up at the front.

The post Refined, Calm Brand appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.

Speaking about how to style the purple coat of dreams, the chic mother-of-two advised: “Do not fear the purple hue. It works SO WELL with navy blue, bright yellow (yes really), orange or red AND emerald green. It’s a completely useful shade if you want to inject some colour into your life. And who doesn’t want that? We couldn’t agree more, E.

She added: “I used to feel like I could only wear a certain type of clothing and I think sometimes you just get stuck in a bit of a rut and wear the same thing over and over again and you create rules for yourself, you think ‘ooh I can’t wear trousers because I’ve got a big bum’ and you create some sort of rule book of your own and sometimes you’ve just got to go ‘right, I’m going to tear up that rule book and I’m going to experiment or I’m going to find my trouser, or I’m going to find my V-neck top or I’m going to find the place that does the perfect T-shirt’. It’s about finding the right things.”

“Anyone can get dressed up and glamorous, but it is how people dress in their days off that are the most intriguing.”

Ali, who gave birth to the couple’s baby daughter Isla in September, looked gorgeous in a black maxi dress that featured an off-the-shoulder neckline. Holly was also her typically stylish self, wearing a white summer dress, while Scarlett looked lovely in a zebra-print number.

MIDDLETON’S BABY’S NAME REVEALED

The gang, who were joined by their other female friends and I’m a Celeb co-host Dec, appeared to be in high spirits as they were pictured chatting and laughing. It’s all go-go-go for the cast as I’m a Celeb returns on Sunday night. This year’s celebrity campmates are expected to be revealed the day before but the various star sightings at Brisbane Airport have already given the game away.

• Presenters Holly and Dec have also been drumming up excitement over on their social media accounts.
• The This Morning star shared a photo of the pair on Instagram.
• Holly and I are looking forward to welcoming you to Australia next Sunday night.

There’s only a week to go before I’m a Celebrity returns to screens, and ahead of the launch, show’s leading ladies have been enjoying some downtime together. Presenter Holly Willoughby, who has stepped in for Ant McPartlin this year, was pictured having a laugh with Scarlett Moffatt, who co-hosts the spin-off show, I’m a Celebrity: Extra Camp. The TV stars were joined by Declan Donnelly’s wife Ali Astall on their day out in New South Wales, Australia. Photographed in a suitably verdant setting alongside her co-presenter, Holly looked ready to take on anything with a retro Cowgirl-esque outfit. Dressed in the supercool Danish brand Ganni, a.k.a the go-to designer for influencers worldwide, Holly wore the ultra cute ‘Salvia’ suede mini skirt in dark camel with frill detailing that buttoned all the way up at the front.

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