Hobbies pick up during the pandemic

Syklaly Perez and Jorge Ruiz

Cicero residents are picking up hobbies during the pandemic.

What exactly are hobbies? Well according to the website named “Dictionary” claims hobbies are “activities or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation.” So, what are some hobbies Cicero residents have started over the pandemic?

Recently the coronavirus has locked so many people in their homes and for people to pass time they have picked up hobbies. In a survey of 46 Cicero residents, 36 residents picked up a new hobby, and 10 have not. Cicero residents chose both gaming and art as the top hobbies with a total of 9 points each. According to online.kettering.edu, playing games is “a great way to socialize and meet new friends.” They also claim playing games help reduce stress. Arts and crafts are also a good way to reduce stress, an article by gathered.how say it’s a creative hobby and it can be good for your mental health. They also state, “The fact that many craft hobbies require concentration means many crafters feel that they almost enter a kind of meditative state, which again helps with stress and anxiety.” Morton East gym teacher, Manouzi, picked up a new hobby during the pandemic, arts and crafts. “I got into using Cricut machine. I created tons of custom vinyl items from tumblers to bags and clothing. It allowed being creative during the holidays with personalized gifts. Once we came back to school, I was able to be creative by making vinyl decals for my Morton teams. I dove deep into the Cricut world joining Tiktok and YouTube pages and learned some amazing tips and tricks. I never would have had the time to learn and do all these things if it wasn’t for this situation we are in.”

In second place with 6 points is the hobby reading. As claimed by healthline.com reading books is beneficial both mentally and physically. “Research shows that regular reading improves brain connectivity, increases your vocabulary and comprehension, empowers you to emphasize with other people, aids in sleep readiness, reduces stress, lowers blood pressure and heart rate, fights depression symptoms, prevents cognitive decline as you age, and contributes to a longer life.” Morton East student, Alejandro Castro, said: “For anime to come there’s manga, so I started to read manga during the pandemic.” Grab anything with writing in it and read. You can even go online and find books there. Reading is a good way to pass time and escape from reality.

In third place with 4 points, Tiktok and playing an instrument. TikTok popularity has increased throughout the time during the pandemic. According to oberlo.com, “TikTok has 800 million active users worldwide” and “provides a platform for users to express themselves in a very creative way.” Learning and playing an instrument is also a good hobby. As stated by sagemusic.co playing an instrument increases creativity and relieves stress, “Playing music can be a great way to relieve stress. At the end of a long day, playing your instrument can be a perfect way to spend some time alone and decompress.” For some people playing an instrument isn’t something they do to have some alone time but something to share with their loved ones. “I started to learn ukulele. My husband knows how, and he can also play guitar. I use it to also spend time with my husband so we can learn to play together, and I can play for soon-to-be baby when he is born,” design teacher Mrs. Blanco said.

Other hobbies that Cicero residents did during the pandemic include becoming a social media influencer, cooking healthy, working out, building model kits, gardening, journaling, soccer tricks, and crocheting.