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1. Describe some of the things you do to relax after you have been very busy. Explain why you find them enjoyable. ( O Level, P1, 2020)

2. Do you agree that turning a hobby into a career in Singapore is a possibility? Explain your answer in a few sentences.

3. What are some of the obstacles/challenges that one can be faced with if s/he chooses to turn her/his hobby into a career?

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Definition /Hobby: an activity that someone does for pleasure when they are not working

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(i) Sub Themes
a. Advantages of Hobbies
b. Interesting Hobbies
c. Gaming - Advantages & Disadvantages
d. Hobbies as a career

(ii) Questions to think about

(iii) Words associated with hobbies

(iv) Quotes

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Quirky Hobbies In Singapore 2019 | (1/3)

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1. The pros and cons of turning your hobby into a business

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1. The pros and cons of turning your hobby into a business

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https://careeralley.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-turning-your-hobby-into-a-business/

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There is nothing worse than waking up in the morning with a feeling of dread in the pit of your stomach. Everyone deserves better than being stuck in a job they hate. If this sounds like you, why not think about alternatives? One thing you could consider is turning your hobby into a career that you love.

There is no better motivation to get up in the morning and go to work than doing something that you genuinely enjoy and feel passionate about.

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However, we often hear that if something is too good to be true, it probably is, and doing what you love and being paid for it seems to fall under that. For many people, making that choice is the best thing that they have ever done, but for others, it can be a huge mistake. Whatever field you go into, making your hobby your livelihood can get messy and confusing if you are not careful. Whether you are a gym bunny who decides to enroll in personal training courses or a music lover who is thinking about going into teaching, here are some of the pros and cons of making that step.

Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash

The Cons

The novelty may wear off: Doing something for fun a few times a week is a whole different ball game to doing it day in, day out. You probably took up your hobby to escape the day to day slog of working - by doing it every day, you could run the risk of turning it into a chore. Put it this way - if you ate your favourite meal for lunch and dinner every single day, it probably wouldn't be your favourite meal for much longer!

There is no room for mistakes: When you are relying on something to provide you with an income, there is just no room for error. If you are a keen hobby carpenter, you can afford to make the odd mistake when creating something purely for your own pleasure. If you are making something for a paying customer, it is a whole different ball game - and one that can be very expensive!

The risk of hitting a creative block: Many hobbies fall under the creative category, and we all know what can happen when you hit a creative block. Again, it can be frustrating and annoying when it happens when you are a hobbyist, but what about when you rely on it to pay your bills? You have to delve very deep to find that creative spark, and that can be demoralising and ruin the enjoyment.

The risk of criticism: No matter how good you are at something, if you are running a business, you will receive negative feedback at some point. When it is your hobby or your passion that is being criticised, it can be a lot more difficult to swallow. You need to be resilient and able to use that feedback to drive you forward rather than let it hold you back.

Image by Tumisu from Pixabay

The Pros

You will hit the ground running: You have the knowledge and the expertise, the equipment, the contacts and most importantly, the passion and dedication to get your business up and running quickly, cheaply, and hopefully smoothly. You are probably even familiar with the business side of the hobby, even if you have not previously pursued it a commercial sense. For instance, you may be familiar with how hot the market is, time and productivity factors, or the potential to make a profit.

You get to do something you love every day: There is no better motivation to get up in the morning and go to work than doing something that you genuinely enjoy and feel passionate about.

"Turning what you love into a career is truly the dream, but it's not a pipe dream. In this article, we are going to see how you might be able to turn your love of absolutely anything into a career." - How To Turn Your Love Of Anything Into A Career

As you can see, there are many great reasons for turning your hobby into a legitimate, money-making business. As long as you are patient and realistic, you can reap financial rewards as well as gaining the enjoyment of engaging in an activity that you enjoy doing very much. However, if you are not quite ready to make the leap into doing it full-time, you could look at ways of injecting a bit of your hobby into your current job. For example, if you enjoy writing, can you take charge of writing copy for your business for a while? If you are a musician working in a marketing job, can you occasionally make music for advertising videos?

Hopefully, these tips will help you to make the decision of whether to keep your hobby completely separate from your job, or whether you want to combine the two.

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The Pros and Cons of Turning Your Hobby Into A Business

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There is nothing worse than waking up in the morning with a feeling of dread in the pit of your stomach. Everyone deserves better than being stuck in a job they hate. If this sounds like you, why not think about alternatives? One thing you could consider is turning your hobby into a career that you love.

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Why Cycling Is A Great Hobby To Have In 2021 — Try It On Earth Day This April! | Here To Play | The Kallang

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Why Cycling Is A Great Hobby To Have In 2021 — Try It On Earth Day This April!

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Riding a bike helps the environment, is a great way to explore the city and helps maintain good health!

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1. How Playing Video Games Affects Your Brain

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1. How Playing Video Games Affects Your Brain

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It's no secret that playing video games is a popular pastime. What may be less known, however, is the effect that video gaming has on the brain. Recent studies have shown that video gaming can have positive and negative effects on the brain, depending on factors such as age, amount of gameplay, and type of game played. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at how video gaming affects the brain and discuss some of the gains and flaws of playing video games.

Another study found that people who played action-based video games had better short-term memory and attention span than those who played non-action games. The fast-paced nature of action games seems to help improve our ability to process information quickly and efficiently.

Spatial Awareness

It is the ability to perceive and understand the relationship between objects in space. It's an essential skill for activities like driving and navigation, and it can be improved with practice.

As a result, players who frequently play these types of games may have an easier time understanding and navigating complex environments.

Decision Making

Decision-making is a complex cognitive process that requires the ability to weigh multiple options and make a choice based on the available information. This process is essential for everyday life and can be challenging to learn.

A second study found that strategy game players were better able to find the best solutions to problems than non-players.

These studies suggest that video games can positively impact decision-making skills, which may have implications for real-world applications. For example, people playing video games may be better equipped to handle emergencies. Ultimately, further research is needed to explore the potential benefits of video gaming for decision-making skills.

Games can help us to relax and forget about our troubles, providing a much-needed respite from the stresses of everyday life. What's more, games can also help to improve our mood by increasing dopamine levels, the "feel-good" neurotransmitter in the brain.

Increase Risk of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Playing video games can be captivating and entertaining, but it's essential to be aware of the potential risks they may pose to your health. A recent study found that people who play video games are more likely to develop carpal tunnel syndrome and other hand and wrist injuries. It is believed that the repetitive motion of using a game controller puts strain on the muscles and tendons in the hand and wrist, leading to inflammation and pain. If you enjoy playing video games, it's essential to take breaks often and stretch your hands and wrists to reduce your risk of developing these injuries.

You should also see a doctor if you experience pain or numbness in your hands or wrists while gaming, as this could be an early sign of carpal tunnel syndrome. Being mindful of the risks can help keep yourself safe while enjoying your favorite pastime.

Poor Sleep Hygiene

The blue light emitted by screens can suppress the production of melatonin - the hormone that helps us feel sleepy. This can result in feeling wide awake when we should be winding down for bed. In addition, the stimulating nature of many video games can make it hard to quiet our minds and relax enough to fall asleep.

Conclusion

Playing video games has both positive and negative effects on the brain. It's up to you as a gamer to make sure that the positives outweigh the negatives by playing mindfully and making healthy choices regarding gaming habits.

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How Playing Video Games Affects Your Brain

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It's no secret that playing video games is a popular pastime. What may be less known, however, is the effect that video gaming has on the brain. Recent studies have shown that video gaming can have positive and negative effects on the brain, depending on factors such as age, amount of gameplay, and type of [...]

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2. How to turn your hobby into a full-time job

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2. How to turn your hobby into a full-time job

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How to turn your hobby into your full-time job

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In our modern life, it is easy to forget to take some time out while juggling family commitments with a 9-5 job. As research shows, having a healthy mind is linked to having a healthy body.

Hobbies aren’t just about fun and games, they range from discussing your latest book to baking the perfect brioche. Regardless of your hobby, it can have great benefits for your mind, body, social life and even your career.

Hobbies force you to take some time for yourself

Hobbies force you to take a break from your day-to-day stresses and carve out time to devote to yourself. Not all hobbies are play though – some hobbies like reading, writing, designing or learning a new language can keep you productive and instil you with a sense of purpose while having fun. And the more time you devote to become immersed in your hobby, the more satisfaction and sense of achievement you can get out of it.

Hobbies provide a way to declutter your mind

Hobbies can keep you in the moment, taking your mind away from stressful thoughts and focusing on an activity you enjoy. While not all hobbies offer the same level of mental or physical engagement, hobbies help you practice mindfulness techniques without even realising it. Some of the more popular hobbies for decluttering your mind include meditation, knitting, sewing, painting, drawing and cooking.

Hobbies keep you in better physical health

Physical hobbies can be a great way to keep in shape. Hobbies such as gardening, hiking, dancing, yoga, sports or fitness can keep us active without the feeling of an obligatory trip to the gym. Turning exercise into a hobby will also have flow-on effects from increased confidence, increased energy levels and an overall increase in your physical health.

Hobbies can open up your world

Hobbies can encourage you to stretch the limits of your imagination, see the world in a new way or provide you with the mental space to come up with great ideas. When you devote yourself to a hobby, you take on new challenges that motivate you to learn new ways to improve. Hobbies not only satisfy a curious mind, but can also put you in touch with a completely new community of people, allowing you to broaden your experiences and your social life.

Hobbies can boost your career

Hobbies can also help you boost your career. Facebook founder and hobby advocate Mark Zuckerberg makes a point to ask any prospective employees about their hobbies. Zuckerberg claims that hobbies and side projects are one of the best ways for people to show passion and leadership in their professional lives. Hobbies don’t just enable you to be multi-skilled, they can also help you better manage stress and to think creatively at work. Certain hobbies can also help you bring in additional income, maybe even turn into a full-time job or new business enterprise – remember, Facebook started out as a hobby!

The benefits for each hobby will differ depending on what devote your time to and how much passion you put into it. But one thing is for certain, hobbies can have several benefits that will help you in the short and long term. If you’re after some inspiration for your next hobby, why not browse our full range of short courses?

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2.  How to be a pro gamer: Inside the world of professional Esports

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2.  How to be a pro gamer: Inside the world of professional Esports

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How To Be A Pro Gamer: Inside The World Of Professional Esports | On The Red Dot | Young And Boss

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“Hobbies are great distractions from worries and trouble that plague daily living.” – Bill Malone

“Beware the hobby that eats.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Happy is the man who is living by his hobby.” – George Bernard Shaw

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2. Keep your pandemic hobbies - your brain will thank you

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2. Keep your pandemic hobbies - your brain will thank you

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https://www.salon.com/2021/08/29/keep-your-pandemic-hobbies-your-brain-will-thank-you/

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British swimmer and Olympian Tom Daley is renowned for his skill and form. Not just at diving, but also at knitting. Though he hasn't won any medals for it, Daley's knitting has arguably earned him as much attention as his diving: a photo of the 27-year-old knitting from his perch in the stands at the Tokyo Aquatics Center during the 2021 Olympics went viral. Daley, who picked up knitting at the beginning of lockdown, often posts his projects on his yarn-centric Instagram account, where he now has 1.4M followers. Stitching a medal pouch, a dog sweater, and a team cardigan, all while he watched others compete during the Tokyo games, Daley said he learned to knit and crochet to help him remain calm during long and draining competitions.

Daley is not unique in finding solace in traditional pastimes like needlework and knitting during stressful moments. Throughout history, humans have turned to crafts to improve both mental and physical health, and science has confirmed what most of us already supposed: engaging in beloved pastimes, including crafting, can help improve mood and a person's sense of well-being. Due to their ability to distract from worries and promote mindfulness, crafts in general are excellent for easing stress and anxiety.

Like Daley, many looked to hobbies at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to ease the boredom of lockdown and tame the anxiety that spread along with the virus. Kate Walter, an author based in New York City, opted to teach herself harmonica because the instrument was small and portable, and because she was "bored and wanted a challenge." Walter says it provided a welcome escape from her daily quarantine routine. Risa Kerslake, a registered nurse and health freelance writer in Minneapolis, MN, learned to crochet simply to make a blanket for her daughter. She had no idea that the act of crocheting itself would turn out to be a "tremendous stress reliever."

The trend of adopting a hobby at the start of lockdown was international. In the UK, Hobbycraft, the country's largest craft supplier, reported a 200% boom in online sales during the first few months of the pandemic. The same is true in the U.S. where leading craft store Michaels saw a 150 percent increase in viewers on its Facebook Live tutorials. Interest in Internet search terms including "crafts," and demand at stores such as Jo-Ann, also rose.

It has long been acknowledged that hobbies can help ease stress and improve well-being during worrying times. But what is it that makes them so beneficial? According to neuroscientist Dr. Stan Rodski, author of "The Neuroscience of Mindfulness", hobbies promote a state of relaxation when they require three things: control, repetition, and focus. Experts have noted that such attributes can help a person enter what is called a flow state.

Flow state, a term which was popularized by psychologists Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and Jeanne Nakamura, occurs when one becomes fully immersed in the task at hand. "There's this focus that, once it becomes intense, leads to a sense of ecstasy, a sense of clarity...you forget yourself, you feel part of something larger," Csikszentmihalyi said in a 2004 TED Talk.

It is thought that activities that induce this flow state activate the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Also known as the visceral or involuntary nervous system, the ANS is made up of two parts: the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, and it functions without our conscious, voluntary control. This part of the central nervous system influences the activity of most tissues and organ systems in the body. When parts of the ANS activate it can help us relax and keep us in balance.
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The good news is there is no one-size-fits-all calming activity. You don't have to take up knitting, or even a type of craft to experience stress relieving benefits from a hobby. Any pastime can help keep you calm as long as it promotes the three qualities of control, repetition, and focus to help induce a flow state. For stitcher Kerslake, though she did not start to crochet in order to use it as a stress relief tool, she soon realized how much her anxiety would ease after an evening spent crocheting. It seems that in crochet she found an activity that helped her enter that flow state. "There was something about doing the same repetitive stitch over and over again that really calmed my mind," she said.

Dr. Rodski notes that it is also important that the activity one chooses be non-competitive. If the brain senses evaluation or comparison it will cause the nervous system to enter an aroused state, reducing the relaxation effect. Harmonica player Walter enjoys playing the instrument precisely because the pursuit is free of competition. "It is fun," she said. "There is no pressure."

The good news about our pandemic hobbies is that their benefits can follow us long after the pandemic is under control. Activities to soothe our psyches and occupy our minds during the pandemic can be more than just fleeting fancies.

For diver Tom Daley, he has not only turned his pandemic passion into a tool for relieving the stress of competition, but he is now auctioning off his finished products to raise money for causes dear to his heart. Kerslake, too, is thrilled with her new diversion.

"I'm pretty sure this crochet hobby is the best thing that ever happened to me," she said. "It's not even about the stress relief, though that's a huge perk." Rather, it's the joy of creating something new that makes her happiest. "Hats, mittens, blankets, shawls - I love it all," she added.

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Keep your pandemic hobbies - your brain will thank you

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British swimmer and Olympian Tom Daley is renowned for his skill and form. Not just at diving, but also at knitting. Though he hasn't won any medals for it, Daley's knitting has arguably earned him as much attention as his diving: a photo of the 27-year-old knitting from his perch in the stands at the Tokyo Aquatics Center during the 2021 Olympics went viral.

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1. Meticulous: Showing great attention to detail and careful precision, often associated with activities that require thoroughness.

2. Intricate Detailed and complex, often used to describe hobbies that involve intricate designs or fine workmanship.

3. Aesthetic:Concerned with beauty and the appreciation of artistic qualities, often used to describe visually appealing hobbies.

4. Expressive: Full of emotion or creativity, often used to describe hobbies that allow for personal expression.

5. Dynamic: Energetic and characterised by constant change or activity, suitable for hobbies that involve movement or variation.

6. Serene: Calm, peaceful, and untroubled, often associated with hobbies that provide a sense of relaxation.

7. Adventurous: Inclined to seek out new and exciting experiences, fitting for hobbies that involve exploration and risk-taking.

8. Innovative: Introducing new ideas or methods, often used to describe hobbies that involve creativity and originality.

9. Nurturing: Providing care and support, suitable for hobbies that involve the cultivation or care of living things.

10. Cathartic:Providing emotional release or purification, often used to describe hobbies that offer a therapeutic outlet.

11. Pensive: Engaged in deep thought or contemplation, suitable for hobbies that encourage introspection.

12. Sociable: Enjoying the company of others, fitting for hobbies that involve social interaction.

13. Stimulating: Exciting and invigorating, often used to describe hobbies that engage and arouse interest.

14. Cerebral: Involving intellectual or thoughtful activity, fitting for hobbies that require mental engagement.

15. Harmonious: Forming a harmonious and balanced whole, often used to describe hobbies that involve creating aesthetically pleasing arrangements.

16. Inquisitive: Eager to learn and curious, suitable for hobbies that involve exploration and discovery.

17. Discerning: Showing good judgment and perceptiveness, often used to describe hobbies that require a keen eye.

18. Cosmopolitan: Sophisticated and worldly, fitting for hobbies that reflect a broad appreciation of global cultures and trends.

19. Immersive: Providing a deeply engaging and absorbing experience, often used to describe hobbies that captivate one's attention fully.

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1 Fulfilled: Satisfied and content, often as a result of engaging in a rewarding or meaningful hobby.

2. Energised: Invigorated and full of energy, typically experienced after participating in an exciting or stimulating hobby.

3. Tranquil: Calm and peaceful, often associated with hobbies that provide a sense of relaxation and serenity.

4. Inspired: Filled with motivation and creativity, often as a result of engaging in a hobby that sparks new ideas or perspectives.

5. Satisfied: Content with one's efforts or achievements, commonly felt after successfully completing a hobby-related task.

6. Cathartic: Providing emotional release or purification, often experienced through hobbies that serve as a therapeutic outlet.

7. Cohesive: Exhibiting a sense of unity and harmony, often experienced when engaged in hobbies that bring different elements together seamlessly.

8. Engrossed: Fully absorbed and deeply involved, typically felt during hobbies that demand one's complete attention.

9. Empowered: Feeling confident and capable, often as a result of mastering skills or achieving goals within a hobby.

10. Nostalgic :Evoking feelings of sentimental longing for the past, often experienced when revisiting childhood hobbies or pastime activities.

11. Inquisitive: Eager to learn and explore, typically felt during hobbies that encourage curiosity and discovery.

12. Refreshed: Reinvigorated and revitalized, commonly experienced after engaging in a hobby that provides a mental or physical break.

13. Enthralled:Captivated and completely absorbed, often felt during hobbies that offer a deep sense of enjoyment and interest.

14. Euphoric: Intensely joyful and elated, typically experienced when engaging in hobbies that bring immense pleasure and happiness.

15. Stimulated:Excited and mentally activated, often felt during hobbies that challenge and engage the mind.

16. Connected: Feeling a sense of connection, often to oneself, others, or the world, commonly experienced through communal or introspective hobbies.

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How do competitive eaters stay in shape? Zermatt Neo shares his regular diet and exercise routine

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1.     Photography

2.     Calligraphy

3.     Sculpting

4.     Astronomy

5.     Knitting

6.     Archery

7.     Chess

8.     Culinary arts

9.     Bonsai

10.  Embroidery

11.  Gaming

12.  Numismatics (Coin collecting)

13.  Philately (Stamp collecting)

14.  Origami

15.  Dancing

16.  Fishing

17.  Model building

18.  Genealogy

19.  Jewellery making

20.  Reading

21.  Cycling