Get a Hobby!

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Alzheimer’s, blogging, blood pressure, brain, cooking, cuisine, dancing, Elemis Jasmine and Rose Hand and Nail Cream, Elemis Treat Your Feet Foot Cream, feet, food, gardening, hands, hobbies, hobby, kitchen, memory, sewing, soil, youth

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Do you find yourself spending your evenings in front of the TV, mindlessly flicking through the channels and wishing that there was something better to do? Do you sometimes feel a void and wish you could fill it with something just for you? If so then it might be a good time for you to get a new hobby. Having a hobby can be great for keeping the mind sharp, and has been linked to lowering blood pressure, enhancing the immune system and keeping age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s at bay. Here’s a little bit of inspiration if you need some ideas of what to do with your spare time.

Dancing

A few years back, there was a bit of a revolution in the world of dance classes and doing this sort of thing became hugely popular again, which opened up a whole new range of classes. Instead of the usual ballroom or tap you could now choose from hip hop, belly-dancing, salsa and much more beyond. Try a class which is challenging and fun, and use some Elemis Treat Your Feet Foot Cream once you get home!

Cooking

Cooking is a hobby which can be done alone or in groups, either in your own kitchen or in a class. Certain supermarkets have test kitchens which offer adult cooking classes and give you the chance to learn a new skill and mingle with likeminded people at the same time. Try a class in a cuisine you’re less familiar with to maximise your learning potential.

Gardening

It might sound bonkers but you don’t actually need a big garden in order to take up gardening! There are loads of indoor options for growing such as miniature kitchen gardens, as well as balcony or even window box kits that you can use for growing flowers or veg. If you do have a garden, even better, but do remember to take care of your hands with Elemis Jasmine and Rose Hand and Nail Cream after a long day of sifting through soil!

Sewing

Sewing as a hobby can be so rewarding; you spend time and effort doing intricate work and you’ve usually got something beautiful to show for all of it. If you don’t fancy doing it all by hand, there are some reasonably priced sewing machines on the market which allow you to work at a more polished level.

Blogging

A lot of people would see the word ‘blog’ and immediately think “that’s not for me!” but blogging can be anything that you make it. Ultimately, a blog is your own little corner of the internet and can be used as a place to document whatever you want, even if it’s just as a memoir for your kids and grandkids to read in the future. Writing can be hugely cathartic and will help to keep your mind sharp.

Grow your own this summer

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There’s nothing more rewarding, or tasty, as eating your own home-grown fruit and vegetables, and the good news is that right now is the best time to start growing your own!

With a plethora of crops that can be grown from seeds, there’s bound to be something you can grow however big or small your garden is, or even if you have no garden at all.

No Garden
If you are an urban dweller and don’t have a garden, we’re pretty sure you have window sills and where better to grow herbs and veg than on a sunny ledge? A quick trip to your local garden centre, or even supermarket, can get you set up with all you need to create a crop whatever you are working with.

Baby salad leaves are perfect for growing in small pots and tin troughs and because they are fast-growing you will soon get foliage and kitchen ingredients. Mint, parsley and coriander all work well as window plants and if the sun shines on you sills, basil is a winner too.

Small Gardens
Small gardens are the perfect place for creating an eclectic mix of flowers, fruit and vegetables. Choose a mix of crops that you actually want to eat, say strawberries, tomatoes and peas and complement these with sunflowers and pansies for impressive results.

If you have a courtyard or patio to work with, look no further than bags, pots and sacks to create a crop of potatoes, peas and peonies to be proud of. Again, you can add herbs into the mix and if you do decide to plant spuds, this reduces the risk of pesky slug invasions.

Large Gardens
If you are the owner of a bigger garden this will give you greater growing space and more opportunities to be creative and work big. Think about the space and the kind of garden you want to create. Are you looking for structure and fine detail or do you have children and therefore need flexibility as climbing frames and bikes come into the equation? Plan out your garden into various areas, look at where you get the most sun, where there are shady areas and consider the soil type as this can influence what you grow. Trees can be a lovely part of any garden and if you have the space, you can look at creating a mini orchard. Apple, pear and plum trees are all pretty easy to grow and maintain and the labour of your love will be compotes, chutney, jellies and jams all year round.

To take away the English weather’s ability to crush your crops, when you have a large space you can incorporate a greenhouse. These are perfect for growing things such as chillies and tomatoes as well as grapes and lemons but always ensure the greenhouse is clean at the start of the season and there is adequate ventilation otherwise things might not go quite to plan.

So, what are you waiting for? Pick your pots, sort your soil and get growing.

Team Pure Beauty