Hey guys!

Happy New Year! I hope you had an amazing winter break.

I had an amazing five-day break over Christmas and it was the first time in 7 years that I felt the Christmas spirit. I also took the time to reflect on this year. January to December. The highs, lows, achievements and setbacks. I wanted to go through all of it.

One thing that I noticed was how much more different I felt when I tried something new. Something different. Not something to become profitable, but something for me. A new hobby.

In 2025, I signed up for Pilates, joined a Latin dance group chat and also signed up to play netball.

.

.

.

Well, the Pilates stuck at least.

Lol.

Even though it is a very, very intense workout, I always felt so much better for doing it.

That’s when I realised what I really wanted.

Slowness.

Starting the Year with intention

This year, I want to start the year with…intention.

Intention.

It’s such an important word and I think that the definition gets lost in the busyness of life.

When things start happening all at once in your work life and personal life, we tend to get swept away in establishing a routine. While that’s great to progress and reap the benefits of our hard work paying off, we forget to block out time to just be.

To do things just for the joy of doing it.

In preparation for the new year, I made a list of things that I wanted to achieve and made a vision board (I do this every year). I add goals that I want to accomplish by the end of the year and I add absolutely everything. Goal travel destinations, personal goals, development goals, financial goals, professional goals, all of it. From there, I make a separate plan of how I will go about achieving them.

I also add hobbies and other things that I want to try, things that will keep me grounded and ensure that I don’t lose myself to work and study.

The last quarter of 2025 marked the start of a new chapter for me. What feels like sudden rainfall after an extended season of drought. I admit, I’m so grateful for this amazing turn around of my life trajectory, but I feel like no one really talks about the growing pains.

And I’ve had a lot.

I’ve even had to adjust my sleeping patterns and study times in order to make sure my work wouldn’t suffer. It’s been quite a transition and I feel that taking time for me in order to recalibrate is the perfect way in find joy outside of work.

The Joy of Slow hobbies

In the midst of everything that life has thrown at me, the one constant that has kept me sane…

Reading.

Does reading count as a hobby, especially when you read the way that I do?

If so, I think it’s safe to say that I am the ULTIMATE READER.

No, seriously.

I read as if someone’s holding me hostage and the only way to make it out is to read everything.

I love reading so much, I wish I was a book.

Reading fills me with so much joy, I can barely put it into words.

When I feel caught up the hustle and bustle, the demands of work, I read.

When my world feels askew, when I open a book, when I read on one of my reading apps, the world shifts back into position.

When my social battery runs out and I want to quiet the noise around me, I read.

Okay, so I LOVE reading!

But the immense happiness curling up with a good book can bring you?

Unmatched.

And that’s what I want for you.

To find something outside of work and responsibilities that allows you to slow down, come back to yourself and find joy.

It’s going to be an amazing, intentional year guys, I can feel it!

What are the slow hobbies that you want to take up this year? Let me know!

If you enjoyed this post, read about how I set goals in Planning My 2026 Goals as a Creative Writing Student. You might also like to read about what I learned in 2025 in Year-End Review: What The Bibi Edit Taught Me in 2025.

Si vous avez apprécié cet article, vous pourriez également apprécier Ce Que 2025 M’a Appris.

See you in the next one!

Bibi x