Are you finding it hard to spend your free time at home? Consider starting a hobby. It will not only help you pass your time but also refresh your mind and boost overall health. There are several hobbies and activities that you can get involved in right from your apartment without having to burn a hole in your pocket. Here are seven such hobbies that can help you kill time when bored.

Reading
Reading is a super affordable and easy hobby. If you quickly get distracted when reading, start with more engaging genres like crime-fiction or thriller novels before moving on to slow-paced books like biographies or self-help. Books by authors like Agatha Christie or Sidney Sheldon are great for complete beginners. If everything else fails to interest you, just read the Harry Potter series! Or, call a friend over so you both can spend time together with your favorite books. If sitting down in one place is hard, try listening to audiobooks while doing house chores or going for a walk around the block.

Gardening
As opposed to common belief, you do not need a huge backyard or an enormous balcony to experience the perks of gardening. Even an open windowsill that can hold a small planter, or a single pot, can get you started. Plant a seed you like and watch it grow as you care for it. If you have a garden, grow those plant varieties at first that do not need much care. It can get demotivating if the plants wither away in the same week of planting them. As you feel more confident, grow some backyard vegetables and herbs that can be used in the kitchen. Do not forget to learn more about gardening from family, friends, or online to reap the benefits of this relaxing and therapeutic hobby. You might also want to invest in some books that teach the proper gardening techniques.

Baking and cooking
Baking and cooking are among the best hobbies that help people become productive and add something valuable to their skill sets. Hundreds of recipes are already available on the internet on food blogs and YouTube channels. So, simply gather the ingredients, put on an apron, play your favorite songs, and get whisking. The best thing about this hobby is that you can indulge in it every day. With confidence, modify the recipes according to your preferences. If they turn out groundbreaking, start a cooking blog on the internet, sharing your passion with others!

Journaling
If you are looking to polish your writing skills or have fallen out of touch after school, you might want to consider picking up the pen again. Writing can be highly therapeutic for some people, especially when it comes to stream-of-consciousness writing, daily journaling, and making gratitude lists. Art or bullet journaling is excellent if you want to burn off some creative energy. You can create a variety of random journal spreads or something based on a theme. Consider joining communities online that are involved in bullet journaling or another kind of journaling.

Yoga
Yoga is excellent for getting your body moving and active. It helps de-stress and relax the mind. As a result, it is best for people dealing with stress and anxiety and can be a great hobby to get into long-term. The best thing about yoga is that even when feeling unmotivated and lazy, just doing ten minutes is enough to help you get out of the rut and keep your daily practice going. It also does not require enormous investment, making it suitable for those on a budget.

Calligraphy
Calligraphy is undoubtedly one of the most creative and skillful hobbies to follow for a productive routine at home. Although it is a unique skill, you can learn it for free using online, interactive tutorials. However, you might have to invest in calligraphy pens to try different styles. Add this to your other similar DIY art-and-craft skills, and you can start your side hustle of making customized gifts!

Learning a new language
Learning a new language is not only fun but also one of those hobbies you can put on your resume to stand out from the rest. The next time you go to another country or a popular holiday destination, you will not have to rip out your phone to translate every sentence. There are numerous apps apart from the tried-and-tested ones you can use to learn your favorite language. You can also attend weekly language classes or watch tutorial videos online.