University is full of lots of opportunities to go out and socialise, often resulting in us scrambling through hidden boutiques and jokes shops for whatever slightly humiliating costume fits the theme your social sec has chosen for this week. Many of us are rushing and scheming against the Yolo queue every Wednesday and still ending up queuing for hours – whether it’s worth it is questionable (although some would disagree). Or you might choose to take on The Taf Quiz, sneak to Spoons after a busy day and roam around Cardiff on the weekends. Most often, you’ll find me as I am sure I could find many of you, tucked in a cosy corner with a book, a journal, a paintbrush, or knitting needles in hand. Sometimes, it is not a chaotic night with themes, challenges, costumes and community that we need between long lectures, intense seminars and labs, but instead a quiet interval full of slow hobbies.

Slow hobbies, as the name suggests, are slow. They slow the anxieties of assignments, the irritation of an unresponsive and incompetent presentation group and that feeling of loneliness. These hobbies provide us comfort, calm the mind and ease the heart. Despite university being bustling and somewhat eccentric, it can also feel isolating and intimidating, with slow hobbies such as art, crafting, written expression, gardening, reading, puzzles, word games and more becoming increasingly popular.

Slow hobbies permit an independence over your free time, by enabling you to submerge yourself in something you enjoy around your own schedule, in the comfort of almost any environment you choose (most likely your bedroom floor), whilst being completely non-reliant on others. However, it can also be a great bonding activity to do with friends and there are so many slow hobbies to choose from, anyone can find anything. Sure, at first it seems tedious and maybe a little sad, but you’ll find yourself deep in a hobby without even noticing you’d planned your return. Additionally, it’s often very cost effective and doesn’t require many resources or funding – which is always a positive for the ‘broke uni student’.  

This winter, against the demanding (yet rewarding) uni schedule, take shelter from the rain, hide from the cold; whether it is pottery, a puzzle or something different, whether around your kitchen table with friends or under your desk light, do a slow hobby and thank me later.

Words by Jayda Cole

As the nights draw in and the air gets colder, many students are swapping out their screens in favour of cosier evening activities. In recent months, slow and tactile hobbies have grown in popularity such as crochet, reading and even colouring, offering comfort and respite in a world dominated by connection, notifications and endless
scrolling.

For many of us, myself included, this shift feels like a small rebellion against internet fatigue. After years of constant online simulation, the idea of sitting down with a ball of wool and a hook feels grounding. I first took up crochet a couple of years ago during the dreaded A-Level exam season as a way to decompress which wasn’t in front of a
screen. There was something about taking time on each stitch and dedicating hours of my time to end up with a mediocre attempt at a scarf which I found deeply rewarding. It’s safe to say I’m not alone in this, with societies like Cardiff Hookers Society thriving, holding weekly events to offer students a corner of calm on campus, feeling especially welcoming during the chaos of November midterms.

Unlike the instant satisfaction of social media, slow hobbies offer a steadier form of joy which comes from seeing your progress develop. There may not be an immediate burst of dopamine, but the mindful, repetitive nature is rewarding as it trains your brain to focus and rewind rather than chase constant stimulation. However, the power of social media circulating these calming activities cannot be ignored. TikTok’s #Booktok, or #Crochettok have inspired countless students to start their new hobby, through recommendations or patterns which are easily followed. Trust me, the irony is not lost that the very apps which tire us out have also sparked the
movement towards slower, more meaningful pastimes.

With the rise of these slow hobbies, there has also been an increase of social spaces for students to enjoy these activities together. For example, ‘Lark Design Make’, which offers craft workshops, or ‘Peggy’s Pots’, which has the cutest outdoors area to wrap up warm, drink hot chocolates and paint some plates!

In a time where burnout is almost inevitable, these hobbies offer a rare antidote: slowness. They provide us quiet satisfaction as well as complete disconnection from the digital world, and maybe that is just what we each need in hibernating season, so cozy up under a blanket, make yourself a festive hot drink and finally start that project
you’ve been procrastinating.

Words by: Lily Bartle-Jenkins

Featured image courtesy of Anya Chernykh via Unsplash. No changes have been made to this image. Image licence can be found here.