People often use the new year as a reason to make some changes in their lives. These changes can be as big or as small as you like – perhaps a wardrobe clear-out, a new hobby, or the creative craft you’ve always wanted to try. With lots of evening classes, workshop groups and online courses to choose from, this is your chance to expand your horizons, learn something new or just have some fun. Here are just three things you can try:
Painting – lots of us would like to improve – or even find – our artistic talents. Take a class in drawing, watercolours or oil painting, or look for sculpture, pottery or other crafts to give your creative juices an outlet. Just make sure you have an old polo t-shirt or trousers on so that you don’t have to ruin new clothes with paint drips!
Take up a musical instrument – is there something you’ve always wanted to play? The piano? The saxophone? Perhaps you’ve always wanted to sing, but never dared. This is a great time to look for lessons, join a group and start feeling the benefits that music can bring. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but it can be great fun. Remember though if you do start a new instrument, particularly if it is a string instrument, clothing can often get caught on it and ruin the sound, grab a polo shirt or something similarly short sleeved and comfortable to avoid this and remember that practice makes perfect, so don’t be disheartened if you initially struggle.
Wardrobe revamp – take a deep breath, chuck out all the stuff that’s lying un-used at the back of your wardrobe and make space for some new clothes. It can be psychologically very satisfying to have a good clear out, get rid of clothes that are old, tired or no longer fit and have a think about what to replace them with. This is the time of year when spring collections start to appear on the shops. Ladies can take advantage of a selection of cotton trader’s women’s jackets for example, while for the men there are a number of different items on offer in new spring collections, from shirts and jackets to lightweight men’s trousers, there’s no reason not to look fabulous this winter.
So, are you ready for a challenge? Even if you don’t have a mad desire to do something new, take a look at all the things on offer now that the new term has started. You might find something interesting that you’d never thought of before, or you might want to start something with friends that gives you a night out each week and something different to think about. Whatever you choose, try and stick with it all year – you never know where it might lead!
