My Free Inquiry: Testing Hobbies For a Calmer Mind
In my EDCI 336: Technology and Innovation in Education class, one of our major assignments is creating a Free Inquiry project to build and interact with throughout the semester. I will be using this blog to document my process and learnings along the way.
I feel that having outlets and activites to turn to when I am in need of decompressing from school is crucial for my mental well-being. Hobbies are something I constantly try to incorporate into my life, but in recent times I have gotten overwhelmed with school and lost my groove! So for my inquiry, I am exploring different hobbies over the weeks of this course.
Activites I will be doing during the semester:
- Drawing
- Going on Walks
- Needle Felting
- Reading
- Baking
- Swimming
- Journal
- Meditation
My Goal for this inquiry project is to figure out which activites are the most rewarding, calming, and worthwhile, so I can make the best ones a steady part of my routine, even during the busiest weeks.
Guiding questions:
- Which activities leave me feeling calmer and more recharged afterward, and which leave me feeling the same or worse?
- Does an activity work better when it’s active (swimming, walking, baking) or quiet and still (reading, meditation, journaling)?
- What makes an activity feel like a break rather than another task, especially when I’m already stressed about school?
- Which activities can I realistically keep up during a busy week, and which need more time or setup than I can give?