Make Studying More Fun

Posted in attitude adjustment, brain exercise, brain food, brainstorming, College, Convenience, Distance Learning, Fun studying, games, healthy foods, healthy snacks, honing skills, idea generating, ideas, inspiration, Internet College, just do it, learning styles, Motivation, Organization, Overwhelmed, Paperwork, Parents in College, Scheduling, Studying, Time Management, Uncategorized
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Most of us hate studying, or at least dislike it immensely when we’re learning about subjects that don’t interest us. So how can we make studying more fun? Depending on your class, you can do a number of activities to make studying more fun or at least enhance the experience. Here are a few things that have helped me to study, which I greatly appreciate because I tend to have a hard time making things stick in my memory.

1. Surf the web, watch videos.

This can prove to be quite interesting. You have to be careful not to get distracted or side-tracked by something else you stumble upon, but if you can find relevant information online about your subject matter, you can probably find some pretty interesting information that you may not have known you wanted to know before.

For those of us who have a hard time focusing on written materials on screen for whatever reason, it often helps to find videos on YouTube about what you need to know. There are a great deal of video resources out there that can help you to learn more about almost any topic in the world, and watching and listening can be more effective than reading sometimes.

2. Take breaks, get rewards.

After you’ve been studying for a certain amount of time or finish studying a set of notes or a chapter, give yourself a break! Reward yourself with something you love for 5-15 minutes. This could be anything from reading a chapter of a book you enjoy to taking a quick dip in the pool or even having a chocolate bar or some ice cream. Go outside and treat yourself to a little sunshine, go for a walk, or have a quick tickle fight with your kids. It doesn’t matter what you do; you should give yourself breaks every hour or two and reward yourself for your hard work.

3. Feed your brain.

You’d be surprised how difficult studying (or any other kind of mind-related work) can be when you’re lacking nutrition. If you haven’t eaten or had at least a couple of glasses of water in a day, your mind will hate you for attempting to make it understand something, and you’ll get frustrated, stuck, and annoyed.

Making sure you have a healthy snack or meal when you begin to feel hungry can work wonders on your mind’s functionality. I notice this on a regular basis with myself. If I forget to eat, I soon remember by noticing how I’m feeling and how slow the process of working or studying is going.

Some good, healthy snacks are: yogurt, sunflower nuts, granola bars, fruits, vegetables, eggs, and cereal (but not the over-sugared sweet kids’ stuff).

4. Get creative.

If you still have a hard time studying and making it work for you, maybe it’s time to grab a study partner or three and make a game of it. Between making your own Memory game to playing “Game Show,” you can find innovative and interesting ways to make your study sessions much more entertaining. Either that or just play a whole lot of Trivial Pursuit to learn a whole lot of everything… but why not apply that concept to studying?

5. Stick to the classics.

Flash cards! Flash cards are a tried and true way to study, providing people with study solutions for years… try over 1000 years. Flash cards are an intuitive and simple way to learn, making them ideal for studying. The best part is that they can be applied to any subject, any level, and any lifestyle. I bet you that even students learning about FBI requirements use flash cards!

6. Last but not least.

I don’t know what it is, but music always seems to help me think. Not just any kind of music, though… it has to be somewhat mellow, not too loud, and have no lyrical content (otherwise I end up thinking or even writing what I hear in the song – not good!). There are plenty of genres that offer sufficient background pleasantries while you do your studying, reading, writing, or other work in the foreground.

Classical music is known for stimulating the brain and helping to improve brain function… why not take advantage of that concept and get some entertainment while studying?

I hope this blog post helps you to find your ideal way of studying. These are just a few ideas that have worked for me – maybe they will work for you, too!

Not Tech-Savvy? Learning the Basics

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Obviously if you want to go to college online you have to know how to use the internet, e-mail, and do research online. Granted you’ll get way better at this once you’ve been in class for a few months, but it’s good to get a head start and learn what you need to know before you begin.

I personally got lucky because the first class I took was an introduction to MS Office and most of the software that comes with it, including PowerPoint and Excel. I have to say, though, that the most useful things I learned came from getting the details figured out.

For example, I had no idea how to create a PowerPoint presentation, much less that you could add animated slide transitions and hyperlinks to anywhere in the document. I also had no idea that you could do so much stuff in MS Word, either, but these days I use a ton of the features for work, especially when I’m editing.

So what are some of the basics you should know about the web? Obviously I can’t go into everything in a single blog post, but I’ll certainly share what I found useful and fun… sometimes even at the same time!

First, learning to do research online.

Before I began college, I really had no clue about how to do research on the internet. I mean, I sort of knew, but since I’ve been, I tell people all the time: I can find anything online… and it’s the truth. There’s only been a single search out of the thousands (maybe even hundreds of thousands) that I’ve done that turned up a lack of information: a term I hear in a movie describing a psychological condition that, apparently, doesn’t really exist.

Other than that? Just tell me what you need. Divorce papers you can print for free? Information on demons or mythical creatures? How to use Photoshop to make a person look like a werewolf? The best and worst web sites of every year? It’s all out there.

But how do you enter search terms? It doesn’t seem like much, but knowing what terms to enter can speed up the process of finding what you really need to find exponentially. For example, if you’re looking for how to change the oil in your car, it helps to mention what kind of car you have in your query.

Then, of course, some searches are more in-depth. In college, you’re likely to be required to cite your sources and, if the source is only a web page, you’ll probably have to read through several pages of information before you find the right kind of source.

Next, learning to use your software.

This will vary from one online program to another, so depending on what you’re supposed to be using, you’ll need to gather information and training on how to utilize your software in the best way.

You can find tutorials for your specific version of any software all over the internet. If I want a certain effect in Photoshop or Paint Shop, I go find some tutorials to guide me through it. If it’s something I want to keep on hand and use again, I bookmark the tutorial and return to it whenever I want that effect.

You can find tutorials for free on YouTube and graphic designer blogs, which is awesome. With all of the screen capture software out there and the ability to share information so freely, online college can be almost like getting a degree in finding free information.

Even InDesign has tutorials all over the place. I’m sure that even if you’re learning to be a medical administrative assistant, you can find tutorials for the software you’re required to use for that, too.

The internet is the most powerful tool you can have at your disposal. Amazingly enough, not everyone has computers or knows how to use the internet… but if you’re serious about attending college online, these are two of the main things you will need to begin learning in order to succeed.

A Breakfast Experiment

Posted in brain exercise, brain food, College, healthy foods, ideas, Motivation, natural energy, Parents in College, Scheduling, Time Management
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So people always tell you, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” right? Well, that is definitely a true statement. I never used to eat breakfast. It was just one of those things… didn’t feel hungry first thing in the morning. Then I started eating eggs for breakfast a couple of months ago and can’t seem to go without them now. How weird is that? One thing I’ve noticed over the past few weeks of doing this is that my focus is a lot better than what it is if I don’t eat breakfast. I also don’t seem to get tired in the middle of the day, which is awesome. I hate that 2 pm feeling. Those 5-Hour Energy commercials? Yea, I know exactly what they’re talking about, as I’m sure most people do. So what is this crazy breakfast-focus-energy relationship all about? Well first, it’s about nutrition, duh. Breakfast has all sorts of benefits that we take for granted or simply don’t know about. For example, did you know that breakfast can make you smarter? Yep, not kidding. It helps your brain to get the nutrients it needs in order to learn better – a major plus for college students – focus, and have better concentration and memory. That’s only one aspect of why I love eggs for breakfast, though. They taste absolutely awesome and I crave them in the mornings now. But eggs are so good for you, it’s almost borderline ridiculous. Some of the most awesome benefits are that eggs are good for your eyes and can prevent cataracts, one study showed that women who ate at least 6 eggs per week were 44% less likely to get breast cancer, and eggs promote healthy hair and nails. That’s a lot of benefit from such a small food item! So, between eggs being so good for your brain and focus and breakfast itself being good for the same things, why not double up and make the most of breakfast? One of the best ways to be healthy, feel good, and even lose weight is to eat breakfast every morning. Even if it’s just something small; it could be the difference between an A and a C on your next exam. I’m not saying that you have to figure out how to become a dietitian in order to be healthy, either… I’m not a health nut by any means. But I do think it’s nice when I don’t feel like a total space case and can actually focus on what I’m doing =). I bet you’d enjoy it, too.

Give Yourself a Break

Posted in College, games, idea generating, inspiration, Motivation, Overwhelmed, Parents in College, Scheduling
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Ah, college life.

Whether you attend college online or actually go to campus classes, eventually the schedule will begin to wear you down, especially if you have a job, a family, a business, or anything else that keeps you busy already.

I find that, sometimes, I have to give myself a day to just kick back, watch some TV, play music, and clean the house. These tasks fall behind a lot or get put on the back burner because they aren’t super high on the priority list… granted having a cluttered house isn’t exactly the most conducive thing for working, but sometimes you just have to let some things go.

Of course, if your schedule doesn’t allow for a day off, then there are definitely ways to entertain yourself while working at the same time, too, or to help make work a little easier.

For example, I enjoy listening to music (You can create a free custom station through Pandora), halfway listening to a TV show in the background, or letting my computer/mouse draw some nifty pictures for me. That will need some more explanation.

Recently, I came across this nifty little desktop program that allows you to track the movements of your mouse while doing virtually anything else.

It’s called IOgraphica, and when I stumbled upon this, I was immediately intrigued. In fact, I have it running right now – my own little automatic abstract art creator! Granted, it isn’t even close to what having a drawing tablet would be like, but still… very awesome!

Among other things you can find online, you can always use a different font. There are entire web sites devoted to fonts created by individuals, many of which are free to use. Some of these include Font.com and DaFont. I was first made aware of these sites when I was studying web design, and I’ve been fascinated with typography ever since. Pretty awesome stuff! I love finding weird, unique fonts. Most of the time, if you want to use them for a commercial purpose, you can do so with a licensing fee or royalty agreement.

Last but not least, if you’re taking a break and want to just do something different on the internet, find an art site to explore. No… I don’t mean an artist’s portfolio site… I mean a site specifically created as an interactive work of art itself.

It doesn’t look like much at first… but if you click on the # sign in the lower right and then one of the nonsensically-worded text links, you’ll be taken into the site and able to explore, make music, read poetry, and look at some pretty interesting images. You can even add your own little signature in the very unorthodox guestbook page… if you can find it =).

The main message of this post is to let yourself have a breather every now and then. Don’t let work and college and family overwhelm you… if you start feeling like you’ve got way too much going on, then maybe it’s time to take a couple of hours to yourself?

It’s okay. Go take a nice bubble bath and have a glass of wine. Read a book in the tub. It’s definitely a good idea to let yourself relax every now and again.

Useful Tools for College Life

Posted in brain exercise, brainstorming, College, College Enrollment, Convenience, honing skills, idea generating, ideas, inspiration, learning styles, Motivation, Organization, Paperwork, Scheduling, strengthening skills, Task Management, Time Management
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Studying can be hard, and so can learning in general if you don’t know your learning style. Here are some useful tools I found online that can help you in your college life and beyond.

There are a lot of resources and tools available online that you can use to brainstorm, track ideas, keep yourself organized, and share documents for group projects. Let’s check some of these out now.

1. Google Docs

This online method of sharing files is an excellent way to keep track of group projects and other things that may need input from multiple sources. Google Docs is super easy to use and free, so you can share files and collaborate with a number of people. This is especially true for students attending one of the best online schools – many of them are already utilizing resources from the internet in order to help their students learn.

2. Dropbox

This is another way to share files of all kinds without having them open in your browser. Instead, files become downloadable for invited e-mail addresses. This is good for making uploading and downloading easy as well as keeping track of progress if you have a group project going on as well as a way to keep your files safe online if you need to.

3. Mind-Mapping: FreeMind

I recently came across this free mind-mapping software, which is awesome for brainstorming and putting down ideas. FreeMind is free and lets you mind-map with a relatively small learning curve. There’s also a mind-mapping option online through Seavus Dropmind, which lets you do the same thing but without installing software – although they do leave that option open.

Another highly-ranked one is XMind, which I haven’t personally tried yet but intend to. I’m looking for my favorite.

4. Custom Flash Cards

Through Flash Card Exchange, you can study online and learn your topic very well and very easily. Flash cards have been around for ages, and now that you can use a program online to study with the same – if not better – results, why wouldn’t you? These flash cards are easy to use, there are a myriad of topics available, and you can simply go online to their web site to study.

5. The Internet

I’ve noticed that I don’t necessarily always understand what I’m reading or looking at in my text book. That’s when it helps me a great deal to utilize Google and search for my topic – I’ve only had one single instance when I Googled something and it yielded no results. Normally, though, you can learn pretty much anything online. You can even learn how to use any kind of software and how to change the oil in your car. Now THAT’S a good resource!

Hopefully one or more of these tools will benefit you as well as it has me. I mentioned in the beginning of this post about learning styles – learning styles can be identified and you can work smarter (not harder) to learn and retain whatever you need to know once you figure out what learning style you are. This is different for everyone and everyone prefers different tools, but maybe that will also be beneficial for you. I know it was for me!

Families, Struggling Students, and Workloads

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Apparently, students everywhere are struggling.

I began doing a little research on this topic because I wanted to know if I was the only one being overwhelmed by work, family, and college. Glad to say that I wasn’t – but what does that mean for potential graduates?

“Working 30-plus hours a week is the norm for 42 percent of community college part-time students and 18 percent of those attending full-time. About half also are caring for children.” – Caralee Adams

With these kinds of statistics and a reported decrease in support from the state, it’s no wonder students are beginning to drop school in pursuit of their careers or just to be more available for their families.

This is similar to what’s happening to me – I would have to pay out-of-pocket for tuition and books, and with the way things are right now, I can’t imagine doing that. It’s more money than I can bring in every month.

When college students first start out, most rely on financial aid to get them through most of the classes. Whether it’s a grant, scholarships, or student loans, the majority of students won’t be able to pay for everything out of pocket.

So why the struggle? Is it only because of the financial aid and money matters? Or is there more to it than that?

“About 15 percent of the community colleges surveyed require students to take success courses that teach study skills and time management and have been linked to course completion and better grades, the report notes.”

Time management and a successful mindset are definitely two factors that have to be taken into consideration for anyone who is expecting to succeed in college or business. So why aren’t more colleges requiring success courses? How much do they cost? And what impact will they ultimately have on students who wind up struggling anyway?

Then there’s the matter of pride. How many students will actually come forward when they have an issue or find themselves struggling?

Personally, I feel that colleges all across the country should stop raising their tuition costs. This would solve several problems:

1. Colleges would be more likely to continue receiving more support from their respective states.

2. Students would be more likely to be able and/or willing to pay for their tuition costs out of pocket and/or in combination with a private student loan.

3. The tuition cost would still be a factor, but students wouldn’t be quite so intimidated by it.

Mind you, this is just my opinion. But how else can we fix this problem? The government is already essentially broke. Why would they be able to continue to pay for everything without getting anything in return? Maybe it’s time for the colleges to reconsider – and reconfigure – their budget as opposed to asking for more money?

It seems to me that this is really becoming a problem. When students are dropping out on a regular basis, there’s something wrong.

How will we solve these problems?

How do you know if college will actually help you?

Posted in apply for scholarships, attitude adjustment, brain exercise, brainstorming, Checklist, College, College Enrollment, Convenience, creative careers, Creative Online Degrees, Distance Learning, Finances, find scholarships, inspiration, Internet College, Motivation, Online Education, Organization, Paperwork, Parents in College, Scheduling, Student Loans, Time Management
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It has recently come to my attention that there’s a lot of debate about whether someone actually needs that piece of paper saying they’re qualified to do what they say they’re qualified to do.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news… but a lot of times, that piece of paper isn’t necessary.

Not to say that college isn’t important or doesn’t have value – quite the contrary. College can be a major building block in life and your career – no matter what you’re studying.

I recently decided to go back to college to get a degree in creative writing – my passion, my life, my most developed skill. Unfortunately, I am also a business owner whose business is growing this year, and a mother who has 3 children. Small ones. Under 10… and a 2-year-old, which is scary enough in and of itself.

Now, I’m the type of person who believes that I can do anything and everything no matter what. I am “supermom” and I can do whatever it takes to get everything done no matter what. That is so not true….

Everyone needs some down time, and when you don’t get down time, you’re kinda screwed. That’s what it’s felt like for me over the past couple of weeks… I’m overwhelmed, overworked, underpaid, and generally stressed out…. it stinks!

Even my fiance was noticing how overwhelmed I was, if that tells you anything.

SO… here we are. The reason for this post.

I love college… especially online college, and being able to major in creative writing with a focus on fiction is a dream come true for me.

The fact remains that I am an independent publisher. I own a company. I freelance for a living, and support a household with what I make by freelancing. Do I really need a creative writing degree in order to be successful? No. It would just help me to hone my skills and get some feedback.

But is feedback worth the cost of tuition every month?

I found out that I can no longer take out student loans. I would have to use private loans to cover the cost of my education… not okay with me. So I would have to make several thousand dollars extra every year in order to maintain my lifestyle, my kids’ lifestyle, and a good, stress-free relationship with my fiance.

So there were decisions to be aware of here: what’s more important? My business? My education? My kids? My education? My fiance? My education? My relationships in general?

Because I love college so much and enjoy learning, I really don’t want to drop out. Unfortunately, I have become super resourceful in the past 5 years, can find anything online that I need to know, and don’t like wasting time that I could be spending with my fiance and children… I have authors and poets under me now, too, which is a whole new ballgame. They depend on me just like my family does, and I can’t ignore that… at all.

If you don’t own a business and have a spouse helping with the bills, you have no excuse. Let’s face it, though… in my situation, the only way I could realistically keep going is if I got some easy scholarships and had the money to pay people to do some of the work.

My goal in sharing this with you is simple: I want to be honest. College is amazing, and I would love to keep going… instead, I have to make sure that my family and my business are taken care of, no matter how badly I want that degree. I can go again later if I really feel it necessary, right? I’ll still have my credits.

I know this sounded like a sort of selfish post… but maybe it’ll help someone make the right decision, you know? I wanted to go back to college so bad once I figured out I could go for creative writing, but I had already started my business and began building it and it seems to have chosen 2012 to flourish…. So the choice has to be made.

I choose my business, and keep college on the back burner – just in case =).

Number of Needy College Students Increases

Posted in apply for scholarships, College, College Enrollment, Finances, find scholarships, grants, just do it, Motivation, Organization, Parents in College, scholarships, Stipend, Student Loans
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It’s been found recently that the number of college students who aren’t able to contribute to their tuition is growing rapidly. With more adult students than ever before attending college while having families, independent students are in need of a great deal of financial aid and often can’t contribute to their own education.

This is scary! How many students will be forced to drop out of college due to lack of funding? Jobs are scarce, the economy is down, and things have gotten worse and worse since 2008. Wealthier colleges are assisting all the needy students they can. Other colleges are going broke because they have to provide financial aid to more students.

In the global sense, our efforts to get ahead educationally is threatened by the lack of funding and help for students. They will end up being denied the opportunity for a higher education not because of lack of ability but because of financial need.

So what are some solutions for some of the nation’s needier students? Of course there are several, but some of the most successful ways are also the most difficult and require a lot of extra work. Let’s go over some ways to raise money for college students, and ways to earn scholarships and find out about your college’s merit and other grant programs.

ChipIn.com

This is one of several fundraising web sites online that allow people to create a cause and raise money for it. You can also sell small things like trinkets with this site, like another college student did. She’s raising money for college because she isn’t eligible for financial aid. By utilizing this web site, a student (or a non-profit, or whoever) is able to raise funds for their cause and collect through donations.

Work Your Way Through

Obviously this works better in an economy that has more jobs. But these days, you can make money over the internet doing virtually anything. Even if you don’t have that much experience online, work is available… all it takes is some research and figuring out what you’re good at that you can do online. For some it’s affiliate marketing, for some it’s freelance writing or design… but if you have a skill that can be used to provide a service long-distance, then freelancing could be a viable option for you.

You could also go try to find a part-time job at a local business or store or restaurant… but honestly, that may or may not work, especially depending on where you live. If you’re a rural student online then the possibilities are pretty slim.

Win Scholarships

This, of course, is an excellent way to help pay for college. Winning scholarships is free, requires some effort but not too much, and there are a whole bunch of them that you can apply for. Sites such as Cappex and Zinch specialize in matching students and scholarships, so it’s becoming easier and easier to apply for and win scholarships on a regular basis. Some of them are smaller, some of them larger, but many of them are achievable by many people. Some companies even have a weekly scholarship.

The days of gliding by are gone. If you’re like me and your financial aid runs out, you have to begin considering these other options. My financial aid will be gone as of June… I will have no choice but to win scholarships or pay out-of-pocket.

The last – and least desirable option:

Private Loans

The problem with private loans is that interest is often not fixed, so you could end up paying back twice what you owe, sometimes even more. If you get a loan with a co-signer, your co-signer will then take responsibility if you can’t. I really prefer not to use this option… which is why I’m so grateful to be able to apply for scholarships as well as have my parents’ help when needed.

Unfortunately, a lot of other independent students don’t have the option to fall back on their parents.

That’s why scholarships are so important. For me, a thousand dollars pays for my tuition and books for a class. If I consistently apply for scholarships on a weekly basis, there’s a good chance that I’ll be able to win enough to pay for college. My education is important to me… I don’t want to have to miss out on it because of a lack of funding. Working hard to accomplish this will be more than worth it.

Colleges no longer base their acceptance on test scores….

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For years, ACT and SAT scores have made high school students all over the country shake in their boots. There’s pressure, lots of studying, and a ton of stress involved, because colleges based their admissions largely on those test scores.

So where does that leave the kids who hate testing or just aren’t good at it? You know the ones… those students who do amazingly in the classroom but poorly on tests. Sometimes it’s because of pressure, sometimes it’s nerves, and other times it’s just testing anxiety. They know they could do well, but when that timer starts and the test booklet and Scantron sheet gets put in front of them, they freeze. Deer in headlights! Except in this case, the deer is the student’s brain and the headlights are the empty bubbles waiting to be filled in.

This can be a very dangerous thing for the students, both in the testing process and for the effect it could have on their futures. For this and other varying reasons, many colleges have decided that test scores are no longer the deciding factor in a student’s acceptance into their institutions. Instead, they’ve begun basing their acceptance on the applications and the students’ performance in the classroom.

This is good news! High school students can now rest easy and stop stressing out about their test scores.

This seems to be a growing trend, especially since colleges like Stanford and Harvard have also switched to something called common applications. This secure online application lets high school students submit applications to colleges and universities without having to necessarily do amazingly on the admittance tests. You’re more than just a test score, just like Zinch’s web site says! This is a beautiful thing and allows for more students to have a chance at getting degrees, especially if they’re underprivileged.

When it comes right down to it, students are so diverse that a sit-down test can’t possibly give the best idea of someone’s potential and skill set. Many colleges have now decided to focus more on the students’ ability to function and thrive in the classroom. According to Education Portal, “Most institutions found that, after making the tests optional, the qualified number of applicants went up significantly in many formerly underrepresented groups, including first-generation, minority and low-income students.”

So what’s the moral of the story? Test scores aren’t everything! High school students can now celebrate the fact that more institutions are realizing this, and let’s hope that we make further strides in improving the education system and process for everyone. There are a ton of students who need a chance, and that’s it… if they never have the opportunity to further their education, then through no fault of their own they’re robbed of experience and education.

I love the fact that this is happening for the simple reason that my kids will have a better chance of getting into a college based on their skills and knowledge, not their ability to stay calm during a test or perform well in a high-pressure situation. After all, this isn’t the TV show Chuck and most students don’t go to college to learn how to become a CIA agent. Most students just want to be able to follow their interests and get good jobs, so college is a good way to help make that happen.

For more information on the Common Application, go check it out on their web site: www.thecommonapp.org.

Spinning Fire Poi and Other Interesting Things to Try in 2012

Posted in apply for scholarships, brain food, College, creative careers, games, inspiration, just do it, rebellion, scholarships, strengthening skills
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So, one of the most popular new year’s resolutions is to learn something new. In light of my finding out about this, I got curious. I’ve heard of fire poi and base-jumping and freerunning, but I’m still really curious to explore other interesting – and sometimes very weird – hobbies.

If any of you are searching for something to do in 2012 that makes you stand out from the crowd, then one of these unusual and interesting activities might just be for you. In the interest of keeping people safe, though, I’m also going to include some not-so-dangerous hobbies, because some of these can be pretty risky.

1. Fire Poi

I absolutely love this one. Not that I’ve ever done it, but a friend of mine was dabbling in spinning fire poi at one point, and that prompted me to look it up and see what all the fuss was about. This girl? Blown away! It’s like a spin-off of spinning lights at a rave, but way cooler and best performed while sober. So what does this look like? Check it out:

How cool is that? In the above image, there are two people spinning, making the illusion that much more impressive. If you’re interested in learning how to get started in this hobby, your best bet is to find either a person or a course that teaches it. This is definitely a hands-on hobby that requires a lot of muscle control in your arms – playing with fire never looked so cool!

2. Free-Running

UK\’s Best Freerunners

This is a hobby that you have to absolutely see in action to understand. Imagine your city is your obstacle course – the streets turn into your personal playground and it’s up to you to acrobatically make your way through the streets, across rooftops, and over brick walls. There are actually courses out there for this hobby – but be warned… some skinned knees will probably be involved for the newbies!

3. Base-Jumping

This is an extremely dangerous sport, but looks awesome to watch. I have a friend who likes to do this, and it’s best performed while wearing wing suits if you’re serious about it. Imagine what Bella did in Twilight only way more extreme. You basically jump off a cliff. Check out the video – this is not for the faint of heart:

Extreme Base Jumping

4. Carving Egg Shells

Now, for an interesting hobby that can’t kill you. How is it done? It’s definitely a process, but you essentially empty out and rinse out the egg shell, let it dry, then use a delicate carving tool to carve your design into the egg shell. There’a even an egg shell carving magazine out there – people literally have access to everything these days! So how does a carved egg shell look? Absolutely gorgeous! Let’s check out a work of art:

5. Dying Pet Hair (to make them look like another animal)

This trend started in China, and has been widely accepted there. Essentially, a pet’s hair is dyed to look like another animal, such as a tiger – a very popular choice. Variations are great, and pets have been getting their hair dyed ever since… although I don’t know if they like it much, especially when their owners decide to have them dyed neon colors of all shades. If you decide to do this, be ready for your pet to be mad at you… I know I would be!

So, what new things will you do this coming year? Will you try your hand at fire poi or egg carving? Either way, you definitely learn something new every day, whether you’re trying to or not! Just browsing the web can lead you to all sorts of interesting things. Eventually (if they don’t already), I bet there will be scholarships offered for some of these hobbies – all I know is that I would love to see some of this in person!

Happy New Year, everyone!