Hobbies help youngsters beat pandemic blues

Resin art, knitting, painting, soap-making — youngsters took up diverse hobbies to stay mentally fit during the pandemic.

Here are some quirky hobbies picked up by five city students...

Resin art

Aneesa Parvin, a second-year BCom student of St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, started watching resin art videos on YouTube and gave it a try. She is now the owner of a start-up called Hayaal and has single-handedly sold more than 1,000 items till now.

“It started off as something very casual because I had a lot of time during the lockdown. The more I researched about resin art, the more I wanted to do it on my own. I followed two YouTube channels Pour Your Heart Out and Steve McDonald Arts and Crafts,” Aneesa said.

It took Aneesa about a month to transform it into a small business. “I felt suffocated within the four walls. I wanted to do something productive that would keep my mental health in check. One of the main reasons behind starting the business was to reduce stress as the pandemic has been difficult for all of us in some way or the other. This is therapeutic for me,” said Aneesa, who creates rings, pendants, earrings, photo frames, coasters and trinkets.

Aneesa, who started Hayaal with her pocket money and borrowed some from her family, delivers her items across India via various courier services.

A few weeks ago, she started another start-up, Good 2 Glow, where she sells handmade skincare products and scented vegan candles. The 20-year-old girl has learned time management, balancing her studies with the start-ups.

“It is very important to maintain professionalism and keep our emotions aside when we deal with clients because there are different kinds of people on the internet. I've become more organised and responsible. Hayaal has given me the taste of independence, financially,” said Aneesa.

Knitting

The two years of the pandemic have been a roller-coaster ride for Sharanya Misra, a first-year Microbiology student of Lady Brabourne College, Kolkata. Knitting helped her remain mentally strong while she prepared for her Class XII and other competitive exams.

“Knitting is the most stress-busting activity I have ever done. It is like meditation for me. You need to have a calm mind to knit. I was preparing for my entrance exams and this hobby was soothing for me. It increased my concentration. Knitting is rhythmical and repetitive, which requires a certain amount of focus and concentration. Even the smallest of slips can ruin everything easily,” said Sharanya.

The 18-year-old girl learned knitting from her mother, Saheli. She started knitting with a scrunchie, which she gifted her mother, and the list continued — beanies, hand warmers, socks, headbands, mobile phone cases and soft toys.

“I'm working on a sleeveless sweater, which I've unwound three times already but I'm sure I'll finish it one day,” Sharanya said.

Printing on seed paper

Shruti Parthasarathy printed her first batch of postcards on November 1, 2020. The first-year Writing Electronic and Digital Media student at Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute combines her passion for writing, photography and sustainability through her start-up ReRooted. She uses seed paper, which is eco-friendly as an alternative to paper.

“I had printed my first batch of postcards on normal paper (I shall take this to my grave as a regret). Once I was done, I realised that it would mean increasing my carbon footprint. However, I was more than elated when I found out about seed paper,” Shruti said.

The 24 -year-old sells personalised postcards, bookmarks, calendars, gift tags, photo prints, visiting cards and more made out of seed paper, which you can tear into pieces, throw into the soil and watch it grow into beautiful saplings. “Social media played a role in helping display my products to a big audience. With the pandemic and online classes, there was a clear division of time and work. A lot of prioritisation and juggling happened,” Shruti said.

Shruti intends to talk more about sustainability and circular economy through her start-up, ReRooted. “I want to address upcycling, tackling food wastage, sustainable art, creating employment and supporting street animals. I am on the lookout for further sustainable options,” she said.

Soap-making

Namrata Ghosh, a second-year Journalism and Mass Communication student of Shri Shikshayatan College, started making soap during her free time.

Drawing inspiration from her father, Nirmal, who is a businessman, she created Dos Sistas Soaps, her start-up.

The 20-year-old learned soap-making from YouTube and plans to sign up for a course from Formula Botanica.

“I try to add edible aspects to products, like in lip balms I add flavours like mango, strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla. My products are suitable for people with sensitive skin too. I wanted to do something different. Skincare is generalised as a ‘women’s thing’ which I feel is wrong. Through my products I want to spread the message that skincare is for everyone irrespective of gender,” Namrata said.

Namrata sells body butter, whipped soap, foaming scrub, artisan dessert soap, body scrub, and lip scrub. She started the business, taking financial assistance from her parents initially and now she has completed her 1,000th order.

“I’m very passionate about my business and I intend to work on a much greater scale in the future serving different communities beyond the gender binary with authenticity,” Namrata said.

Painting

Palak Gupta loved colouring and painting as a child. During the pandemic, she revived her love for painting.

The first-year Computer Science Engineering student of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, painted items like coasters, bookmarks, wall hangings, wooden logs, mini canvases, mood boards, polaroids, book covers, mandalas and fluid art during her free time.

She started Colours.in, a startup, two months ago. Palak uses her Instagram page to sell products.

“I love painting and have always imagined a blend of literature and art ever since I have taken this up. I pick up scenes from novels and stories and paint them. This has extensively helped me to keep my anxiety at bay,” said the 19-year-old girl.