Tag: New Years resolutions

DISCOVER A NEW HOBBY!

- Jill Leave a comment

January is National Hobby Month.
Let us help you discover something new!

Every year National Hobby Month is celebrated during the month of January. Participating is a great alternative to making a New Year’s Resolution (and failing to keep it). Instead, join enthusiasts around the country by trying out a new hobby or diving back into one you haven’t enjoyed in a while. Since hobbies are not something that we are required to master and our paycheck doesn’t depend on it, we can pursue our hobbies for the pure joy they bring.

The great thing about having a hobby is that it can take your mind off the pressure of work or other daily stresses. Finding a good hobby and giving yourself time to take part in it on a daily or weekly basis is sure to make you happier, and even healthier!  It can boost our self-esteem and help us grow creatively, physically, or intellectually. And, it often helps us foster a connection with others. Research indicates that being active with a hobby can lead to better health, more sleep, lower stress, improved social network and work performance, and a greater life satisfaction, in general.

You might spend some time planning and thinking about new hobbies or interests you’d like to pursue throughout the year. It will be well worth your time. Below are a few new books on activities that could make a great hobby. During the month of January, check out the Hobbies book displays at the Eastern and Fairmount branches to find some ideas to get you started.

 

If you are interested in picking up a new hobby this year and are not sure what to try, perhaps these questions will help. Think about the answers and allow them to guide your choices. You can have different needs at different times and there’s no such thing as the perfect hobby – so try to be open to new experiences.

  • How do you want the activity to make you feel?
    Mentally engaged? Distracted? Relaxed? Socially connected?
  • What did you like doing as a kid?
    Think about what you wanted to be when you grew up? The answer could point you toward a hobby you could pursue as an adult. Or, revisit activities you loved when you were young. Childhood interests can easily evolve into an adult hobby.
  • What do you hope to get out of a hobby?
    Social Connections? Solitary time to clear your head? Learn a new skill or challenge yourself?
  • What is your life missing?
    Creativity? Physical activity? Do you need to be more social?
  • What is your availability?
    How much time do you have available and when would it be most relaxing to do the activity? Can you do it in your spare time? What window of time would feel like a relief from your current schedule rather than a stressful obligation?
  • Are there any obstacles?
    Identify supplies you need or any other arrangements you might need to make, such as travel or childcare. Try to anticipate anything that might get in the way of your first venture into this new hobby to avoid getting distracted or putting it off. Remove as many obstacles as you can.

One online list of hobbies I found was broken down into just 4 categories: Physical, Cerebral, Creative, and Community-Oriented. Other lists have many more categories. Keep in mind that hobbies can appear in more than one category. Have fun discovering a new hobby!  And, if we don’t have a book or other resource on your new hobby, please tell us!

 

Begin to code : building apps and games in the cloud by Rob Miles

Beginner’s guide to glass painting : 16 amazing projects for picture frames, dishware, mirrors, and more! by Nilima Mistry

A beginner’s guide to quilting : a complete step-by-step course by Michael Caputo

Canning full circle : from garden to jar to table by Diane Deveraux

Code to joy : why everyone should learn a little programming by Michael L. Littman

The container victory garden : a beginner’s guide to growing your own groceries by Maggie Stuckey

Easy crochet for beginners : learn to crochet with 35 simple projects by Nicki Trench

Jewelry making for beginners : step-by-step, simple instructions for beautiful results by Tammy Powley

The Joy of playing with your dog: games, tricks, and socialization for puppies & dogs by Monks of New Skete (COR) / Marc Goldberg

Knotting natural bags & belts : 18 beautiful, easy-to-make macrame projects by Stacy Summer Malimban

Madame Fromage’s adventures in cheese : how to explore it, pair it, and love it, from the creamiest bries to the funkiest blues by Tenaya Darlington

Seed to table : a seasonal guide to organically growing, cooking, and preserving food at home by Luay Ghafari

Start here : instructions for becoming a better cook by Sohla El-Waylly

 

Zumba Fitness: Core

- Stephanie Leave a comment

zumba fitness coreLet’s talk about the ugly winter truth. Sometimes we’re just too lazy to work out. Putting on workout clothes, bundling up to trudge through the blowing snow and the frigid air, going to the gym to get sweaty with a bunch of people who already have fabulous bodies is just a reminder that I should not have eaten that last plate of holiday cookies.

What if there was a way to avoid having to work out in front of people? Let me introduce you to the wonder of videogames. You can workout in the privacy of your own home without having to worry if you look uncoordinated or comparing your body to anyone else’s. Zumba Fitness: Core is a perfect way to get a workout without actually knowing you are working out. Zumba is an aerobic fitness program that has exploded in popularity recently with dancers doing moves inspired by Latin America to rich Latin American music . This videogame lets you master different classes, dance in different locations within the game, create your own Core class, and set different intensity routines for a wide range of skill levels(and even follow a tutorial if you’re just not sure what’s going on). While dancing around to more than forty different upbeat songs and over thirty different dance styles, you will be sure to get a full and total body workout that, as the tagline says, will “party your abs off”.

Have a different videogame system or platform? No worries. Just search the library catalog with the word you are looking for and follow it with the platform, ie. “workout xbox360” or “workout wii”. Still can’t find the right one? Give us a call at the library and we’ll help you find the one you want.

Resolution: Read More Books

- Rachel Leave a comment

book headphonesDid you make a New Year’s Resolution to read more books? Are you already struggling to find time to read to a book?  If so, you might want to try audiobooks.

Many Davenport library users have made comments about how they can listen to audiobooks while doing other things.  Some people listen to them in the car while others say they listen to audiobooks while cleaning the house.

The Davenport Public Library offers different audiobook options. You can come to the library and check out CD or MP3 audiobooks. The library also offers Playaways. Playaways are devices that have an audiobook already recorded on it. All you have to do is plug in your headphones and listen! They are small enough that you can put them in your pocket.

If you don’t have time to come to the library, you can download audiobooks from home. One Click Digital is an online resource that offers eAudiobooks to download. RiverShare Digital Library offers both eAudiobooks and eBooks to download.

To learn more about downloading audiobooks, visit the e-Books & More section of our website.

 

 

Resolving to Read

- Ann Leave a comment

2013Let DPL help you realize your reading goals in 2013! Whether you need books, recommendations, or just a quiet spot to devour the newest Stephanie Plum/Alex Cross novel, we can help.

Numeric resolutions: I will read X books in 2013.

  • Do you have 45 minutes a day? Count up your free time: lunch hour, breaks, waiting at the curb for your kids to get out of school, before bed, while your spouse does the dishes, while you’re on the treadmill. If you do, you could read 52 books in 2013. One book* per week = 39 pages (about 45 minutes) per day.
  • Only 15 minutes per day? Maths out to about 17 books for 2013. Not too shabby!
  • 20 minute drive to and from work? Not even counting all the other trips you make, you can listen to 21 books* this year (bonus: no more annoying radio ads).
  • Children’s books, audiobooks, graphic novels, comics, short stories, magazines, newspapers, and internet articles ABSOLUTELY. COUNT. You are more of a reader than you think; don’t sell yourself short!
Content resolutions: I will read more (insert genre) books in 2013.
  • Branching out into new content areas can be frustrating, but the librarians at DPL are here to help! We’ll cook up a list of books for you based on any criteria, and we offer 100% forgiveness for those who abandon books without finishing. Life is too precious to waste on finishing a book you don’t like.
  • Broadening your genre horizons is rewarding; more often than not, a single title will blend influences from many genres. I love fantasy, but some of my favorite fantasy titles are shelved in regular fiction or romance. If it sounds confusing, we’ll happily help you navigate.

Making your resolutions real

  • If you use a social reading log website (Good Reads, Librarything, and Shelfari, for example), you and your friends can share progress on whatever resolution you make. Nifty!
  • Use your library account online to keep track of saved title lists, saved searches, and even maintain a list of ALL the books you’ve ever checked out! (Note: for privacy and security purposes, only you can elect to maintain a reading list. It does not happen automatically and library staff cannot create the list for you.)
  • For old-fashioned paper lovers, get yourself a reading notebook: write down the titles you read and a little note about what you thought of the book. That way you won’t lose track of what you’ve read.
  • Resolve to share your love of books: Promise that you’ll read out loud to your kids or grandkids, bring a friend with you to the library, give copies of your favorite titles as gifts, or donate your pre-loved books to the Friends of DPL or another book charity. Books are best when they’re shared!

*For math purposes, a “book” is 275 pages or 8 hours of audio recording. Bonus points for reading something longer!

NewYear’s Resolutions

- Ann Leave a comment

s1 It’s that time of year again! The end of the old — the start of a new one — with all of the guilt and good intentions that go into making us think about New Year’s resolutions. Notice I said “think about,” which is not necessarily the same thing as “make.” For those of us of a certain vintage — say past puberty — we may have long ago given up on New Year’s resolutions. We know, empirically at least, that we can make dramatic changes in our lives at any time of year — it doesn’t have to be the first of the year or the first of a week. We just have to decide and then DO! Still, I’m a sucker for any kind of “should” so I usually end up vowing to magically “be better” in the upcoming year. And typically, I always have the same three resolutions: Lose weight, get organized and save money. Hmmph, I don’t really like what that says about me, but when you think about it, those are probably the top three resolutions world-wide. So, assuming I’m not alone, here’s a few titles that can help out quite a few of us:

Resolution #1: Lose Weight!never-say-diet

Never Say Diet: Make Five Decisions and Break the Fat Habit for Good by Chantel Hobbs. This one sounds perfect for me. Somehow, it seems that whenever I say “I’m on a diet,” I automatically get hungry. And if this book isn’t up your alley, there’s a plethora of specific diet books on our shelves, including Bob Greene’s The Best Life Diet and WeightWatcher’s Start Living, Start Losing: Inspirational Stories That Will Motivate You Now.

Resolution #2: Get Organized!clutter

With all the Christmas packaging to dispose of and all the decorations to put away, this is a great time to really get your whole house in order. A saver by nature, sometimes it’s hard for me to let go of things. One great book I found is The Clutter Cure: Three Steps to Letting Go of Stuff, Organizing Your Space & Creating the Home of Your Dreams by Judi Culbertson. Her three easy steps (identify, assess and take action) are realistic and easy enough for most anyone to follow. Another title, Real Simple: the Organized Home by Ken Cronstrom, is just very refreshing. It’s filled with lots of colored photographs that make me wish my house looked that way!

Resolution # 3: Save Money!idiot

With the economy pretty shaky these days, saving money just makes sense. For a colorful take on a ticklish subject, try How Come That Idiot’s Rich and I’m Not? by Robert Sherman. This book is organized by 8 simple secrets — sounds easy enough to actually try! Another approach, depending where you are on your financial path, there’s Seven Years to Seven Figures by Michael Masterson. It’s subtitle is The Fast-Track Plan to Becoming a Millionaire, which is appealing to just about everybody.

Well, good luck to those of you who are actually making New Year’s Resolutions.  Check out our displays on all three of these resolutions for other reading suggestions.  As for me, next year at this time, I’m going to be thin, organized  and rich — just like I was going to be this year!