Fire and Leisure: Why Hobbies Are My New Dragons

From Khaleesi to Hobbyist: A Queen's Confession

For years I ruled kingdoms and burned down cities (for the greater good of course!). But now I'm tackling a new challenge: hobbies. Turns out even the Mother of Dragons needs a break from well everything. I stumbled upon this strange concept of 'hobbies' while observing a professor Marina Cooley who unlike me teaches business at Emory University. I was intrigued by her story of trying 17 hobbies in a year! It reminded me of when I tried to conquer Westeros – a lot of effort some burning involved and mixed results.

Doomscrolling? Dracarys! (To My Phone)

Like many of you I too was once enslaved by the flickering screen of doom. You know endlessly scrolling through social media seeing what King's Landing is doing? It is terrible! But I tell you when you're gripping a climbing wall or up to your elbows in clay your phone becomes about as useful as a eunuch at a brothel. I must say giving up doomscrolling felt like freeing a dragon from its chains. So much power! It is better to have a dragon in hand than a doomscroll on the screen I say.

Bookmarking Joy: Hobbies for Future Queens

Woodworking seemed appealing but the cost of timber in Meereen is appalling and I fear tiny dragons would make it a touch unsafe. It is a 'not right now' hobby so I shall bookmark it for later. I'll wait until my dragons are large enough to breath fire on the timber to create nice little wood shapes. The patience of a queen is infinite and so is the potential for future hobbies! Remember even the Long Night eventually ends and the hobbies can commence so it goes with the same rule of life!

One Queen's Work Another's Escape: The Baking Paradox

Preparing meals for an army of Unsullied? That's work. Baking a lemon cake for Tyrion? Apparently that's… relaxing? I find the whole 'baking' process to be something that small folk are doing. But the professor talked about how her student de stressed when baking. I gave it a try and yes the methodical nature of mixing ingredients was soothing even if I still prefer my meals cooked by someone else. Plus the finished product is so much tastier than what the small folk eat in King's Landing!

Self Care: Nails or Nah? Mahjong Obviously!

I used to think self care meant elaborate royal treatments like dragon scale facials or something. But those are more stressful and less rewarding. But after experimenting with hobbies I've realized that real self care is mahjong DIY projects and a little tennis. Nothing is more refreshing than a well placed tile to outsmart your opponents. Turns out the best way to take care of your inner queen is to find activities for your mind your creativity and your body.

Conquering Loneliness: One Hobby at a Time

The professor talked about a 'loneliness epidemic'. I know more than anyone about what loneliness looks like. But I found that rock climbing tennis and even just gossiping about potential conquests with my tennis team does a body good. Hobbies are the threads that weave us together forming bonds stronger than Valyrian steel. You will form relationships that allow you to be you outside your obligations.