Melanie Bell, who runs The Sewing Lounge, has noticed a big uptick in interest in the past year. Previously, 80 per cent of her clients were children, but now it’s mostly adults.

“It’s something people have had at the back of their mind but felt they never had the time and now priorities have changed, and they want to do something satisfying,” says Bell.

Beginners start with a small project like a make-up bag, pencil case or pyjama pants. “Three hours later, you’ve got something you’ve made yourself and can be proud of. People like to come as a team and have that experience together,” says Bell.

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Hong Kong clinical psychologist Kimberley Carder says that the brain is hard-wired for novelty seeking, always on the lookout for the new and exciting.

“That’s why it was so hard when travel got taken away from Hong Kong. For a lot of people travel is a big part of their work-life balance. It has forced people to [seek novelty] in other places,” says Carder.

Picking up a new activity with others allows us to discover a different side of ourselves. The more robust our sense of self, the more resilient we become.

“So many people live their lives in a five-mile (8km) radius. The pandemic has encouraged people to explore more and do activities they haven’t done before,” says Carder, who herself enjoys following the adventures of Spanish part-time trainer Iurgi on the website hkoutdooradventures.com.

“I enjoy doing something completely different from my job, so I’m not stuck in the same environment. It’s a moment to breathe, clear my mind and it helps me to think out of the box,” says Fok, who recently got a buzz from pulling off her first 360-degree turn.

She says a day on the water mastering new moves sets her up well for the week.

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“It’s a good chance to be on the water with friends,” says Fok.

She usually hires a boat – and a coach – with three friends but has also joined a group. “If you want to learn something new and don’t have friends in the same direction, joining a class is a good way to learn and make new friends,” she says.

“A lot of friendships develop through activity-based friendships, especially if that activity has challenges of milestones in fitness, such as accomplishing a level of workout,” says Carder.

She has introduced novelty into her pandemic year by setting up a book group, learning chess, signing up for a masterclass membership and switching to a smaller, more boutique gym for a more community feel.

“Our brains need to be challenged. It’s about taking ownership of our lives and our internal well-being,” she says.

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Fresco Tse, who runs the Hong Kong Aqua-bound Centre on Stanley Main Beach on the south side of Hong Kong Island, has seen a 30 per cent increase in people at his centre in the last few months. Stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking are especially popular, as is windsurfing now that we are into Hong Kong’s windy season.

“This time last year, people didn’t want to go out, but now they are looking for something new to do and want to be outdoors. Parents want to get their kids away from video games and I get groups of friends coming,” says Tse.

“We have an innate need to gather and sing and celebrate life. Everyone regardless of age or nationality can relate to that. Drumming helps reverse the stress response and boost natural killer cells which combat cancer cells and infected cells,” says Masunaga.

While things were quiet in the first half of this year, Masunaga says they picked up after the summer with a surge in demand for private drum jam parties.

“Music is an art form and drum jamming is one of the most accessible ways to tap into that. You don’t need to study music or be able to read a score sheet – just come and get in touch with your primal inner rhythm,” she says.

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Masunaga recently led a beach bonfire community drum jam in Discovery Bay, on Lantau Island, which attracted families who camped on the beach. She’s planning another for New Year’s Day and also runs private jams for groups to mark birthdays and special celebrations. She and her team supply all the drums and dress in colourful costumes. It sounds like travel without actually getting on a plane.

“We go around the world visiting different places – starting off with Africa, then flying to Spain, then Brazil and back to Hong Kong. We sing songs and say hello and thank you in different languages,” says Masunaga.

Carder says: “When was the last time you learned something new? Connect to your inner child and allow yourself to play. Learning a new skill, taking up a new hobby is refreshing – it’s a reset button for the brain.”

Last-minute holiday gift ideas – no wrapping required

If you meet up with friends and ask what they’ve been up to and they reel off a list of Netflix films, consider getting them an experience-based present for Christmas.

You can gift a friend a three-hour workshop (HK$525, or US$67) at the Sewing Lounge, or go all out and buy them a package of five lessons (HK$2,500). The cost includes the everything from the fabric and fasteners to use of the sewing machines.

Hong Kong Aqua-bound Centre offers windsurfing, kayak and SUP board lessons and tours.

You can contact Masunaga at Hong Kong’s Drum Jam to arrange a private party or to gift drum lessons.