I Learnt Something Useful from TikTok (No, Really)

I occasionally go to TikTok for dance trends, unhinged cleaning hacks, and people diagnosing me with disorders I didn’t know I had. But somehow, I ended up with actual wisdom.

I am fully vibing with a new viral idea: Happiness comes from four types of hobbies.

And here’s the kicker—these four categories? They’re also where the best stories live.

Here’s the breakdown:

Create – Painting, gardening, baking, writing and DIY disasters. If it involves making something (or making a mess), you’ve got stories of triumph, struggle, and the occasional fire alarm incident.

Consume – Reading, watching, scrolling through Instagram Reels. Sometimes, the things we absorb send us into unexpected deep dives. Did you ever mean to check one Wikipedia page and somehow end up knowing everything about 18th-century shipwrecks two hours later? Exactly.

Cavort – (Yes, TikTok actually used this word. Old-school but kinda fun, right?). Cavort is movement. Dancing, running, yoga, falling off a paddleboard. And let’s be honest, physical activity is a goldmine for horrifyingly funny stories. Surely I’m not alone in this?

Commune: Talking, laughing, deep chats, chaotic group texts, regrettable life decisions made with friends. If you’ve ever sent a message that made you think, ‘I probably shouldn’t have texted that.’ Congrats, you have a story.

You can already guess which ‘C’ you’re guilty of overdoing. Mine is a toss-up between ‘Consume’ and ‘Commune’ – reading Wikipedia and then oversharing my new shipwreck knowledge in the group chat.

If you’re stuck on what story to share, remember your last C (create, consume, cavort, commune) moment. Something funny, insightful, or slightly unhinged happened. Boom—story gold. And if not, congrats. You’re due for a new hobby.

PS: On TikTok check out communication skills teacher Vinh Giang, he’s captivating!