As we get older and set in our patterns, it can be easy to get stuck in routines. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this, but it can inhibit our ability to grow. We can think of ourselves as who we’re always going to be, but this doesn’t have to be the case. As a million songs on the radio have said, it’s never too late to change, and one of the most rewarding ways to do this is to start a new hobby.
A World of Choices
One of the most challenging parts of starting a new hobby can be narrowing down your choices. That said, you’ve probably thought about trying a huge number of things over the years, putting them off only to forget about them when you get busy. Turning back to one of these previous interests can help you rediscover something lost in your youth, with the all-powerful tool of nostalgia at your back.
To cover your bases, we’d also recommend that you choose one hobby you can do at home whenever you like, and another which is more weather or time-dependent. Both inside and outside hobbies can be immensely rewarding, but you can’t expect to always have equal access. Spreading out into multiple fronts can also help keep your mind active, focusing on another topic to keep you fresh.
“Hobby day” (CC BY 2.0) by Ray Best Through the lens
Planning, Enthusiasm, and Burnout
It’s tempting to jump into a new hobby with both feet, but you need to check the depth before taking a leap of faith. Rushing into something can lead you to waste time, effort, and money, as you invest in things you didn’t need. To this end, the first part of your new hobby should include a good amount of research. This can apply to both a general skill level and more specific projects.
If you’re thinking about DIY, for example, you need to understand which tools you’ll need, how to properly use them, and how to recover from common missteps. Glue spills or mistakes, for example, are common for DIY enthusiasts. Removing this adhesive requires specific tools and following a strict step-by-step process. If done well, you’ll see a clean and attractive result. If performed poorly, the outcome could haunt you, and the same could be said in many creative pursuits.
The next thing to understand is that it’s easy to feel enthusiasm when you begin, and this is good, but you don’t want to risk overextending yourself. Early passion can overrule our ability to take things calmly, which can lead to mistakes and burnout. In simple terms, rushing ahead can cause us to make mistakes, and our eagerness can lead us to want to correct these mistakes, so we rush ahead. This can create a feedback loop that never ends well, so be sure to restrict your time at first to allow your skill time to develop and consolidate.
“Hobby” (CC BY 2.0) by EpicTop10.com
Which hobbies you choose to try and how quickly you pick them up are dependent on the individual. Some people might be lucky to find a perfect fit they excel with right away. Others might struggle to find something they like, only to find that developing skill is more complicated than they hoped for.
Ultimately, the best advice is to be patient and never compare your position and rate of progress to others. To get the most from a hobby, your opponent is yourself, and your ability to make even minute improvements over time. Track your progress, experiment with new things if you can, and eventually, you’ll be able to look back on your journey with pride.
