Do you ever feel as though there’s something missing in your life? Or, on the contrary, do you ever feel as if your life is so busy you could use a break? Luckily for you, there is one solution that solves both these kind of situations, getting a hobby!
Why would you care about getting a hobby?
People take on hobbies for various reasons. Some pick one as a child (or have one picked for them by their parents, although that can be a hit or miss) and stick to it well after they achieve mastery of their craft. If you are reading this article I am going to venture a guess and assume that you are most likely not part of this group, and are probably wondering how a hobby would be of any help to you. That question I am going to answer with another: What better way to fill up your time than doing an activity you enjoy? What better way to kick back and relax than to put aside some time for a pleasant session of whatever it is that brings your peace? It’s all about spending your time someway you like, and a hobby is sure to give you that kind of satisfaction, be it a tabletop game, movie marathons, plastic model kit building or doing sport.
When should you start considering finding a hobby?
There is a saying that goes, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the second best time is now”, and it so happens that the same logic applies here. While having a head start can help with certain hobbies, it is often child prodigies or those with parents full of expectations that start out really young (and the lasting effects of that latter situation are debatable, but not the point of this particular article), but there is no shame in making a change well into your, let’s say, for the sake of the argument, thirties. Maybe you did not have the time, the financial resources or the inspiration for it, or simply you had not heard of it by that point. It does not matter in the slightest, all that matters is that it brings you joy at that moment in time.
How do you go about getting started?
Starting a hobby can feel a bit intimidating at first. Most often than not, the easiest way to go about it is asking a friend who shares your interest to lend you a hand. That way you have the added benefit of bonding with that friend over your new common pastime on top of starting a hobby. Another thing you can do is checking if there are any groups in your area that are into your hobby as well and are looking for new members. If these are not an option for you, do not despair, the internet has you covered! There are plenty of blogs, YouTube channels and subreddits out there made by and for people with particular interests, a true gold mine of resources for anyone looking to get started.
How to maintain interest?
Generally, you will want to watch out for signs of burnout. Remember, you are doing this because you enjoy it, not because you have to speedrun it as soon as possible in order to jump to your next main interest. If you notice that your favorite activity starts to feel more and more like a chore, it is a good idea to take a break for a while, tip your toes into some other relaxing activity (or deal with your busy schedule, if that is the case) and slowly go back to your hobby afterwards. Of course, there is nothing wrong with realizing you have lost interest and moving on to something else, you do not have an obligation to stick to something that no longer brings you any joy.
Whether your hobby becomes part of your life and steers you towards a certain career or stays nothing more than a side project and whether you do it alone or with your friends group, there is nothing to lose and everything to gain from it. We only live once, so why not make sure we live a life worth living?
