Start a New Hobby Learn New Skills

Hobbies

Guest Post

By Abby Holt, Crafting Visionary

Get Your Hobby On: Having Fun Learning a New Skill 

This MBE post contains affiliate links

Do you have a friend who has a hobby that provides hours of entertainment, contentment and a pleasant feeling of achievement? Has it ever made you a little envious, wishing you could do likewise? Well, stop wishing and start taking action. There are countless hobbies and new skills you can get started on by booting up your computer and spending some time on the internet. Whether you’re looking for a do-it-yourself hobby or something you can enjoy with friends, the sky’s the limit. 

Drawing 

If people have always told you that you are so creative, that you should be an artist, maybe it’s time to take them seriously. Whether you have an aptitude or not, learning to draw is a wonderful past time. It’s a skill you can work on almost anywhere at home and on the go; all you need to get started are some good colored pencils and a sketch pad, then you'll be all set to start drawing whenever inspiration strikes. Online drawing lessons are one option for those who are just getting started and YouTube has an abundance of how-to tutorials for people of every age, art interests, and skill level.

Making Music

There are so many fun musical instrument tutorials and instructional websites online these days that you could learn every instrument in the orchestra if you had the time. You’ll need an instrument, but you may not need to pay a lot of money for music lessons if you learn online. If money’s an issue, why not start by learning ukulele, one of the smallest, easiest-to-handle, and most inexpensive instruments available? For less than $50, you can buy either an adult's or a kid's ukulele and start strumming and singing along. Whatever instrument you choose, it’s lots of fun and you can learn at your leisure at your own pace. Why not talk a couple of friends into joining you -- it’s always more fun to learn and play some music together with friends, isn't it?

Cooking & Baking 

Bon Appetit! Taking your culinary abilities to the next level is fun whether you’re going solo or learning with friends. Whether you’re a true novice or an experienced cook looking to expand your skills, cooking is a truly rewarding (and delicious) hobby. With some determination, a willingness to experiment, along with a basic kitchen utensils set, some stainless steel mixing bowls in various sizes and whatever specialty essentials you might want, you're on your way to learn how to be a gourmet French chef, master the spicy nuances of Indian cuisine, go Cajun, or whip up some beautiful and delish desserts that’ll make you the most popular member of your family or circle of friends. 

Practicing Yoga 

Yoga is a mental and physical discipline that helps increase muscle and joint flexibility and strength, naturally lowers blood pressure, and improves your ability to concentrate and discipline your mind. The best and safest way to get started is by picking out a pretty yoga mat you love, putting on some comfortable clothes for exercising, and then taking a class with an experienced practitioner. If you’re feeling a little shy about taking a class, let the instructor know ahead of time to help you ease your worries, or bring a friend along. Yoga is a learning, non-judgmental experience, so embrace it and enjoy the transformation. 

Learning a New Sport 

Why not take up a hobby that’ll keep you in shape? You don’t have to take up boxing or start learning how to block and tackle. Whether you're interested in doing something together with others like sailing for beginners, tennis, or golf or taking up a solo activity like swimming or cycling, there are so many options year-round offering good ways to get some indoor or outdoor exercise, maintain a healthy weight, learn new talents, and feel great. 

Studying a Foreign Language

Linguistics is one of the most popular hobbies on the internet right now, making it possible to learn obscure languages without ever leaving home. Want to learn Welsh or Icelandic? There are many sites that offer language lessons for free to choose from. There are also books and CDs available at your public library. It’s a great feeling of accomplishment to learn a foreign tongue well enough to converse with others or travel without worrying about the language barrier. 

Your Hobby Could be a New Career

New skills and hobbies can have unexpected outcomes, like launching a new career. For example, someone with a knack for technology may decide that a career path in information technology is a great next step. Learning about a career in IT as well as taking classes or even pursuing an IT degree can not only scratch an itch, it can also open doors to a fulfilling and lucrative job. Many IT learning programs are available online allowing each student to fully set your own pace, meaning you can accelerate or slow down as your life demands. 

Whether you pursue computer science, photography, graphic design or some other skill set which matches your passions and interests, affordable educational options are plentiful. A good place to find the perfect choice for you is to check with what's offered in real life (IRL) and online through your state's community college or university system.

Think of a hobby as a way to grow and become more well-rounded. For many people, they’re a kind of wish fulfillment, especially now that the internet offers so many opportunities to learn. 

About The Author and Craftability

Crafting changed from a hobby into a side gig for Abby Holt in college when she began using her calligraphy talent to sell pieces to fellow students and locals. Designing her own Halloween costumes and using her calligraphy skills, Abby loves creative challenges and has a knack for visualizing things and replicating them. Craftability, Abby's passion website project, was created to inspire others to put their crafting abilities to good use. Whether it’s painting, jewelry-making, quilting, or calligraphy that you enjoy, this site is designed to inspire you to be more creative -- no perfection necessary!

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