The thing to note about hobbies is they’re not just about consuming (shopping, eating, surfing the web), they’re about the fun of learning new things and the lost art of doing and creating things with our own hands. A hobby is one of the best ways to make new friends and this is where online connections can help offline pursuits. There are support groups and clubs both online and in the real world to help you learn about your passion.
Time, costs and not knowing where to begin are common excuses for not taking up a hobby. Yes, hobbies demand commitment but they also generate real benefits such as improved physical and mental health and new social networks. Hobbies also give us fresh ways of approaching our work life (check out what these corporate big shots do in their downtime).
So how do you start? Here are 10 tips to get you started. Share your hobbies and tips with your mig friends too! We’ll feature our favorite user posts in the days ahead!
1. Research. discoverahobby.com is a great place to start. The free site bills itself as the ultimate guide for finding and starting a new hobby. The site groups its 225 hobby ideas into categories to help narrow your search. Or if you’re feeling adventurous, hit the “random hobby” button.
2. Write it down. Start with a scrap of paper, a napkin or a notecard. Look at the words after you write them out: “I want to try woodworking.” Put the paper somewhere you pass by daily, on your bathroom mirror or next to your shoe rack. This will serves as a reminder and inspiration to follow your dream.
3. Find communities online. A recent thread on Reddit asked members to name a hobby they’ve always wanted to explore but never knew what gear or first steps were needed to do so. The post received more than 19,000 comments with redditors helping each other out. You’d be surprised at all the ways you can save with these pro tips about gear and other advice. Don’t let startup costs derail your dream!
4. Attend a meeting in your community. Face-to-face meetups not only help you learn about your hobby, they also help you make friends. You know you have at least one thing in common from the start! Check bulletin boards in places you like to hang out and check the events listings in your local paper to get started.
5. Start your own chat room in migme. Talk about your new hobby with friends online, trade tips and have fun. If there are friends in your area, you can organize a migup and share photos on your miniblog! Mention @clarityis and we will feature your migup!
6. Set goals. Remember why you are starting this hobby. Is it to help you relax? Make friends? Be honest and realistic with yourself and you will reap the rewards! You don’t need to be the best at your hobby, but you do need to be having fun.
7. Save money. Does your hobby require some equipment? You might want to start saving early to prepare yourself for the future.
8. Buy equipment. A book or container to start a collection. The proper outfit to take a martial arts class. Art supplies. Shoes. After all that research, you know what you need. When starting out, don’t let prices intimidate you. It’s best to invest in cheaper “entry level” gear before committing to the toys the bigger kids are using.
9. Start your hobby! Have fun!
10. Come back to migme and tell us how it’s going. Maybe you’ll inspire your friends to join in the fun.
More links we found useful:
- Codeacademy’s online tutorials: http://www.codecademy.com/
- Robotics tips via Arduino: http://arduino.cc/en/Main/arduinoBoardUno
- 10 hobby ideas that can pay off
- Guitar for beginners: http://www.justinguitar.com/
- Photography: http://digital-photography-school.com/
By @mig.me
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