author:Sheila Johnson
Setting and achieving goals does much more than completing a task or project, though that is an important component. Goals give us purpose, empowering us to think critically and creatively about our values. Most of us set professional goals — or our companies and organizations set them for us — be we often forget the importance of creating personal goals. When we aren’t focusing at least some of our time on growing through activities we enjoy, we will find ourselves more overwhelmed and overburdened by stress and burnout. That’s where exploring new hobbies and building new skills comes in.
When it comes to starting a new hobby, you may be pressed for time, but you also could be pressed financially. Additionally, you know you need to test something out a few times before you can commit. There are several ways you can offset the costs.
Getting Into Sports
For sports and the great outdoors — be it golf, tennis, swimming, or even hiking through the woods — it doesn’t take much to get started. However, chances are you will need some equipment or gear before you can dive in. To save some money, look for online promo codes, coupons, and money back on online and in-store purchases through retailers.
Arts & Crafts
Interested in sewing, drawing, or creating something incredible with your hands? If so, arts and crafts are probably for you. Getting started doesn’t take a lot of money, and you can actually find a lot of supplies at your local dollar store or big box store. If you need something you can’t find at a discount store, you can save a lot by shopping for sales and discounts for retailers such as Hobby Lobby.
New Hobbies Online
The internet age has opened up a world of experiences that you once had to travel far or pay hefty sums to explore. Now, you just have to open a web browser. Learning new skills online is easy — and often free. Want to learn photography or graphic design? You can sign up for a course on Udemy, Skillshare or Coursera. You can pay for the course if you want instructor feedback or a certificate, or you can audit a course for free. These sites offer a variety of courses across a diverse spectrum, from nonviolent communication and time management to meditation, knitting, and screenplay writing. Some online learning centers, like Lynda.com, offer a 30-day free trial. Lynda.com is a great place to learn some of the most rewarding and professionally profitable skills, such as website design, graphic design, and accounting. These aren’t accredited universities — meaning you won’t earn a degree — but you can earn certifications that will boost your professional credibility and your personal enrichment.
New Hobbies with Friends
Building new skills and exploring new hobbies isn’t always a solo endeavor. You can have a lot of fun while learning something new by tackling new hobbies with friends. From taking a cooking class together to training for a half marathon, friends are also accountability partners. They add an extra layer of motivation to complete a project or accomplish a new skill. When you start new hobbies with friends, you have to answer to someone other than yourself, and that’s a big incentive. As an added bonus, you can split the costs of activities between the group, making it more affordable for everyone.
A Hobby Can Actually Make You Money
With a little business savvy and a lot of sweat equity, you can actually turn your hobby into a money-making venture. Combining your professional and personal goals is not easy, of course, but the payoff can be sweet.
If you’re worried about having the time, money, and skills necessary to start your own business, rest assured there are a plethora of resources available to help. The small business center at your local community college and your local chamber of commerce often offer free resources to help new small business owners get started. There are also online services that can help you inexpensively and easily accomplish necessary tasks, like setting up a Florida LLC, creating your own website and online store, and advertising your business on social media.
With everything we pack into our days, it’s no wonder we often let the activities we love fall to the wayside. We are a culture that values a to-do list that goes on and on and on (often with tedious and thankless tasks). When you feel stressed by your workload — both in your career or in your home — taking the time to practice a hobby that makes your heart sing will empower you to tackle that to-do list with renewed vigor.