This is a collaborative post. Image source.
It takes a lot of practice to be good at something. When it comes to hobbies you do for fun in your spare time, it’s easy to forget this! More and more people are finding that a sense of productivity and perfection are overriding the simple need to make something interesting, and thus lose all patience with a hobby that’s actually quite good for their health. And, if you find yourself feeling a similar way, here are a few tips on pacing yourself again.
Technical information can turn us off doing something we love. It’s hard to wrap your head around jargon you’ve never read before, especially after a long day when you’re tired and just want to relax.
So, if you’re busy researching candle making supplies and find a lot of different information about the best materials for certain projects, and you recognise none of the words in the post or video, it’s time to close down the page! Forget about the technical and just make something with what you have.
Hobbies should be fun, so when the perfectionist feeling gets a little too strong, it might be time to take a break. Don’t feel bad for doing this; recharging your creative batteries is good for you, plus it gives you time to get a few other things done and get them off your mind. You can even leave a project for over 20 years and come back later to finally finish it!
If you want a visual reminder of just how far you’ve come already, measure your current or recently made projects against the things you did when you were just starting out. In doing this, you can get a good sense of just how far you’ve come, even if you know you’ve still got a long way to go before you can call yourself an expert.
It’s easy to forget that we used to be true beginners when we first took up a hobby, but if you’ve kept your crafts from around that time, you’ll be smacked in the face by just how much better you’ve gotten with all that practice! This can be very motivating to keep going.
This follows on from our first point, but it’s important to note as well. If you do too much research, you’re not just going to be overwhelmed with technical information, but conflicting viewpoints and instructions as well.
This can get confusing and downright annoying when you consume too much of these tutorials, so why not just cut them out now and see how you get on otherwise? Too much research is bad for your mental health, especially when it comes to optional activities that don’t make you any money. Remember, you’re just here to have some fun!
If you’re losing patience with your hobbies, refer to these reminders and keep on going!
