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One of the greatest things about the internet is its ability to provide people with countless hours of information that can help them develop new interests, talents, and hobbies. If you’ve recently found yourself with more free time than you’re used to, look no further than the internet for a range of exciting hobbies. While many hobbies are easily learned with a minimal amount of preparation or equipment, others require you to take a deep dive into their world. Below, Get Through Anything shares tips that can sustain your interest for the long haul.
Make Some Music of Your Own
If you enjoy listening to music, you may enjoy learning how to play an instrument. Even if you have no prior experience, you can find a range of lessons for all kinds of different instruments online. Higher HZ notes that the ukulele, harmonica, and guitar are excellent instruments to start with. Keep in mind that there are many different styles of play — for instance, a violin can fit into jazz, folk, and country context, not to mention its standard classical repertoire. You may even find that learning an instrument as an adult is easier than learning one as a child because it is entirely your choice — you have the freedom to follow whatever musical path you prefer.
Learn Yoga
Have you always been curious about yoga or what it means to be a yogi? Perhaps now is the perfect time to explore yoga and everything a practice has to offer. From Vinyasa to Kundalini to Yin to Ashtanga and more, there are a variety of yoga styles to choose from. All you need is a mat, a water bottle, and a Wi-Fi connection if you're taking an online class. One of the greatest benefits of developing a yoga practice is how it can affect you both physically and mentally. As your practice grows, you’ll likely be calmer, and even notice a change in how you interact with others in your daily life. Plus, yoga as a physical practice is only the beginning of what yoga truly has to offer, so consider taking a dive down this amazing rabbit hole!
Build Something Useful
Are you a visually creative person who enjoys working with your hands? If so, take a break from basic drawing and go in a more unusual direction by taking some online woodworking lessons. When you’re first starting out, your projects don’t have to be complicated (keep in mind that you may not have acquired fancy, utilitarian tools yet) — a box is an excellent starter project. All you need is wood, an electric saw and drill, and some screws. After it’s built, you can indulge your creative side with paint and decorations.
Turn Your Passion Into a Cash Cow
It's possible to not only pursue your hobby without putting a hole in your pocket — you can also line that pocket with cold hard cash. For example, if you love chess and are pretty good at it, you could start a blog or vlog teaching others how to play. With the recent success of the show The Queen’s Gambit, more people have become interested in learning how to become great at chess. Adding some tips with a creative flair or staying true to the mathematical underpinnings could be a great way to set yourself apart from other chess-related sites.
Regardless of your hobby, it is worth considering if you actually want your leisure activity to become your job. While you may be skilled, operating a business requires more than specific knowledge about a narrow interest. You may want to look into how to earn a bachelor’s degree in business, as the classes would teach you many of the skills needed to maintain a business. And there are plenty of great programs that offer online courses, so you can do them in your spare time from the convenience of your own home.
Of course, if you expect to generate revenue from your pastime, it'll need to be treated as a business and you’ll have to choose a business structure. A formation company can help get an LLC established for you. You’ll also need a unique, interesting name for your business that isn’t in any way obtuse, and you’ll want to devise a formal business plan. That will help you out in important ways, from identifying your goals to potentially securing funding.
Turn Your Passion into a Career
Starting a business isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but expanding one’s career options is a great possibility when it comes to your hobby. For example, is education your passion? Do you enjoy tutoring others in your spare time? If so, you could head back to school to earn a degree in education that you can apply to your career. Going back to school to pursue a degree in education can be a great opportunity to advance your career and open doors for a better future.
As with going to school for business, studying online has many benefits, including the convenience and flexibility of learning anytime, anywhere. Earning an education degree online will allow you to maintain your current lifestyle while gaining knowledge and experiences that can help you attain higher roles within the field of education. Depending on the program, you may be able to interact with other students through online forums, collaborate on group projects, participate in simulated activities relevant to teaching, as well as increase your access to distance learning opportunities for students. And with multiple start times throughout the year, this may help you fit an education program into your schedule.
Learn and Grow with Your Hobby
Hobbies are important parts of daily life. Indulging in a favorite pastime helps reduce stress while promoting good mental and physical health. As you learn your new craft, you may even make some like-minded friends! And if you discover that you’re good at your new pastime, you might want to pursue a degree in business or education to learn how to turn your passion into an income. Whatever you choose to do with your hobby, have fun!
Written by Gwen Payne
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