So you want to pick up a new hobby? Maybe you've been eyeing those watercolor sets, wondering if you could master Procreate on your iPad, thinking about trying embroidery or bullet journaling, or considering diving into film photography. Good news: you absolutely can. Better news: it doesn't have to be expensive, stressful, or involve buying seventeen things you'll never use.
Here's how to actually start that hobby you've been thinking about.
1. Start with a Positive Mindset
Here's the truth bomb: you're probably going to be bad at first. Like, objectively not great. And that's completely, totally, wonderfully okay.
Learning something new means embracing the awkward phase where your first digital paintings look a bit wonky and your hand lettering is more "wobbly" than "whimsical." Mistakes aren't failures, they're literally how your brain learns.
Progress beats perfection every single time. Future-you will look back at your early attempts and marvel at how far you've come (and maybe laugh a little, which is also fine).
2. Find Experts and Free Resources
Want to know the best part about living in the internet age? Someone has already figured out exactly what you're trying to learn, and they've probably made a free tutorial about it.
Instagram and YouTube are basically free universities for hobbies. Speaking of free resources, I've created a FREE Procreate Cheat Sheet to help you get started with digital art...grab it to jumpstart your creative journey!
Before you spend a dime, spend an hour exploring what's out there. You'll save yourself time, money, and the frustration of learning through pure trial and error.
3. Start Small and Keep It Simple
Do not, I repeat, DO NOT try to master everything at once. That's how you end up with a closet full of unused art supplies and a lingering sense of defeat.
Start with the absolute basics. If you're learning digital illustration, master simple shapes before attempting portrait studies. If you're getting into calligraphy, practice basic strokes before tackling elaborate flourishes.
Build your skills gradually, and you'll actually enjoy the journey instead of drowning in overwhelm.
4. Set Realistic Goals and Expectations
What does "success" look like to you? Really think about it.
Maybe it's sketching for 10 minutes a day. Maybe it's finishing one small art project or filling a page in your sketchbook. Maybe it's just showing up consistently without worrying about how good you are yet.
Small, achievable goals are the secret sauce that keeps you motivated instead of burnt out. You're not training for a gallery opening here—you're learning something because you want to.
5. Make It Enjoyable and Consistent
This might be the most important tip: if you don't genuinely enjoy it, it's not the right hobby for you. And that's okay! Not everything has to click.
Schedule regular time for your hobby, even if it's just 15-20 minutes. Consistency in small doses beats marathon sessions once a month. And here's how you know you've found a keeper: when you catch yourself daydreaming about it during work meetings, when you'd rather be doing it than scrolling your phone, when you're genuinely excited to practice...that's your sign. That's when you've found something worth investing more time, energy, or maybe even a little money into.
The bottom line? Starting a new hobby should add joy to your life, not stress.
Be patient with yourself, use the incredible free resources available to you, and remember that everyone who's amazing at something was once exactly where you are now: at the beginning, feeling a little unsure, but curious enough to try.
Now go start that thing you've been thinking about. Your future self will thank you.
xo, meg