The holidays are a perfect time to take up a new hobby. Many of us not only have time off from work, but also have friend’s and family who are looking for gift ideas. Why not spend these cold Winter months learning something new, or exploring a passion you’ve always been interested in? Below are a few hobbies that you can get into this holiday season, and some suggestions on how to get started with them.
Learn An Instrument
Have you always wanted to learn how to play a musical instrument? If so, there is no better time than the present. Learning to play music is a great way to express your creativity, and to relieve stress. There are plenty of ways to go about learning to play – you can take lessons from someone in your area, follow instructional videos online, or purchase instructional books. If you’re not sure which instrument you want to play, the ukulele and the keyboard are considered good instruments for beginners.
Drone Flying
Flying unmanned drones have become quite popular amongst hobbyists over the past few years. There are now incredibly affordable drone models that will allow you to begin your new hobby, and as you get better at it, you can upgrade to more expensive models. If you can afford it, try to get a drone with a camera on it, so that you can capture some incredible aerial footage.
According to a blog post by plane-parts provider A.E.R.O, all drone enthusiasts should be aware of the FAA regulations that go along with flying a drone – such as how high you can fly it, and where – so be sure you know what these are in your area before you allow your new toy to take flight.
Woodworking
Making furniture is a great new hobby to take up, and will leave you with a practical and beautiful product at the end of your work. There is no satisfaction quite like making something with your own two hands, and woodworking is the perfect way to do this. To get started with woodworking you’ll need a decent amount of supplies – such as saws, a hammer and nails, a sander, and the wood. So if the people in your life are looking for some gift ideas this holiday season, suggest getting you some woodworking supplies so you don’t have to get them all yourself.
Photography
There is beauty in everyday life, and with a good camera and some photography skills, you can begin to capture it. Photography is a hobby that you can continue for your entire life, with relatively little cost if you want. Once you have a decent camera, there is not much cost associated with continuing photography. Here are some quick tips for purchasing your first camera, and another on the basics of photography. After that, you just need to decide what to shoot!
Painting
Perhaps rather than taking pictures of things, you’d rather paint them yourself. Painting is another relaxing hobby that is not too expensive, and the more you do it, the better you’ll get at it. Initial painting supplies are not too expensive, allowing you to enter this hobby on a budget. Consider taking a painting class in your area if you really want to learn the best methods, or look up some instructional videos online.
Cooking
Lastly, if you’re going to be having some guests over this holiday season, maybe you can treat them to a expertly cooked meal? Cooking is a great hobby to take up, and the best part is, you get to eat everything that you spend time making! Cooking classes are great for improving your skills, but you can learn plenty from the comfort of your own kitchen. Just pick up some new cookbooks, grab the ingredients, and start experimenting. Another route is to sign up for a service like Blue Apron, which will send you ingredients and recipes to unique meals you can make yourself.
Try Something New
Life is too short to not try new things. Use the free time you’ll have over the holidays to learn something new, and develop a hobby that you can continue for years. You’ll never know if you have a talent or passion for something unless you give it a shot, so pick something new this holiday season, and get started!