Hobbies seem to have garnered some bad rep over the years. Why pass your time doing something you’re not paid for when there are tons of actual work to do? Many may think it’s a waste of time. As leisure activities, hobbies are relegated to a somewhat awkward position. But make no mistake about it, hobbies can positively impact the quality of your life.
In fact, some hobbies have made people rise above their fellowmen. A slew of such relatively obscure ideas has turned into life-changing million-dollar businesses that still exist today. Take, for instance, Craigslist. It all started with an email from Craig Newmark, who wanted to share two events with a dozen friends. Today, Craigslist is one of the largest selling platforms on the internet.
Indeed, taking on a hobby can turn your life around. The first stop is it can teach you to be as efficient as can be. Secondly, having a hobby can sharpen your mental powers as your brain gets engaged, not to mention, take all that COVID-19 stress off your shoulders. And yes, a hobby can give you things that many people just long for. Here are three of the best to get you started.
Metalworking
Take a look around the house. There are just so many works of metal that surround you. That doorknob is one; the hot motorbike is another. Then there’s that all-powerful ring on your finger, a.k.a wedding ring. Imagine how many things you can create if you learn the fine art of metalworking. You’d have a world of endless possibilities.
By definition, metalworking is the process of creating something out of metal. When you decide to jump into metalcraft, you develop skills that are precious in any work you do. We’re talking engineering and design, not to mention construction. Before any metal is formed, there’s the artistic process. And yes, metals, once created, need to be welded together.
Indeed, this hobby has a lot of promise. For one, you can become a jeweler, or specifically a base metal costume jeweler. If you’re already as skilled as ever, you can start to aim for a greater prize, such as custom motorbikes. Or even your very own brand of bikes.
There are some projects you can start with to propel you to greater heights. Don’t forget, however, that you would need a host of powerful tools to get started and a constant supply of high-grade metal. In this regard, having direct access to a reliable metal supplier should bid you well. A good source should come in handy in supplying you with a wide range of metals when you need them.
Leatherwork
Another hobby that can have massive effects on your lifestyle is leather crafting or leatherwork. If you master this hobby, you can start a shoe brand. The story of the founders of Love Jules Leather should give you ideas. How two people who knew nothing about leathers, one an accountant and the other an art graduate, fell in love and gave the world fine leather shoes is more than inspiring.
To boot, there are many things you can do with leather. You can paint them, carve them, stamp them, perforate them, and laser-etch them, for starters. And mind you, each of those activities can already keep your hands working all night if you’d let them.
As for products, there are just a million and one products you can make out of leatherwork. You can start with bags, belts, wallets, and yes, shoes. The thing is, leatherwork isn’t such a tall order. The trade has been with us ever since man wore shoes. Meaning, you can start ASAP, as finding tools and materials shouldn’t be a problem.
Woodworking
Last but not least, you have woodworking, another great hobby prospect for men. Technically, woodworking is creating items out of wood. As such, this can help you develop life-changing skills, just like metalworks. You polish your ability to design, engineer, and construct. Indeed, there are only very few jobs that don’t need these valuable skills to boot.
Woodworking can give you a long list of products that you can use at home. Just a quick glance inside your living space should tell you. These products include small things such as a keepsake box. On the other end of the spectrum, you can also come up with tangible items such as a table or a bookshelf. Yup, why not build one for your home office? Or for junior’s study room.
The thing is you need tools and proper safety gear to start this hobby. Warning: The tools you’d be using here are somewhat dangerous. But it shouldn’t be a problem. As long as you observe safety measures, you should get along fine as the hours turn to days in your workshop. You’d be producing masterpieces in due time.
