I used to be an avid painter. But in the last year, adult life has taken center stage and pushed my hobbies out of the picture. I miss the weight of a paintbrush between my fingers, the pride of mixing the correct shade on the first try, and the satisfaction of building up a texture through the layers.
How do you get back into a hobby?
I know at least one of my former professors would cringe at my use of the word “hobby” to describe my art practice. But, for the purposes of this column, it’s a hobby. I’m not talking about the work I was doing in art school, but rather the work I want to do purely for fun.
Recently, on a whim, I picked up a brush for the first time in months. It wasn’t much, but it made me think about how I could bring painting back into my life.
So, here’s my quick guide on how to get back into your hobby:
Start small: If your hobby is running — first of all, I’m jealous — don’t try to run a marathon on your first day back. Maybe start with a mile. For me, this meant choosing a painting subject that I loved, but that didn’t ask too much of me and wasn’t overwhelming. I certainly didn’t start by trying to recreate a Renaissance masterpiece. Instead, I painted my cat Clementine — a worthy subject, who modeled for me beautifully.
Give yourself a break: You’re probably not going to be as good at this thing as you used to be. That’s OK. Embrace the changes. But also remember that muscle memory is a powerful force. With painting, my hands remembered what to do (for the most part), even as my mind lagged behind. With any hobby that involves physical movement (especially repetitive movement), your body has that information stored somewhere; you just need to figure out how to tap into it. And don’t forget: The brain is a muscle, too.
Get organized: This will mean different things depending on your hobby. If it’s cooking, maybe you get all your favorite recipes together in one place, or make a list of ingredients you’ll need for your next dish. I spent this past weekend sorting through my art supplies. It got me excited to use them again, especially upon rediscovering ones I’d forgotten about. Not to mention that organization makes your hobby logistically easier to access.
Invite friends: It’s always more fun to do things with others. It takes the pressure off and makes it easier to laugh at yourself when things don’t go as planned. Plus, many hobbies, such as sports, require other people anyway. Painting doesn’t, but I still grabbed my mom and my boyfriend.
Rebuild a habit: Start to carve out some time for your hobby. It doesn’t have to be much; 30 minutes a few times a week should do the trick, or even once a week if that’s all you can manage. Whatever frequency you choose, the key is to make sure it realistically fits into your life. Otherwise, you’ll be right back where you started. And even on days when you don’t feel like engaging in your hobby, do it anyway. Chances are you’ll get into it once you start.
With all the pressure in today’s world to be productive 100% of the time, it can be difficult to allow yourself time to do something that’s just for you. It can be equally hard to fit an activity into an already-busy life when it’s been absent for so long.
But all work and no play will never be sustainable. Rebuild a relationship with the things you love to bring more joy and balance into your life.
As for me, I have some colors to mix.
Alyssa Cantwell is The Item’s Opinion editor. Her column will appear every other week.
