Hobbies can mean a lot of things to different people. Some people look at hobbies as an escape from stress in their work or family life, and others see hobbies as a way to build an alternative career path that is funded by their current employment. But however you see your hobbies, there’s usually always a cap on how much you’re willing to spend on them.
So when does it make sense to level up your hobbies? In fact, what does it even mean to take your hobby to the next level? If you’re starting to get a little bored with your interests or have been on the fence about investing more time and money into something you love, then here’s some helpful advice.
Level up your hobby by investing in better tools and equipment
One of the first ways to level up your hobby is to invest in better tools and equipment that will help you achieve greater things. A great example of this is in woodworking. A lot of people start woodworking with basic tools and perhaps a small worktable. This might include some clamps, a hand saw, a mallet, a chisel set, and perhaps a smoothing plane. But as you get more advanced, you might consider buying larger pieces of equipment such as a router, a circular saw, or an orbital sander.
The equipment that you can buy for a hobby like woodworking opens up new opportunities, helps you get things done a lot faster and gives you more flexibility. In short, it can greatly enhance your enjoyment of the hobby–at least when it’s used correctly.
The problem with investing in better tools and equipment is that we can easily get into the mindset that we need those tools in order to achieve greater things. This is something that happens across all hobbies, and it can quickly lead to a huge waste of money, time, and effort. As such, we recommend being as cautious as possible when investing in your hobby. Only buy new tools if you really need them, such as if it opens up new opportunities to make or do unique things that you couldn’t before.
Investing in new tools and equipment is just one way to level up your hobby. It can be expensive, but it has the power to completely change the way you look at and interact with your hobby. Just remember to do your research and look through hobby communities to find people who are in or have been in your situation so you can ask for advice and recommendations.
What do you expect to get from your hobby?
It’s a good idea to change the amount of time, effort, and money you invest into your hobby by adjusting your expectations. For a lot of people, a hobby is just something to let loose and have fun with. That’s why a lot of people enjoy video games, movies, books, and other forms of consumable entertainment. There’s not much commitment outside of the monetary cost of the item, and it’s something that can usually be enjoyed for a really long time.
But that might not be the case for everyone. Some people like to work on their hobbies because they want to level up and potentially make a career out of it. For example, someone with a nice camera might be interested in photography. They see a new camera that all of the professionals are talking about, and they might have enough disposable income to purchase one. However, it could be multiple times more expensive than what they already have, and it might just be an incremental upgrade over what they already use.
To a professional that already makes a living using those tools, the investment is well worth it. But for someone that isn’t sure if they can make money doing what they love, it’s a much harder expense to stomach.
Perhaps the best way to overcome these challenges is to do your research. For example, websites like drdrone.ca are fantastic sources of information for professional drones. These are far more expensive than the typical drones you can buy, but they’re also a lot sturdier and have a wealth of unique features that could open up new possibilities for a photographer. In this case, the investment unlocks a new way to enjoy your hobby and could help you develop skills that will assist you in finding a job.
It’s difficult to balance what you spend on a hobby when you’re aiming to make a career out of it, especially if the career is inherently something that you’d engage in as a freelancer. The solution is to just be smarter with your money and only pay what you can afford for new equipment. You should do plenty of research to figure out if a new piece of equipment can give you more opportunities or change the way you work. If it doesn’t seem worth it, hold on to your current equipment and level up your hobby with other methods.
Should you take your hobby to the next level?
The investment of buying new tools and learning to incorporate them into your hobby can be daunting. If it’s going to be an incremental upgrade then it probably doesn’t feel like it’s worth the money.
But this is your hobby we’re talking about.
No matter if your hobby is crafting intricate sculptures or watching movies in your personal home theater, every penny you spend can and should enhance your experience. Whether it’s a hobby that can evolve into a career or a pastime that is purely for enjoyment, there’s no reason not to take your hobby to the next level.
Just remember to keep an eye on your income. If you can’t afford it, then don’t go out of your way to borrow money just to buy it. Only invest in tools and equipment that you can realistically afford so that you don’t bankrupt yourself trying to take your hobby to the next level.
