Hobby\noun: a pursuit outside one’s regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation.
By definition, a hobby is an activity we choose to engage in because it relaxes us. It brings us immeasurable pleasure. Some hobbies live on forever because they are active and well-preserved. For the most part, I’ve seen them come and ‘go,’ in theory, but they rarely seem to actually exit the home. They often remain in the home on a dusty shelf somewhere in the attic or buried in a box in the basement and/or garage.
During the organizing sessions with my clients, I often discover neglected hobbies. Here’s how the conversation usually goes during the organizing process;
Organizer (me): I notice you have an abundant yarn inventory, knitting needles, instruction manuals, etc. Are you an avid knitter?
Client: Well, I use to knit all the time many years ago, but I don’t anymore. I rarely find the time and my interest has waned.
This is a tough one. As life changes, our interests and passions change too. The longevity of our hobbies may be questionable. ‘Letting go’ of a hobby once loved can be emotionally difficult. It’s bidding farewell to a piece of your past. Perhaps establishing some criteria would be helpful in the decision-making process.
If you have abandoned your old hobbies and they are strewn all over your house or living on dusty shelves, ask yourself;
Clearly, if your hobby and its components are dated, in disrepair, or unusable, consider letting them go. If they are no longer relevant in your life but can benefit someone else’s, think about donating it to those who will enjoy it. No need to clutter the home at all, albeit with a neglected hobby.
But if you have a hobby that still brings you continuous pleasure, whether it be crafts, painting, pottery, carpentry, books, coins, etc. designate a beautiful space for them. It is far more enticing to play and enjoy when you’ve created a proper home and can organize all the accompaniments.
Honor and respect your hobbies with “pride of place. ” If your hobby or hobbies are active, housing the hobby is an essential piece of its preservation. These are some of the key elements to consider;
Storage is paramount. It doesn’t have to be fancy or super high-tech, but a simple system will keep the hobby accessible, organized, and live in an exclusive place. Things can be easily be retrieved and returned back to their proper home. It’s important not to impede on other family common spaces.
I love clear organizing cubes for storing tiny crafts (buttons or beads) http://ow.ly/w5OOl or for small hardware (nails, screws, hooks) http://ow.ly/w5P0d. You can corral them all in one place and ‘see’ them.
Space matters. Anticipate how your hobby may grow. Too often, the original space is outgrown in a short period of time because it wasn’t designed for growth and change.
Lighting is also an integral component of happy hobby space. Poorly lit spaces emits negative energy, does not foster a high functioning environment, and can cause chronic eye strain. It’s likely to discourage you from delving into the hobby and enjoying its space. If you are fortunate enough to be near natural lighting or directly adjacent to a window, that’s an ideal setting. If not, there are multiple halogen lamps and specialty lighting available that provide superior indoor lighting.
Ergonomics of the hobby space is crucial. The hobby table should accompany all that you require in order efficiently work on the project. Consider purchasing this flexible hobby table that can adjusts to your preferred height. Optimize vertical space with ample shelving to give you additional storage and easy accessibility. Ditto to the chair, especially if you plan on sitting in it for countless hours. It may or may not be critical for it to be on wheels, but it is important for it to be comfy. 🙂
So make your hobby or your kid’s hobby succeed and design with optimal functionality in mind. Children’s Legos and jigsaw puzzles need happy homes too. Think about it. Have you really invited your hobby into your home?
Don’t leave them out in the cold garage or dark corners of the basement. Unattended hobbies generally find their way there. Invite them back in or send them on their merry way. Love them or let them go.