Make Time for the Things You Enjoy

Do you make time for the things you enjoy to do? In this post, Abby Holt of Craftability, encourages us to do just that and how we can find the balance between the two.

Abby says:

Craftability is not a business, it is an extension of myself. I created Craftability to inspire people to put their crafting abilities to good use, whether it’s painting, jewelry-making, quilting, or calligraphy. Feel free to check out my website.

Make Time for the Things You Enjoy

Many people are looking for ways to find work/life balancing, including self-care through hobbies. Although we are conditioned to think that we need to be productive at all times, there are great benefits to simply doing things we enjoy. In fact, hobbies can help declutter your mind and can even be a stepping stone toward a new career or business. A few of the many hobbies you may choose to pursue are covered below from Jo’s Crafty Hook.

Crocheting

Jo Baird of Jo’s Crafty Hook

Although you might associate crocheting and knitting with your grandma, both have made a serious comeback – and for good reason. Studies have found that crocheting has a meditative effect on the body and mind, which makes it a great hobby for people with anxiety and ADHD. It has even been shown to engage the mind in ways that help to stave off cognitive decline.

If you want to get into crocheting, check out Jo’s Crafty Hook for tips and tricks!

Gardening

https://www.allaboutgardening.com/gardening-with-kids/

It’s reported that 35% of American families now grow their own fruit and vegetables at home. It’s not difficult, and it’s a great way to get some fresh air and save money.

The internet is awash with tutorials on growing your own produce, and thousands of books are available on the subject. You can even do your bit for the environment by starting an organic garden to enjoy fresh, healthy, and environmentally friendly produce.

Woodworking

JACKYENJOYPHOTOGRAPHY/GETTY IMAGES

Though it is by no means a cheap hobby, learning the craft of woodworking can be very rewarding. There are some fundamental skills and tools you’ll need to become familiar with when starting out, and it’s wise to save money on raw materials when you’re early in your craft. As you gain experience, you can create projects for yourself or for gifting, and you can even turn it into a business.

Painting

Image from stock.adobe.com

He was one of the most influential artists of the modern era, but did you know Vincent Van Gough was almost entirely self-taught? Besides the joy of seeing your finished work, learning to paint can also promote stress relief and cultivate emotional growth.

To learn the art of painting, you can sign up for one of the many online courses available, or take a look at some of the painting tutorials on websites such as YouTube. One of the most accessible paints to work with is acrylics, making it a great starting point for beginners.

Sewing

https://www.shutterstock.com/search/sewing

 

Receiving a meticulously and patiently constructed gift from a loved one warms your heart in a way shop-bought offerings can never quite achieve. By learning to sew, you too can make gifts for special ones in your life. Hand-sewn coaster covers, DIY faux-leather handbags, and patchwork bags are just some of the things you can make with a needle and thread. If you prefer a self-taught, learn-at-your-own-pace method, look at some free learn-to-sew tutorials online.

Playing an Instrument

https://www.shutterstock.com/search/musical-instruments

It’s never too late to learn a new instrument. Besides being fun, it’s likely to expand your social circle and flex your creative muscles. Play for fun, entertain your family and friends, or join a band and earn some money from your talents.

Go Back to School to Turn a Passion into a Career

https://depositphotos.com/photos/adult-learning.html

If you find something that you love to do and that you’re especially good at, consider making it your career. For instance, perhaps you love working with kids and you’ve started teaching a few piano lessons or painting classes to kids on the side. You could go back to school for a bachelor’s degree in education so that you could formally teach kids full time. Plus, going to school online offers you flexibility and ends up streamlining, well, everything you need to complete for your degree. Look into online courses that fit your career goals and get started!

Creating a Business Around Your Hobby

You can eventually go one step further and create a business around your hobby. One of the easiest and least stressful ways of doing this is to establish an LLC. You benefit from limited liability and a lot less paperwork, not to mention the tax benefits you gain. Before you start, check regulations on creating such a company as they can differ from state to state. You can also avoid all the legwork and hefty lawyer fees by using a formation service to register your LLC.

Find Your New Favorite Pastime

You can take up a new hobby to fill time and have fun or take it further and create a business around it. It doesn’t matter because learning a new skill can provide a seemingly endless list of benefits, whatever you choose.

I hope you found this article from Abby Holt helpful.  Find out more from Craftability, whether you are looking for a new hobby; or are looking to find some relief from work or you are just looking for something to enjoy.

Abby says:

Craftability is not a business, it is an extension of myself. I created Craftability to inspire people to put their crafting abilities to good use, whether it’s painting, jewelry-making, quilting, or calligraphy. Feel free to check out my website.

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Engaging with Entrepreneurship Post COVID

Engaging with Entrepreneurship Post COVID….What??  Take a look at this article and see how women can become an entrepreneur now that COVID has left us to pick up the pieces of our lives.

Has COVID created a void in your life?  Has it caused your whole life to change?  Well, Virginia Cooper of Learn a Living wrote the following article just for women and how they can start “engaging with entrepreneurship Post COVID.”

This post contains affiliate links.  If you make a purchase using these links I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you.)

 

 

What does that mean you ask…..keep reading this very informative article and find out how it can be beneficial to you.

When I first read this article by Virginia Cooper, I thought to myself…self “man, I could have really used this information when I first stepped out on my crochet business journey!”

There are still so many helpful tips inside that I can use in the future.  I kind of started my crocheting business backwards, starting a website and praying everything else would fall into place.  Boy, was I wrong.  lol

If the way you live and earn a living has changed since COVID or you want to make a change because of the way COVID has changed you, take a look at the article below that has some amazing advise you can follow to become an entrepreneur yourself.

Engaging with Entrepreneurship Post-COVID

They say that the best entrepreneurial opportunities emerge during times of crisis. Women with entrepreneurial minds may have been stalled during COVID-19, as many lost their jobs or had to return home during the pandemic.

But now it’s time to resume pursuing your dreams and engage in the entrepreneurial venture you’ve always wanted. Let’s break down how you can earn money online with your entrepreneurial ideas in detail.

Getting What You Need to Succeed

For starters, consider what you need for your entrepreneurial goals. Come up with a plan and decide whether you want to:

  • Pursue passive income streams
  • Start a business
  • Run a bunch of side hustles to determine your interests
  • Or something else entirely

Furthermore, set up a home office and buy any supplies you may need for your upcoming entrepreneurial efforts.

Any entrepreneur needs business skills, which is why you might consider going back to school and finishing or acquiring a business degree, marketing degree, or MBA. The right online degree program will give you the tools you need to succeed and run your business profitably for years to come. Plus, an online degree in business will help you develop your business acumen and market smarts: key advantages if you haven’t engaged in entrepreneurship before.

 

Forming a Business

As you decide on your business idea, be sure to form your business by:

  • Choosing a unique name that isn’t taken by a company in your state
  • Registering your new business with your state
  • Paying any applicable fees

As an entrepreneur, you’ll need to choose the right business structure for your new venture. An LLC or limited liability company is great for minimizing legal liability, enjoying tax advantages, and more. Check your state’s laws regarding LLCs so you file the right paperwork on time and pay the appropriate fees.

The Importance of Marketing

For your entrepreneurial venture to be successful, you’ll also need to market successfully. Marketing is highly important in this day and age, especially in the digital arena.

Effective marketing will involve using:

  • Google ads for target keywords that are related to your target audience
  • Social media marketing so you can engage with prospective customers
  • Other ads, like banner ads, that you can use to draw new traffic to your online store

It may help to hire a graphic designer to design attractive, compelling advertising graphics or a logo for your brand, especially in the earliest days of your business. 

Growing Your Entrepreneurial Adventure

As you market your business and sell your products or services, you’ll scale up your company for even greater success. Build a website, secure hosting resources, and keep advertising.

Over time, your brand will gain a great reputation and you’ll acquire new customers more easily. The great thing about entrepreneurship is that success tends to snowball. The longer you stick with it, and the more effort you put into your business, the more lucrative it will become.

COVID-19 might have seemed like a disaster. But it may really be an opportunity for you to stretch your entrepreneurial wings and achieve your dreams. Good luck!

Thanks for reading!  

I hope you find some helpful tips here if you are wanting to start your own business.  Yes, changing our lives, becoming a business owner can be rough, but if it something you think you can do …… no one can make that decision but you.

Jo
written by Virginia Cooper of Learn a Living
If you have any questions about this article, you can contact Virginia at the link above.

You can also find out more helpful tips about learning a trade, going back to school and finishing your education.  You can find resources on how to do these things as well.

Visit Learn a Living for more information.

You can also find out more about me on my website.  I design crochet patterns and created my own business in 2018.  If you are interested in finding my crochet patterns you can find some free on my website.  You will find Accessories, Apparel, Fall & Winter Gear, and Stash Busters.

I do take Custom Orders if you would like me to crochet you your own Handmade Crocheted Creations.  You will find my designs at my stores listed below.  Contact me at j.o@joscraftyhook.com if you are interested in placing a Custom Order.

Ravelry

LoveCrafts

Etsy Shop

You can also contact me at j.o@joscraftyhook.com if you would like to see more helpful tips, whether it be crochet or business tips.

 

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Find me, Jo of Jo’s Crafty Hook at any one of these places listed below!

Email Address:  j.o@joscraftyhook.com

Website:      www.joscraftyhook.com

Facebook Group:  Jo’s Crafty Hook-ers

Facebook Page:     www.facebook.com/JosCraftyHook

Facebook Page:     www.facebook.com/JosCraftyHookDesigns

Instagram:    www.instagram.com/joscraftyhook

Pinterest:     www.pinterest.com/baird0095

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-6IB36bg4gkvaawn3xfdg