There’s no better time to start a new creative hobby than the new year. With today’s ever-growing roster of technology platforms, you have more hobbies to choose from than ever. Whether you’re interested in cooking, enthusiastic about podcasting, or ready to finally take that first step toward vlogging or photography, we have you covered.
Here are 16 creative hobbies to start in 2022 with details on where to look for inspiration.
Vlogging
From virtual experiences to daydreaming about vacations, YouTube is an essential platform for sharing your passions and hobbies. Now is one of the best times ever to consider learning how to start a YouTube channel.
Starting a vlog is simple, and requires a few quick steps. Pick a topic you’re passionate about such as travel or fashion. Then, come up with a few conversation topics, choose a vlogging camera, set up your camera, and record! The Sony ZV-1, a compact 20.1-megapixel vlogging camera, makes skin look radiant and natural. Its easily navigable interface is great for vloggers of all experience levels.
Podcasting
In the era of social distancing and self-isolation, many of us crave conversation and interaction like never before. That’s why podcasts are more popular than ever. Podcasts are an excuse to speak with inspiring, humbling, and energizing people from around the world. You can easily start a podcast with something as simple as a phone app or audio recorder.
Here’s our guide to starting your own podcast. If you want to elevate your podcast even further, try pro-quality podcasting gear such as Maono AM200 Portable All-In-One Podcast Production Studio. It provides all the tools necessary to get that show off the ground. And, when it comes to podcasting headphones, don’t miss the high-end Sennheiser HD 400 Pro Dynamic Open-Back Studio Headphones. It’s designed for monitoring, mixing, and reducing ambient noise to ensure that audio gets the attention it deserves.
Photography
If you’re here on 42West, it’s not surprising we’d recommend photography as a can’t-beat hobby. But it’s true! Not only does photography let you unleash your creative potential, it’s also the perfect opportunity to launch a side hustle with industries from wedding to travel photography only growing as the world slowly reopens. If honing that photography craft is a goal for 2022, don’t miss these top-notch cameras that make shooting simple and effective: Olympus OM-D E-M1X Mirrorless Digital Camera Body, Sony Alpha a6600 Mirrorless Digital Camera Body, and Fujifilm X-T3 Mirrorless Body.
Then, get started with our list of free online photography classes that’ll get you learning the basics in no time. Soon enough, you’ll be learning how to make money with photography.
Photo editing
Now, it’s way too easy to snap photos and forget about them. The new year is the perfect time to explore those old hard drives for gems you once overlooked. With programs like Adobe Photoshop Elements 2022 Software, you can edit these beloved images with ease. Not only does editing photos help you creatively, it can also curb your wanderlust. It gives you a chance to remember and treasure the wonderful memories you’ve already made. Don’t miss the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan 12-Month Subscription for photo editing on the go via any synced device.
Calligraphy
Calligraphy has its own recommended tools and canvases, but you can try your hand at the craft with simple gear like markers and paper. It is an increasingly popular hobby that comes in handy for everything from greeting cards to wedding signage. Plus, you can find virtual tutorials all over the Internet. In this tutorial from the YouTube channel How to Hand Letter, you’ll learn calligraphy 101 from the experts. A budget-friendly bonus? All you need is Crayola markers and paper.
Dancing
If you’re looking for a mix of creativity and exercise, why not pick up a digital dance class? Virtual-reality gear like the Oculus Quest 2 128GB VR Headset immerses you in toe-tapping scenes just primed for dancing—especially with the songs and easy-to-follow choreography of Oculus program Dance Central. Additionally, online resources like Dance Class include virtual courses designed for adults with all types of dance, including ballet, hip hop, ballroom, Latin, salsa, and belly dancing.
Virtual Sound and Effects
Ready to experiment with music creation? There’s no better place to start than Native Instruments KOMPLETE 12 Virtual Instruments and Effects Collection Software. This powerful system puts 12 virtual instruments in your arsenal. It letts you experiment with everything from strings to drums, with effects and sounds to push your creativity. Native Instruments boasts a whopping 25,000 total sounds—but don’t let that intimidate you. This platform is built for easy navigation, which means even beginners can jump in and create music in no time.
Videography
If you’re ready to break into the world of videography, the new year is a great time to start. Use your spare time to play around with at-home videos with the “client” being your dog, children, or partner. This means there’s no pressure of money on the line (but there are some fun home videos in your future). You can go as far as setting up story lines and creatively use props and subjects to capture these ideas on video. Or, you can keep it simple with still, natural shots of life in the new year. Here’s a guide to help you start your videography hobby.
And, when you’re ready to turn those videos into movies, try video editing software like Magix Video Easy. It’s a powerful, effect-filled video-editing platform that’s perfect for beginners.
Creative Writing
Now is an ideal time to embark on that writing career you’ve been dreaming about. Whether it’s creative writing, poetry, journalism, or a mix of all three, you can start your journey into the creative writing world. It all starts with a good idea and a place to write it. For the latter, there’s no better place than the widely used Microsoft platforms, which are the go-to for most editors across writing genres. Microsoft 365 Personal offers all the premium Microsoft apps, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, with advanced security and cloud storage to keep those ideas safe.
Improv
Humor is often the best medicine during stressful times. Although, that doesn’t mean you should solely rely on Netflix binge days. You can add comedy to your quarantine hobby list with a host of digital improv classes. Try the online courses from legendary improv group, The Second City. These drop-in digital classes include improv, stand-up, and sketch-writing training.
Cooking
Few hobbies reap as many rewards as cooking, but getting started does require some tutorials and recipes. To get this in-the-moment assistance while you’re cooking, without getting your screen dirty checking the recipe, try the Google Nest Hub Max. This powerful Google assistant is a must-have for all smart-home enthusiasts. And for budding chefs, it provides real-time voice assistance to get you through even the trickiest recipes. Plus, it streams YouTube content to help you watch and learn before you pull out those pots and pans.
Digital Painting
For a creative experience that’s full of artistic inspiration—sans mess—try digital painting. Gadgets like the Wacom One, a digital pen display, make it easier than ever to experiment with art like drawing and painting. The Wacom One boasts a precise and detailed interface, guaranteeing that the artwork you’re visualizing in your head makes it onto the screen. Plus, you can turn the pen into a paintbrush, chalk, marker, and more—giving you unlimited creative potential, all in one clean and intuitive interface.
Learning a Musical Instrument
If you’ve been waiting to pick up a new instrument, or learn how to record music, there’s no time like the present. Become the guitarist you’d always dreamed of with Fender’s new CC-60S Concert Acoustic Guitar Pack, equipped with a walnut fingerboard and intuitive neck shape for easy playing. If the ukulele is more up your alley, grab the Kala Learn to Play Soprano Color Chord Ukulele Starter Kit, which includes four color chords that help you quickly pick up this new skill.
Those interested in drums will enjoy the jam-packed Alesis Nitro Mesh 8-Piece Electronic Drum Kit with Heads and Kick Pedal, complete with next-generation mesh head drum innovation. And, renowned brand Yamaha makes learning those favorite tunes simple with the Yamaha EZ220 Lighted 61-key Portable Keyboard with Survival Kit B2, which comes with 392 instrument sounds in one.
Exercising
Whether you’re looking for a stress outlet, training for your first big race, or simply looking to adopt a healthy new habit, add exercising to your list of hobbies. We won’t dive in to the many benefits of exercising—if you’re considering it, you already know the perks! But, technology can actually make your exercise journey even more fun and intuitive. Just look at the Fitbit Charge 5 Health and Fitness Smartwatch. With this watch, you can get in tune with your body, from logging your mood to monitoring your sleep and tracking your exercise progress—great for those who need some motivation via personal competition.
And the Apple Watch Series 7 GPS offers a similar experience, with apps, activity tracking, mileage, and more. The trusty Garmin smartwatches, such as the Garmin fenix 6 Pro Multisport GPS Smartwatch, do all of this, and then some, with mapping, music, pace planning, and more, ensuring exercisers get the most out of their exertion.
Stargazing
Few experiences can both humble and delight like staring up at the night sky. And, as we navigate the ever-changing Covid-19 pandemic, we could all use a bit more of this wonder and fresh air in our lives. Picking up stargazing is as easy as simply stepping outside and looking up—especially in a dark, low-light-pollution destination. But if you want to take that stargazing up a notch, try the unbeatable telescopes and accessories from renowned brands Celestron and Explore Scientific. Both brands offer gear at varying price points, giving night-sky admirers the chance to invest in gear that helps bring those cosmos to life.
Flying Drones
If there’s one trend that’s sticking around in the world of photography and videography, it’s definitely the drone. Drones provide a sweeping, immersive, and eye-popping visual that draws viewers in—and keeps them wanting more. If you want to add drone flying to your creative repertoire, start with the portable, safe, and easy-to-use DJI Mini 2 Drone, which flies smoothly and pairs with the DJI app for creative flight patterns and recorded content. Another popular beginner drone, the RYZE Tello Intelligent Drone was designed for fun first, with an easy flight process and simple commands, such as snapping photos and recording video.
For more creative ideas, head to the Adorama.TV YouTube channel, where tutorials, how-tos, and inspiration await!
Feature photo by ConvertKit on Unsplash
