There's a balance to be struck. Not finishing things, or getting deep into a subject, can be frustrating. A hobby can be a source of novelty, but often what w

There's a balance to be struck. Not finishing things, or getting deep into a subject, can be frustrating. A hobby can be a source of novelty, but often what we seek is a degree of mastery or depth of study. I think the real problem is when you get to a point of real challenge in something, and then abandon it. There's a lot of value and learning that comes from confronting difficult problems. I think that this frustration is often what is at issue in questions like this. On the other hand, these are hobbies, and you should have some freedom to abandon and take them up again at your leisure. Otherwise it can simply be work or drudgery. Some tips: * Do sometimes commit to reaching a checkpoint. Something tangible and satisfying once complete. These should be chosen carefully, however, as something too ambitious can turn unpleasant and overwhelming. A first woodworking project should be something like a cutting board, not an armoire, for instance. * Also allow yourself to play and experiment without focus on the final product. Be critical of what actually warrants discipline. * Recognize when you're simply looking for novelty or the attraction of new 'stuff'. If you have the means and don't mind having lots of unused stuff around, then it's not such an issue, but I think most people find this sort of 'hobby detritus' to be unpleasant. The simple thing to do is to put off purchases or research until later; if you lose interest so easily, it's not worth pursing. * Focus on one habit at a time. If regular practice is required, have some humility about how great a commitment this can be.