Stop hobby 'X' (which i love) for hobby 'Y' (also love)???

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FoxHound

FoxHound

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Hi,

i have a personal dilemma and i need as much opinions on it before making a decision. For the record, i am 24 years old...for what it's worth regarding this 'dilemma'...

In short: I need to decide whether to stop with my hobby 'guitar' (which i love with a passion) to have more time for hobby 'computer science' (which i also love with a a lot of passion), or not.

The situation in detail:
I've been playing guitar for 2 years now, and i take lessons (costs about 85 - 105 euro's/month). I spend on average 2 hours of practice time daily (which i find a lot, considering my busy life), which makes 14 hours/week. I love it, and since i practice seriously, consistent and with passion, i notice i am making improvements a lot and at a fast pace. I love the fact that you can put a lot of creativity and emotion into music, and it's very rewarding to be able to play an instrument.
So the plus-sides of guitar are, at least for me:
- rewarding in the long run
- source of creativity
- has a relaxing effect

Downsides of guitar are for me:
- it takes lots of time to make major improvements (spending less time on it is not efficient in my eyes, so it's either practice a lot, or stop completely)
- costs money (isn't cheap for me)
- it has no absolute value in the long run. I mean: you can't make money out of it as a hobbyist.


My other hobby
My other hobby is computer science and maths (i know it sounds nerdy). On average, i spend approx. 2- 3 hours a WEEK on this hobby, which is not much at all unfortunately. I would like to spend much more time on it. Although I study something completely different at university, I am fascinated by computers and by mathematics, and the combination of the two can be extremely interesting. I bought university books regarding mathematics and am working on them in my own pace. I am planning on learning more mathematics subjects as soon as i finish the current book, and also would like to buy books regarding programming at an advanced level, etc. etc..
Pro's of this hobby for me are:
- I feel i am very productive with it
- you develop your problem-solving capability
- very rewarding too (whenever you solve a mathematical/programming challenge)
- u r able to create a product / system -> creativity
- it has the potential to offer a lot of absolute value (can gain money out of it)
- it is free! (except for the books, which are a one-time purchase fortunately)

Downsides:
- It has a much less effect on emotions than music/guitar

Unfortunately, due to my main study (heathcare, about 40 hours/week) and the fact that I travel 20 - 22 hours a week, i do not have much time for multiple hobbies.
Besides, i am not the kind of guy who does things 'mediocre'. I like having one thing on my mind, and then fully concentrate on it to the maximum extent. I can motivate myself very well and am very disciplined. I can set goals for myself and i'll do everything, absolutely everything to achieve them. I like being productive and love to spend my time wisely for something that's worth it in the long run. You can say that i have a workaholic-attitude / mindset.
BUT: i can't do multiple things at once. So in short, it has to be either hobby X or hobby Y, but whatever hobby i choose, i dedicate myself completely to it and make sure to get the most out of it.


My thoughts are: 'ditch guitar, since it's just a hobby, and dedicate myself to computerscience'.
But the problem is: i have spend so much time and money on guitar, i DO love it, and it has somehow 'grown' on me in these 2 years. Ditching it now will feel like ditching a good, close and long time friend :(. And it's likely i'll regret it after a few years, if i ditch it now.
While on the other hand, I am also extremely interested in computerscience for my whole life, and would really like to spend much more time on programming and mathematics.

What are your thoughts?
 
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I say stay with guitar.
 
Yeah, stick with the guitar. It may or may not be productive at making and cash in the future, but you said you find it relaxing. Use it as an utility to calm your hectic life.
Studying computers is great as pretty much everything nowadays is computer influenced in some way, but computers are currently updating all the time. What you will learn now will mostly be outdated in the future. You may very well spend your life updating your knowledge.
Also think about the others who could benefit from your music. It's an academic world out there, it's fantastic if you get into something creative. 👍
 
how-guitars-work.jpg
 
Art and Music for life....

Are you capable of learning songs by ear? If you can, you can ditch the lessons, reduce play time to minimum 1 hour per day (but play longer if you feel like it). Now you have more time for CompSci.

Do other stuff when needed.

While a hobby is just a hobby, what makes you special as an individual? You got a guitar, not many people can play it....Amongst your friends, you're known as "that guy who knows how to play a guitar", right? What's going to happen once you drop it?

I know I'm not thinking in a practical sense, but since when was art and music really objective? I've realized years back that all this drawing and stuff I do isn't getting me far in life, but I love doing it anyway.... and only recently have I become determined enough to turn that passion into a career.
 
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Keep the art/music passion burning. Go team guitar. If money is a serious issue then maybe take less lessons and try to teach yourself more?

The status quo seems fine so keep spending those few hours a week on computer science or maybe take a semester of it as an elective.
 
Considering I'm getting a degree in music right now and plan to make a career out of it, I'm strongly inclined to say guitar. If you're really struggling with time you could always cut down the guitar practice time per day a bit, that might help. Villain's class idea is great too; you'd be able to do computer science while making it go towards your studies.
 
Guitar, guitar, guitar!!!!! Nothings more rewarding and therapeutic than play the guitar.
 
Option A: Get a job on something related to computer science/maths, keep guitar playing as a hobby (although if your studies are related to healthcare that may not be easy to do for now)

Option B: Leave computer studies, start playing guitar at metro stations during weekends to make some extra cash.

Option C: Screw everything, join a band, rock the world.
 
Go with computer's, after your making money working on computers then you will have more time to play guitar.
 
AndersonG22
Go with computer's, after your making money working on computers then you will have more time to play guitar.
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He's going into the healthcare field so neither hobby look to be lucrative someday.
 
Again, regardless of which ever field you go in, don't drop the guitar, just don't dedicate as much time to it... So what if you go into the healthcare field? You're just another healthcare dude.... keep playing the guitar from time to time.. You're now a healthcare dude who ALSO plays the guitar!
 
Guitar just seems so much more rewarding than computer science to me.
 
I'd say you'd need to even out the time 'tween guitar playing and math/PCs. If you think you're dedicating too much time to the guitar, cut the classes in half. At the end of the day, you said you're not doing it for profit, just because you like it, so it wouldn't be any bad if you did so -and save some money in the process. But don't drop it, guitars roxorz teh soxorz.
 
Cano
...guitars roxorz teh soxorz.
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You have now absolutely convinced me! :lol:


No but seriously, thank you all for the replies... I gave it a second thought, and decided to stick with the guitar, after all, i have spend too much time and money in it during the last few years...which makes it very hard to let go of it anymore....

And yes Cano, guitars roxorz teh soxorz! ;)
 
Yay! Now do a cover on Itsy-bitsy Spider!
 
Shred on!
 
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