Introduction
Woodworking is the creation or building of objects out of wood. A person who engages in woodworking as a hobby can create objects as small as wooden toys or as big as gazebos. Pursuing woodworking as a hobby has economical, health, academic and social benefits.
Woodworking is an economically beneficial hobby. There is a lot of unemployment worldwide and people who engage in hobbies such as woodworking, sawing, and gardening, among others can effectively use their skills to start businesses in line with their hobbies (Jackson & Day, 2001). Employers are also on the lookout for people who are passionate about their work and have the necessary skills. Jackson and Day, (2001) observe that in the face of great lifestyle changes and expression of personalities through art, furniture and handicrafts, woodworkers are in big demand and those who practice woodworking as a hobby open themselves up to numerous career paths and economic prosperity. Interestingly, woodworking as a hobby equips someone with “do-it-yourself” skills that enable one to carry out several woodworking activities on their own thereby saving money and time.
Pursuing woodworking as a hobby enhances planning skills and great consciousness about health and safety. In order to complete some given work properly, a woodworker needs to plan on materials, tools, time, design among other details (Jackson & Day, 2001). As such, people who engage in woodworking as a hobby are in a good position to improve their planning and organizational skills. Since woodworking requires the use of sharp tools and dangerous machinery, a sense and concern for safety of individuals and machinery is inculcated into woodworking enthusiasts (Jackson & Day, 2001). Passionate woodworkers also take time to train on safety and health issues which they can apply in several other fields and careers.
Woodworking is a very good way of exercising and keeping fit. Woodworking entails carrying things, cutting, sawing, turning, screwing, drilling, chopping and hammering among other activities that involve moderate physical movement that can count as exercise (Jackson & Day, 2001). Activities that were previously strenuous and tiring such as sawing and drilling can now be performed using machines. This means that modern woodworkers engage in light but very beneficial activities which are also fun and enjoyable.
Woodworking is a practical skill that can perfectly fit people who struggle with the traditional academic subjects and careers. Regardless of academic ability, practicing and repeating the skills applied in wood work helps even those people who might not be very good at it to become master woodworkers. In addition, woodworking can help one to hone mathematical skills because it involves several measurements and designs. According to Jackson and Day, (2001) wood working can also help improve attention spans because one has to pay careful attention and become patience in order to produce a high-quality woodwork product.
Conclusion
Woodworking refers to the creation of objects out of wood. Some of the benefits of pursuing woodworking as a hobby are the development of carpentry skills through which one can build a career. Woodworking also inculcates patience, attentiveness, organization and planning skills which are vital in social life and very relevant in other careers. In addition, practicing woodworking skills can help academically disadvantaged people to make a life. Through simple designing and measurements one can also hone his/her mathematics skills. It is also notable that woodworking involves light but very beneficial exercises to the body. In all, pursuing woodworking as a hobby has economic, social, heath and academic benefits.
References
Jackson, A., & Day, D. (2001). Good wood: basic woodworking. London: Collins.
