We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.

As a miniature wargaming enthusiast, there may come a time when you experience a hobby slump. It can be challenging to push through a creative block or a lack of motivation, but it is not impossible. I chose to write this article because that’s where I’ve found myself for the past several weeks–just struggling to get anything done.

And I don’t know what’s causing it. I have thoughts, but I’m not sure. Regardless, I think that there are steps you can take for how to get out of a hobby slump. And while I’m talking here about miniature painting, I think that these steps can apply to any hobby you’re in: how to get out of a hobby slump for drawing? This is a good start. How to get out of a hobby start for woodworking? These are solid tips.

So let’s dive right in and see what we can do to get out of that hobby slump and start being productive and having fun again.

#1. Recognize What Your Slump Is: Is It A Lack of Motivation or Is it Depression?

The first step in getting out of a hobby slump is to recognize what it is. Is it a temporary lack of motivation or something deeper, like depression? If it is depression, it is essential to seek professional help. If it is a lack of motivation, there are several things you can do to get back on track.

I’ve made no secret of the fact that I suffer from depression, and it has a serious impact on my hobby motivation (on any type of motivation, really). Being able to identify where your hobby slump is coming from will greatly affect how you go about fixing the problem. Depression? To get out of that hobby slump you probably need to see a doctor and a therapist. But if it’s something else? You can get out of your hobby slump with some of these other tips.

NOTE: Depression is a very serious illness, and if you suspect that you’re suffering from it, get professional help right away.

#2. Start Using A Notebook

One way to jumpstart your creativity is to start using a notebook. You can use it to make an army list, draw figures and terrain, maps of game boards, or anything else that inspires you. I find that pulling out a notebook exercises different muscles than my regular hobbying, and that makes it easier to get into. I might have a block where I can’t paint miniatures, but I can definitely sketch out some awesome new terrain that I want to make, or rough out some rules to a campaign.

Sure, a blank notebook can be daunting all on its own and it’s not the solution for everything and everybody, but if you can sketch or write or doodle, and have it a little bit related to the hobby, then you haven’t really left the hobby, have you? You’re still doing Warhammer or Battletech or Bolt Action. You’re just doing a different part of it.

(As for which notebook you pick, there are a million, but I like this one. It’s cheap, it’s small enough to fit most places, and it’s short enough that it will fill up with ideas and you can shelve it for another, giving a sense of completion.)

#3. Start Making Lists

Making lists can help you get organized and prioritize your time. Make a list of things you want to do and things you need to do. Rethink it and see if your priorities are wrong.

I do this all the time. And it’s super dumb, because almost 95% of what I do in the hobby is for me, myself and I, and not for anyone else to see (except in pictures online). I never enter painting competitions, and my game nights generally use the same armies I’ve used for years (occasionally rotating in something new).

So when I feel like there’s something that I NEED to do, it almost always is a WANT. And if I can move some of the things from my NEED column to my WANT column, I suddenly feel less overwhelmed. This is a hobby, after all, and this is supposed to be fun. There’s nothing about me sitting down to paint literally anything on my hobby desk right now that I NEED to do. Just stuff I want to do. And that’s liberating.

(There ought to be something said here about the Sunk Cost Fallacy, which is the logical fallacy that just because you have invested some money into something you should treat it with more importance than it deserves. I have a box of Primaris Hellblasters sitting in a box looking at me, still in shrink wrap, and they feel like a NEED, because I paid good money for them. But are they more important to me than the Space Marines I already have on my desk? Than Vashtorr who stares at me across the table? Than the box of Boarding Action terrain that I keep meaning to paint up? (And why did I get these Warlord Games Napoleonic Cavalry? I have no idea.) The point is: they’re all wants. Not needs.

#4. Get Inspired

If you’re a lore fan, read books and listen to podcasts. If you’re a hobbyist, watch YouTube videos. If you’re a gamer, watch battle reports. This is one of the best ways for me to get excited about my hobby: to engage with content creators. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t have YouTube running in the background while I’m assembling and painting. I listen to lore channels when I’m painting like Luetin and Baldermort. I watch painting tutorials like 52 Miniatures and Goobertown Hobbies (and Squidmar, Ninjon, Midwinter Minis, eBay Miniature Rescue, and all the many many others.)

Seeing a new painting technique rarely makes me immediately think “I need to try that out right now!” But it always makes me put it in my back pocket to try at some time in the future, like when I needed to look up Sonic Sledgehammer’s recipe for Marine Juice (a wash made from Reikland Fleshshade, Nuln Oil and Lahmian Medium.)

#5. Take the Day Off

Sometimes, taking a break is the best thing you can do for yourself. Take the day off and do something else that you enjoy. This way, you can recharge your batteries and come back to your hobby refreshed. Heck, take the week off. This isn’t a job (for most of you) and you’re not going to get fired if you don’t get your Blood Knights painted by Thursday.

That said, don’t allow yourself to embrace that break too much. A break is good, but it’s still just a break. You don’t want to walk away from the hobby entirely. Don’t get comfortable.

Odds are, while you’re away you’ll start feeling like you want to get back to the hobby, and that’s a great way for how to get out of a hobby slump.

#6. Make a Vision Board

Pinterest is made for this, but I struggle to find the pictures I want on Pinterest. Maybe I just don’t know what to look for. But it’s a good first place to look to start gathering inspiration.

What I do is go through Twitter and Instagram and game company websites and take screenshots of the miniatures that really inspire me. I sort them on my computer in files, because that kind of organization makes sense to me. There are a million services you can pay for that make vision boards more complicated, but I find that just storing them on my computer is easy, searchable, and convenient. All of this stuff is good goal fodder, getting me excited for painting again or kitbashing.

That said, sometimes you’ve got to get off of Instagram. But I’ll talk about that in a minute.

#7. Plan Something to Look Forward To

Plan a game night, a convention, a tournament, a painting competition–anything that will get you excited. This way, you can have something to look forward to and work towards.

I know that, above, I talked about the difference between Wants and Needs, and there is definitely a difference. But you’ll find that having a goal you’re working toward may give you the drive you need to get over the hump and back into creating.

Because here’s the truth: sometimes (most of the time) hobbying is hard. And when we get into a hobby slump it can often seem like nothing is coming to us easily. But getting up the guts and motivation to paint something or assemble something will take some courage and work–it’s not something that is always easy, no matter how enjoyable we find it. The point is: hard things are sometimes great things.

#8. Get Out of the House

Go for a walk or go for a drive. Get away from your hobby and examine what you think about while you’re not surrounded by hobby supplies. This way, you can clear your mind and gain a new perspective.

I live on a very steep hill and I don’t like to go for walks around the block because they feel like climbing Mt. Everest, but I do like to get in the car and drive around the mountain roads. It’s something that gets me away from my hobby–not for as long as the several-day break I mentioned before–but for a little while and that’s always good.

When I come back, I can reevaluate my hobby desk, see things that I hadn’t seen before, and get back to work.

#9. Take a Break from Social Media

Sometimes, seeing all the best painters and hobbyists make you more disheartened than motivated. Take a break from social media and focus on your own progress. This way, you can avoid comparing yourself to others and focus on your own journey.

I mentioned keeping a vision board, but at the same time, there are painters, Instagram accounts, and YouTubers that I make a point of not watching, just because the level of painting is BEYOND aspirational and into the realm of intimidating. A good example is Squidmar. I love all of Squidmar’s videos, but he just put out one that was a “masterclass” and I couldn’t get more than three minutes into it without knowing it wasn’t for me.

Always remember that not only is Instagram the finished products of great painters, but that the photography is top-tier and there’s probably some post-production color shifting and Photoshopping. Don’t get so intimidated by great painters that you think it’s not worth your time to try.

#10. Make a Small Goal and Post It So You’ll Have Accountability

Make a small goal and post it so you’ll have accountability. This way, you can hold yourself accountable and stay motivated. I’ve mentioned SO many times about the Hobby Streak, and that’s what this is for me. My goal is to paint (or assemble, or even write these blogs on this website–anything hobby related) for at least 30 minutes a day, and then post my progress on social media. You’ll notice that my photos on Instagram are NOT top-tier photography. I’m not a master painter or a master photographer. But I’m nearing Hobby Streak Day 800 and my skills have improved dramatically over that time.

#11. Start Small. Very Small

Start small, very small. Focus on a small project or a new technique. This way, you can build momentum and gain confidence.

I started this year knowing that a Space Marine Chapter was going to be beyond me, but I could do something in small, bite-size pieces. So I made a Kill Team for each chapter. And while that seems big when you say it like that, in reality it was me looking at five models–not 50 Space Marines–and knowing that I could put forth the effort on something as small as five Space Marines.

My current hobby horse is that I love painting Bladeguard Veterans, and I have painted the same models, stripped the paint, and painted them in a different color scheme four times now. It’s just three models, and I can handle three models. It’s far less intimidating to me than picking up Vashtorr.

#12. Do It For Yourself, Not For Anyone Else

Finally, do it for yourself, not for anyone else. Remember why you started this hobby and why you enjoy it. This way, you can stay true to yourself and stay motivated.

In conclusion, getting out of a hobby slump takes time, effort, and patience. Use these tips to reignite your passion for the hobby and achieve your goals. Whether you’re painting miniatures, building terrain, or playing games, the miniature wargaming community is there to support you.