I own quite a few books about woodworking as well as digital versions of every issue of Wood Magazine ever published. But admittedly, when it comes to the medium I primarily use for continued inspiration, or learning of new woodworking techniques, I most often turn to YouTube. However, while YouTube is fantastic source of information for all kinds of things it may not always be the best.
It is no secret that the world today perpetuates the need for instant gratification. Nearly everything is available with just a click of a mouse or a swipe of a finger. When getting started in any hobby I find that most people yearn to have immediate gratification, and woodworking is no different. They want the quick win, the easy project that others can admire. I’m not saying that there is anything inherently wrong with wanting instant gratification but the craft of woodworking offers other enjoyment opportunities. With woodworking if you are always rushed to finish your project you will potentially miss out on the opportunity to fully enjoy the process. By focusing on the details you can achieve an even deeper sense of pride in the end result especially when you are able to master a specific skill and/or technique.
The addiction to instant gratification can prevent those who are interested in learning to woodwork from sticking with it after they have tackled all the easy 1-day projects. With incredibly powerful societal influences, instant gratification, like any addiction it can hard dragon to slay! Although I am by no means new to woodworking that does not make me immune to the addiction of instant gratification. If I don’t know the answer to any question, (related to woodworking or not) I will immediately turn to the internet in search for the answer. This ability to satisfy the addiction does not train our brains to enjoy all that woodworking has to offer. Unknowingly, I suppose this is why I continue to hold on to my library of woodworking books as well as continue to purchase new ones.
But if I were to offer a bit of advise to anyone I would say “do as I say, not as I do”. Don’t always immediately turn to youtube videos for your education, but instead pick up a book. It will not only force you to slow down and learn to enjoy the process, but it will also allow you to tap deeper into your imagination and possibly come up with creative ideas that will make your next project an incredibly unique work of art you can take tremendous pride in.
Additional Note: I do think it is important to mix it up. I often times have multiple projects going at the same time. When working on a larger project that will take months to complete I will also work on smaller projects to satisfy the instant gratification craving.