That is an apt metaphor. I still struggle with this myself, but what I have found that has helped me maintain my most recent hobbies longer than I typically do:

• Daily/Weekly Schedule and disciplined adherence to set schedule. For example, I study Chinese for at least one half hour a day, every day, no matter what. I just went to a music festival, and I still managed to find time to study every single day. It’s fucking hard at first, for sure. Once I got the habit set, I get anxiety if I don’t do my hobbies instead of the other way around, and they always leave me peaceful and calmed. A reliable part of my day that is for me and builds me up, but in no way takes from other people, is very good for my mental health also.

• Teachers, teachers, teachers. This can be hard, because you really do have to find a teacher that gels with you, but you also have to be willing to do what the teacher tells you, even when it seems boring or pointless towards what you want to accomplish. By remaining humble, we open ourselves to change, and through change progress.

• Accountability. If you can get someone to do it with you, and hold each order to doing it on schedule, even if it’s just while you establish a schedule, it can be very helpful. Not possible for everyone, as same as teachers, it relies upon access to the necessary resources. Any way you can hold yourself accountable for maintaining the habit is good though, outside of negative punishment or shame. Those can have the effect of associating the hobby with negative emotions.

• Usefulness: use it or lose it. If you’re learning to play guitar, play with other people who are better than you are, constantly. Tell them you’re terrible and you just want to jam, and accept any advice they give. Go to open mic nights with your guitar and watch a few times until you feel confident enough to get on stage. If you’re learning a language, find native speakers and try to talk to them as often and as much as possible. Put your newfound skills to work, so that they don’t just become more random Wikipedia style facts in your head, but a tool which you can use effectively when the opportunity or need arises.

That’s where ADHD medication helped me! I can actually practice drums now rather than only playing along to songs randomly. And I can follow through on my plans to build things, like I’ve got a pretty barebones but fully functional DDR pad and that just wasn’t happening before medication.