Okay, I’m sorry. I haven’t posted anything in about a month.
I have two jobs: one full-time position for the school district, and one that I work on Saturdays for a bakery. After ending my summer break and going back to work these past few weeks, I have put a few of my hobbies on the back burner as I’ve been prioritizing relaxation after work. I also got a nasty cold and spent a week doing nothing much other than resting.
It’s important to remember that hobbies help with relaxation and negate stress. Allowing yourself to put time into your hobbies will help you recharge after work. Plus, it’s fun. Here are some ways that I plan my week while being mindful of the things I enjoy doing.
Specific Hobbies
Reading
This one’s easy for me. Reading can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on how much you want to do. It’s simple to pick up my book, read a few pages, and put it back down. I consider reading to be a great way to spend time if I’m waiting for something (like for my partner to get home, dinner to finish cooking, et cetera).
Reading is also great because it’s something I can bring to work. If I have a few extra minutes or I’m on a lunch break, I can take out a book. Simple enough.
Exercise
I find exercise highly important because it lowers stress. It’s easy to say that you’re too tired to exercise, but exercising regularly will actually improve sleep and mental health.
I prefer running if I have at least an hour’s worth of time. I’ll go to a park, stretch, run for about 30 minutes, then go back home. However, even if I only have twenty minutes, there’s no excuse to put off a workout. I have a 35-pound kettlebell at home that I can use to knock out a session in twenty minutes. Keeping in mind the time I have, whether that’s twenty minutes or over an hour, helps me to find motivation to exercise more.
Arts
I love to create things, and I think creating is important for everyone. Whether it’s cooking, fine arts, crafts, DIY, or music, creative hobbies are a great way to de-stress. Personally, I enjoy writing, painting, knitting, and playing my guitars.
This one’s harder to engage in regularly when I have limited time. I’ve found that the easiest way to get myself to create things regularly is to combine hobbies. Knitting can drive me crazy if that’s all I’m doing, but knitting while listening to an audiobook is fun. Writing can be a lot of work, but writing about the things I enjoy is exciting.
Again, I try to think about how much time something will take before I do it. It may even be helpful to make a list. Painting a 1.5 by 2 foot canvas can take hours, but sketching on the canvas can take thirty minutes. If I have nothing else going on before bedtime, I like to consider what I can do with the rest of my day, however long that may be.
Time Management Strategies for Home
Use time to its fullest
As I’ve said, a helpful way to engage in hobbies is to gauge how much time I have left in my day and pick a hobby that fits this timeframe. Don’t know? Look it up. Find a YouTube video of someone practicing the activity you’re interested in and note how long it is. Give yourself extra time if it’s your first attempt at something.
Another method is to block out time for your hobbies. If you want to spend an hour playing video games on Monday night, put it on your calendar. Then you’ll be able to plan your day around the things you enjoy doing.
Put down your phone
Some days, I have spent hours scrolling through Tumblr or Instagram. While social media is fun and can be an informational experience, I would rather be more intentional with my time.
I have adopted a new mindset recently regarding social media. I no longer see my phone as a break. Consuming content provides my brain with information, especially if it’s both audio and visual content, as on Instagram. The intake of information is not a break, but an activity in itself. While I still pick up my phone occasionally, I don’t treat it like it’s relaxing downtime. I try to be mindful of whether I’m actively enjoying my time, and if not, it’s time to find a different activity.
Be at peace with boredom
One of the most important things I’ve learned in the past year is that some boredom is okay. You don’t need to spend every minute of your day on an activity that feels stimulating. Yes, spending time on hobbies is important, but so is taking the time to enjoy life.
As Sundays are my only day off, I have been trying to take it slow on Sunday mornings. Enjoying a nice beverage in a cafe, or making coffee at home and sitting at a clean table, is a great opportunity to slow down and feel tranquil.
Fix your sleep schedule
The most attractive way to spend a morning might be to sleep through it. I try not to give in to this temptation unless I really need the rest. Research shows that having a consistent wake-up time leads to better health outcomes. I can say that for myself, waking up at six in the morning definitely feels better than sleeping in, even though it can be hard. When you consistently do it, your body naturally wakes up after a while. This morning, even though I stayed up past midnight and forgot to set an alarm last night, I woke up naturally at six and felt good after about an hour.
In the Long Run
I love the idea by James Clear that your habits shape your identity, and vice versa. I want to be a reader, so I read consistently, and now I see myself as a reader.
This is another vital reason to keep up with your hobbies. If you have a few things you like doing and you do them frequently, it can give you a sense of identity and purpose. Practice your hobbies daily to practice being a person.
Can’t get yourself to be consistent? Track it. All it takes is a piece of paper taped to your wall to count the number of days that you do an activity. Having a visual reminder that you’re working on doing your hobbies more often can be a simple way to find more motivation and build discipline (side note: I think influencers have ruined the concept of discipline. It’s not about doing things you hate; it’s about making the easiest choice the one that’s good for you).
Wrapping up, I’d like to note that I’m far from perfect. I got sick last week and didn’t read any books for eight days. It’s easy for weeks to pass where I create nothing. The important idea to remember is that the things you do consistently make up who you are. If turn a hobby into a habit, you’ll go back to it again and again.