How great would it be to have all the time in the world to do everything you like? Imagine being able to sleep through your alarm, and only have to focus on creating all day. Maybe you want to catch up on all the movies and TV shows you missed while you were busy? You could do that, too! However, the fact of the matter is that life gets in the way. At times, even our mind and mood can work against us. It’s hard finding space to enjoy your hobbies and interests when there’s so much to do. There are moments when simply relaxing can be a struggle.
The good news is that there are ways to prioritize your interests within the chaos of everyday life. Organized or otherwise. By being intentional in your desire to pursue your hobbies, you can reclaim your time and find room to create. The following tips aren’t the only methods to accomplish it, but they’ll certainly help you get started.
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Know that your interests won’t spontaneously spawn in front of you
One of the best things you can do for yourself is learn what you like to do. Unfortunately, these activities don’t appear out of thin air. You actually have to be proactive, get out (or stay in), and give them a try. Immerse yourself in spaces where your interest thrives, including communities, events, and media. It’s important to make the time because you may not get to really enjoy it otherwise.
Stay curious and look for learning opportunities
Making time with your interests is often just doing things you already know and love. But part of the fun is also stretching yourself to start a hobby you haven’t tried to pick up new skills and knowledge. It naturally provides a great way to set goals and ensure you make time for your new interest. To learn something, you have to practice it. Whether you’re a musician who wants to learn how to use beat machine equipment to enhance your compositions or you want to master a new yoga position, pushing yourself further can make your interests more exciting.
Work around your natural energy cycles
Whether you’re a morning lark, night owl, or somewhere in between, you may find that certain times of the day are better or worse for different tasks. Perhaps you can handle analytical thinking in the morning and abstract thinking later in the day — or vice versa. Think about how you feel during various times of the day, the month, and even during the seasons of the year.
Sometimes, it really comes down to the spirit being willing, but the mind or body isn’t able; and it’s okay to honor that. Plan your projects to take advantage of your body’s natural rhythms. Doing so will help you feel more satisfied during your time creating and after you’ve finished your projects.
For those who menstruate: You may find that you have weeks during your cycle when you’re more energized and have greater clarity of mind. Consider placing more energy intensive aspects of your project during this time.
Document and refine your creative process
It’s only natural to want to vibe and do your thing, but keeping track of your creative process helps more than you think. By setting up a game plan, you’ll know what it takes for you to get into the right mindset and what you need to prep. It will solidify a process you can rely on even when you don’t feel like creating. Additionally, it helps to form an awareness of your supplies, such as where they are and how much you have. That way, you’ll know what needs to be replaced when the time comes. This framework may or may not change over time.
At base level, the key is to build up consistency in the static parts of your creative process. Then, when you go to create, you’ll be free to actually create. It’s no fun burning through your juice while trying to overcome the same obstacles blocking your flow state.
Have fun, and stay safe
Taking a deep dive into your hobbies and interests is a fun way to pass the time. It can also help to ensure that you save room for yourself to pursue your passions. However, that valuable time can become comprised if you have to spend some of it solving unexpected problems. Although most of us will remain safe when pursuing hobbies, it is best to know how to stay as safe as possible when doing so.
Keep your technology at minimal risk of viruses
For what it’s worth, online gaming and streaming your favorite series totally counts as a hobby. While safe in general, if you have to get a little creative in order to catch up on an epic C-drama or anime, it could put your computer at risk for a virus. However, there are trustworthy ways to binge-watch in comfort without causing damage to your tech. For instance, if you’re an anime fan, you could access the best anime torrent sites to watch any series you’ve been missing. Plus, by using a safe torrent website, you can rest assured your technology is protected.
If your hobby involves exercise, don’t overdo it.
Never let your hobbies and interests hurt you. If you love to exercise and play sports, push yourself, but try to not overwork yourself. Sometimes it’s hard to tell when too much is too much, so listen to your body as much as you can to ensure your safety.
Incorporate “Power Hours” for hobbies and interests
Borrow a technique from the writing and tech worlds: Sprints. It’s when you focus on efficiently accomplishing as much as possible on a project, distraction-free, for a specified amount of time. Power hours don’t have to be an hour; they can be shorter. Maybe you take fifteen minutes to “brain dump” ideas for your project. Or, set aside an hour to rough sketch as many panels as possible for the comic book you’re working on.
Try expanding your sprint to focus on a particular task within a larger project that may take more than a few hours to complete. Schedule your power hours over the course of a few days, and only focus on that task of the project (and nothing else) during them until it’s completed. The goal is to set enough time aside for meaningful work in a way that doesn’t feel burdensome to the rest of your day.
Don’t blow your budget
Although you can spend all of your time and energy on your favorite hobbies, you can’t afford to spend all of your money on them. Therefore, it’s essential that you pursue your hobbies and interests without putting your finances at risk. For instance, while painting is affordable, investing in all of the tools and equipment all at once might not fit into your monthly budget. Or if you’re into collecting action figures, you’ll empty your pockets if you buy ten figures in a single purchase. Be sure to manage and sort your finances before pursuing any hobby to confirm you can afford it. You can do this in a checkbook, on a spreadsheet, or computer software. You can also conduct price checks in art supplies stores or an Action Figure Price Guide to help you determine if your budget can cover your hobby. No matter the method, you’ll thank yourself in the long run and have the freedom to do what you love without breaking the bank.
Header: David Bartus
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