Now Is the Time For Hobbies

Now more than ever is a time for hobbies. That’s right. Hobbies, those interesting and fun activities that are kept in the closet because there is no time for them. Those sparkling ideas that are boxed up and shelved because they are too expensive. But hobbies boxed and shelved aren’t doing anybody any good. 

There is no time like now better suited for your hobbies regardless of your position in life. Whether you are rich, poor, busy, or bored the time for your hobbies is now. And if you don’t have a hobby, it’s time to get one. 

Why Make Time for Hobbies?

Based on my limited study of myself which makes me a qualified expert on the benefits of hobbies, there are many reasons why engaging in hobbies are important. In general, hobbies keep people functioning efficiently. In fact, in the book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” Stephen Covey, a very effective person, lists one of the habits (spoiler alert) is taking time to sharpen the saw. 

You are the saw. Work, responsibilities, school, life, relationships, and the grind are all possibly working against you, making you dull. Hobbies are there to make you the sharp self you’ve always had once been. It was probably said by someone famous at one time, that if they had seven hours to cut down a tree, they would spend six of those seven hours sharpening the ax. 

If you are feeling dull or even not feeling dull, it’s probably time you get into a hobby. Here are some hobby facts that haven’t been fact-checked, but more likely than not are true, to persuade you. Hobbies are fun. Hobbies are interesting. Hobbies create connections. Hobbies have the potential to make you money. Hobbies increase your productivity. Hobbies make you a better person. 

• Hobbies Are Fun
• Hobbies Are Interesting
• Hobbies Create Connections
• Hobbies Can Potentially Make You Money
• Hobbies Increase Productivity
• Hobbies Make You Better

Hobbies are Fun

There isn’t much that needs to be said here. Hobbies are fun, that is why we do them. It is important to have fun moments in life. I’d say it is the fun moments that make living more enjoyable. If we have a consistent source of fun in our lives getting through the monotonous work schedule becomes a lot more doable.

In a way hobbies can become the attainable carrot we chase as we journey throughout our lives. There are bigger carrots for sure. Working to support a family, pay for a mortgage, retirement, and financial freedom can all be lifelong endeavors. Whereas hobbies are endeavors that can produce short and long-term gratification. I might not be able to feel the achievement that comes from paying off my mortgage for a long while but I can get a gratifying feeling from improving my sniping skills in Halo now.

Short-term and mid-term wins are essential to making day-to-day living much more enjoyable. It is the small achievements that motivate us to keep working for a better end. After all, it is the journey before the destination.

Hobbies are Interesting

Hobbies are interesting. There is so much to learn and explore when it comes to each hobby. If you feel like your life isn’t interesting picking up a hobby could be the flair you need.

When you get down into the nitty-gritty details and even just surface-level understanding, there is no denying that hobbies are interesting. Every hobby is unique. There are skills and techniques that make tremendous differences in any particular hobby. There is a deep knowledge base that can explain why certain things are the way they are. Then there are simple tips and tricks that can make all the difference.

I’ll always remember when I was talking to my friend on the subject of art. More specifically, she was explaining to me how colors can be warm and cold. And it wasn’t just that blue was a cold color it had to do with the context and how the color was being used. I’ll admit I didn’t grasp the concept, and even now, time has skewed my understanding even more, still, this information was fascinating to me. 

Whether it’s video games, movies, cooking, stitching, golf, hiking, or anything your hobby is interesting. 

Hobbies Create Connections

Hobbies create connections. These connections can come in many forms. It could be connections to a place, a memory, an item, and not least of all, other people. 

Swimming in the ocean waves connected me with Hawaii. Snowboarding in the fresh powder will always be a memory I share with my brother and friends. The first scarf I started to crochet is a permanent item in my closet. Gaming has opened the door to new friendships. 

Even if it isn’t always the case when you are engaging in your hobby there is a chance you are creating a lasting connection that will be a spark in your life. 

Hobbies Can Potentially Make Money

Hobbies can potentially make money. Of all my disputable facts, this one ranks the highest. Hence the very passive terminology. And yet, there is a very real chance, even if it is slight, that your hobby can make you money. And who doesn’t love money? Especially when that money can fuel more hobbies? 

I’m not going to go into a deep dive on how to make money from your hobby, that might come in a later post. I just want to bring up the possibility that there is someone out there that might want your wood-carved pelican. There is a chance someone will want you painting of three dolphins jumping out of the water. Someone might pay money for some of your calligraphy. Heck, there is a chance you can sell your homemade Mexican vanilla extract at a premium. 

All I’m saying is when you are doing what you love to do you are creating art. There is a chance someone will want to purchase your art. Just don’t be shocked when your hobby turns into your job and you find yourself searching for a new escape. Though if that does end up being the case, welcome to The Budget Hobby, the perfect place to find your new best hobby.

Hobbies Increase Productivity

Hobbies increase productivity. This is another fairly debatable statement. I am in the camp that argues taking time for your hobbies will increase productivity. This comes back to the idea of sharpening your ax. 

The day-to-day can be a real grind. It is easy to become dull from the necessary tasks and chores that are all around us. The more we stay in the grind the greater the risk of becoming less productive. Another word for dull would be burnout. Burnout is very real and it can have a very real impact on our productivity. 

The best way to avoid burnout is by taking time for yourself. Hobbies are the activities you get to do when you have the ability to choose what you want to do. Need to binge some shows? I’d call that a hobby. The new recipe you are dying to try? Chalk that up to hobby time as well. Sitting in a dimmed room enjoying the comforts of silence? I call that chilling and honestly believe it is a worthy hobby. 

Taking time to do what you want to do improves your quality of life. Hobbies help you break free from the grind leading to less burnout and greater productivity. 

Hobbies Make You Better

Hobbies make you better. If you are still with me on this you will have read by now that hobbies are fun, and interesting, create connections, possibly make money, and increase productivity. If only one of the above statements is true, then this last one is also true. If they are all true, then certainly you can see why hobbies make you better. 

Hobbies make you better, they make life better, and they make the day-to-day better. 

How to Manage Time for Hobbies?

Time is limited. With all the pressing demands in life, it is difficult to make time for hobbies. My advice, just do it. 

Don’t have the time? Cut out something to make the time. There won’t be time unless you take the time. Between work, sleep, relationships, and fulfilling basic needs it is easy to run out of time. 

If you find that with all of life’s demands, you have no time for fulfilling hobbies, I’d encourage you to take a serious look at your schedule and earnestly find a way to make time. Obviously, we can’t make time and so this becomes a balancing act. 

Prioritizing your daily schedule can make it possible for you to find time for hobbies. In the end, it all comes down to just doing it. Here are a few tips for creating time for hobbies. 

• Active Procrastination
  
• Cutting Out Other Activities
  
• Prioritizing
  
• Get Help

Active Procrastination

Active procrastination is when you put off a task that needs to get done ‘til later. If it doesn’t need to get done now, it can get done later. This works well with chores, homework, and pesky tasks that can get done later. 

The key is that whatever you put off now make sure you can and will do it later. Responsible procrastination. 

The power of procrastination is that it instantly gives you freedom in your schedule now. While active procrastination may not always be the best time management tool, it will be a helpful tool for creating some quick freedom and allowing for hobby time. 

Active procrastination is especially useful when burnout hits you hard.

Cutting out other activities

Some activities can be cut out of your schedule completely. Where procrastination puts off the task until later cutting out removes the task altogether. There just might be some tasks that don’t need to be done. 

Prioritizing

This is basically a more proactive active procrastination. Plan your days ahead of time. Know what is important and what isn’t. Make sure that making time for yourself is marked as important. Give the higher prioritized items the time that they need in your daily schedule. Actively giving yourself time throughout the week will make sure that you have time for your hobbies. 

Get help

If it is possible you might reach out for help. Too many chores to put off? Look for some help from friends, family, or hire help. The simple task that takes up a lot of your time might be worth spending ten or twenty dollars for someone else to do them. If you have the means, but not the time, leverage your means to make the time.

The Time For Hobbies is Now

We all need to make time for our hobbies. Hobbies make us better people by allowing us to have fun, learn interesting things, and make connections. Hobbies are about making time for yourself to do what you want to do. When it comes to making time for yourself use the tools at your disposal whether that be active procrastination, cutting out unnecessary tasks, prioritizing your time, and or getting help. You have to make time for yourself because no one else will. Make time for your hobbies now.

Now more than ever is a time for hobbies. That’s right, the time for hobbies is now! Hobbies, those interesting and fun activities that are kept in the closet because there is no time for them. Those sparkling ideas that are boxed up and shelved because they are too expensive. But hobbies boxed and shelved aren’t doing anybody any good.

There is no time like now better suited for your hobbies regardless of your position in life. Whether you are rich, poor, busy, or bored the time for your hobbies is now. So let’s find the time, budget some money, and start participating in hobbies once again. And if you don’t have a hobby, it’s time to get one.