Does anybody else feel like time just does not exist these days? I often find myself losing track of what day it is and saying “it’s 9:30 already?!” (am or pm, I am shocked either way). With new obstacles like isolating with others while trying to balance work, school, cleaning the house, making meals, staying entertained, hell- staying SANE…it’s not hard to guess why you may be finding it challenging to carve out time for your creative hobby on top of it all.
However, I’m here today to not only remind you that it is crucial that you do so but to teach you how to do it. The best way to show up for others is to take great care to show up for yourself. But how to squeeze it in? Fear not, my sweetest ones, I’ve got your back:
1. TRACK YOUR SCREEN TIME
Our #1 excuse for ignoring our hobbies is usually “there’s just not enough time!” but is that true? When my phone notified me one day that my screen time had climbed to over 3 hours per day…I could clearly see that scrolling was my new hobby. Track your screen time to gain a clearer perspective of where your spare time is going so you can devote it to creative pursuits mindfully, instead of wasting it mindlessly.
2. BREAK IT INTO SMALLER STEPS
Sometimes if we can’t do all of it, we end up doing none of it. I love to sew, but am I going to make an entire dress in 15 minutes? The answer is an obvious HELL NO. But in 15 minutes I can sew 1 seam. Those minutes add up and over time- I’ve got myself a dress. Breaking up tasks into smaller steps helps you chip away at it over time instead of putting it off
3. SCHEDULE IT OUT
This is the best way to let yourself, and others, know that your hobby is important to you and worth your time and dedication. It’s also the simplest way to see when you have a clear spot in your busy life and mindfully seize it. Seeing your hobby scheduled on a calendar allows you to keep it top of mind and allocate time for it accordingly.
4. SET A TIMER
Cleaning my kitchen can easily take me over an hour…if I stop to reply to a text and Google “how to know if strawberries are still good” (they weren’t). But if I instead set a timer for 30 minutes, it takes me 30 minutes. Guess what I do with the extra time? Being mindful of your time allows you to better utilize it, and a timer is an excellent tool to help you do so.
5. ASK FOR HELP AND JUST TAKE IT
Just showing up is often the greatest barrier to starting. Life is exhausting right now, and you may not always feel like getting into your hobby at the end of a long day – but you will be so glad you did after you start! I hereby give you permission to let the dishes stay in the sink or ask your partner to cook dinner for tonight so you can take time for yourself. You deserve to do the thing that makes you happy. Period. YOU ARE WORTHY OF THIS TIME.
I hope right now you and all your loved ones are staying safe, doing well, and that you found these tips helpful in creating some much needed time for yourself throughout your busy day. Thanks so much for reading, and take some time to take care of yourself!
I love you forever.
-XO-
C
