making time for hobbies (or other things)
Inspired by Brandon's post which was a reply to Stephen's post.
Time is somehow a common topic in my life. I sometimes get emails of people commenting on my frequency of publishing, especially when the posts are long, and how I manage all this next to parttime studying and fulltime work and other obligations. My future in-laws, who don't even know about my blogging, think it's ambitious how much I'm doing. When I met an old teacher of mine and I told him everything that's going on, he was surprised and shocked, saying "So much? How do you manage all this?" So I study, I work, I write or work on the blog, I code, occasionally I sew or embroider, I read, I try to do 1-2h of fitness each day right now, and I still have a household to take care of. In April, I will also start a separate certificate class that will go on for 1.5 years. I am biased when I look at it all, though, because I have the common issue of feeling like a fraud or imposter at times and that distorts my view, making me think it's actually a normal amount of things to do and I should do way more.
I think the core behind it all is that I have a lot less other obligations and hindrances than other people do.
My apartment is small, rather minimalist, and easy to clean, which shortens the time chores take up. My fiancée also helps with these sometimes, because while we live separately, she's here a lot.
I live extremely close to several supermarkets, so I can go for short bursts of a few items much more easily than most other people. With walking back and forth and the self-checkout, I could get myself a caramel oat milk and be back home in 15 minutes.
I have a surprising lack of care work to do, or family obligations; I don't have children, I don't have a pet (anymore, because he died of old age in 2023), I don't have grandparents to take care of or visit, I don't have family festivities like weddings or birthdays or a yearly barbecue or whatever. I don't really have a family, and the only one I talk to is my mum, and we send texts to each other like once a month or less.
Also, 3 days of my work week are spent at home, doing remote work. That cuts down on commute and I can do housework during low times, meetings, or lunch break. It also severely reduces the drain I have from work, so while I am fit to take on other things after remote work, I am completely busted and ready for bed after the office twice a week. But those are only two days, not five, like other people.
And the people I actually want to see or hang out with live 450km away, so instead of meeting up with them in cafes and restaurants, at museums, fleamarkets or having weekly in-person game nights, I am at home, and we have game sessions over Discord every two weeks. That will remain so until I can move.
So, a lot has to come together to have a lot of pockets of time. Many of these are advantages, other parts are a loss, frankly. I'm okay with having less time to blog or play games or sew or fitness or studying if it meant having close-by friends or a good family. So honestly, if you don't feel like you have enough time for some things, it doesn't have to be bad; sure, if it's robbed by working too much, having a giant house to take care of, social media and people you dislike, it sucks. But otherwise, it might be a fulfilled life raising your pets or children and creating memories with loved ones in real life that's taking up all that time, and I think that's worth it.
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Published 21 Feb, 2025