It’s no secret that life is busier than ever for most people these days. From school to work plus family time and everything in between, it can often seem like there are not enough hours in the day to fit everything in. As a result, many people focus solely on “must-dos” instead of making time for hobbies or leisure activities, such as guitar lessons, sports, or photography. Yet, research has shown that hobbies can tremendously enrich our lives and are beneficial for both the mind and body.
So, instead of neglecting your passions because you “don’t have time,” find ways to prioritize your hobbies and fit them into your schedule. Don’t worry, it’s easier than you think! With some thoughtful planning and a little bit of multitasking, you’ll find you have more time than meets the eye!
Here are three easy ways to make time for hobbies, even with a jam-packed schedule
1. Be Smart With Your Time
The fact of the matter is most of us have enough free time to fit in all the things we love, but we simply don’t utilize our time efficiently. To make the most of your time, you first need to figure out where time is being wasted and adjust accordingly. No matter how busy you are, chances are not all 24 hours in your day are productive hours. Think about the time spent scrolling through Instagram or watching yet another show on Netflix. You could use that mindless downtime to focus on your hobbies instead!
2. Double Up
Another great way to make time for hobbies is simply through multitasking and sneaking it in whenever you can. For most people, devoting huge chunks of uninterrupted time to a hobby is not realistic. Instead, find ways to work your hobby into your existing schedule by pairing it with another task. For example, if you commute to work or school, use that time to work on your hobby. Or if your hobby is portable, reserve part of your lunch break to work on it instead. Group activities together, and you’ll soon discover loads of hidden free time!
3. Choose Wisely
To incorporate a hobby into your already hectic schedule, you’ll want to choose wisely. In general, you should find a hobby you’re actually interested in and that fits your needs and lifestyle. Consider hobbies that can be learned at your own pace or that can be done from home, such as online music lessons. The more convenient and flexible your hobby is, the easier it will be to integrate it into your weekly routine.
Don’t waste another minute wishing you had extra time to pursue your interests; Optimize your current schedule so you can do more and ultimately help make time for fun-filled hobbies.