In today’s fast-paced, multi-tasking world, it is rare that people ever get the chance to truly enjoy their hobbies anymore. Whether it was gardening, crafting, reading, or scrap booking, it used to be that a person could dedicate hours and hours of uninterrupted time to their favorite diversions. But with the constant pings, dings, and any other of a variety of notification sounds today (including crying babies or bickering children), it’s hard just to go just 30 minutes without interruption anymore.
So, how does one get back to the days of yore, where hobbies once more become genuinely pleasurable? Here are our top three ways that being organized can get you back into your hobby-driven groove:
- Stress reduction: First and foremost, organization and time management at home and in everyday life reduces overall stress. By planning ahead such things as your weekly calendar, chores, menu, and “to-do” and grocery lists, you are allowing yourself more time to focus on pleasurable pursuits. In scheduling routine events (those that happen regularly each week) you put a stop to the whole “flying by the seat of my pants” perspective that can make you feel like you don’t have control of your life. When you are stressed, you feel drained and lack motivation. On the contrary, when you feel in control you tend to sleep better, feel more energized, and you are better able to practice your favorite hobbies.
- Budgeting time: How many times have you mentally planned to indulge in your favorite pastime, only to be interrupted and drawn off to something else? Chances are, it happens quite often. That’s why building time into your schedule for your hobbies is essential. Block out an hour of time, 2-3 days per week, and commit yourself to them. Defend these periods of time like you would a work task or binding commitment. If you don’t respect your time for hobbies, nobody else will either. Once you have a solid block of uninterrupted time to become completely absorbed in your hobby, you’ll finally be able to hit your “flow,” the point where you lose track of time and the world around you and experience true bliss from what you are doing.
- Unplug: It’s a hard thing to do, but you’re going to have to cut the digital cord while you are hobby-ing. You will never be able to focus entirely on what you are doing if you are constantly answering emails, phone calls, text messages, or scrolling mindlessly through your feeds. Not feeling obligated to respond within moments of a notification is liberating and allows you to focus on yourself and those things that bring you the greatest pleasure.
The health and mental benefits of being and feeling organized in your life are innumerable, but one of the most significant aspects of being organized is that it allows for room in your life for hobbies. Instead of feeling stressed, pressured, and disorganized you can tune out the distractions and tune in to those endeavors that relax you and bring you the most delight.