Who wouldn’t like to spend more time on their hobby? Whether it is
fantasy sports, golf, hiking, scrapbooking, or underwater basket
weaving, finding that extra hour or two to devote to your favorite
pastime is a challenge.
I’ve met with many executives who report a constant tug of war between their hobby and their desire to be productive.
Two years ago a business acquaintance of mine got me involved in his
fantasy football league. Ever since then, I have been hooked. However,
I have learned that I need to establish systems to make sure that my
superstar team—the Gridiron Chefs—doesn’t interfere with my workday. I
have to establish boundaries and guidelines to ensure I am getting the
recreation I need, but that it doesn’t turn into wasting time.
A wise teacher once posed this question: What is the difference between
recreation and idleness? I believe it is ultimately a matter of
budgeting time.
Here are some tips on how to manage your hobby so that you can get the
most out of it, but also get the most out of your work day.
1. Budget the time:
Just like you would budget money for the expenses you will incur
through the month, budget on the calendar how much time you are going
to devote to your hobby. Establish a recurring schedule to participate
in your hobby. Be sure to give yourself enough time to feel that you
can enjoy yourself, but not so much that it cuts into other areas of
your life.2. Schedule appropriately:
Choose time slots to enjoy your hobby that are appropriate for the
needs of the day. For instance, if you are in sales and your busiest
time of the day is 11:00-2:00, it would be unwise to spend time at
hobby websites each day at 11:30. Schedule hobby time during slow
periods or time of the day where you normally need a break.3. Filter your attention:
If you receive newsletters related to your hobby, try to slow down the
number of newsletters you subscribe to or the number of alerts you
receive. This will help you minimize how much you switchtask throughout your day.You can also create a special folder for all of those alerts and
newsletters. Create a rule in your email account to automatically sort
emails into the appropriate folder. For instance, I have a “Fantasy
Football” folder where all related emails automatically go. This allows
me to wait until my scheduled time to read through all of the updates
I’ve received.Also, be cautious of unscheduled surfing. Internet filters (such as the
MeeTimer plugin for Firefox) can warn you if you are about to visit a
site during hours that you specified as “work time.”4. Stick to the budget: This goes both ways. Overspending
your time budget for your hobby will obviously lead to a loss of
productivity. However, as important as it is to not be idle during your
work time, it is equally important to take scheduled breaks.I’ve worked with many executives who were slow and ineffective because
they failed to take consistent breaks to recharge their batteries. If
you do not consistently take appropriately scheduled breaks, your
overall productivity will suffer greatly. Everyone needs an appropriate
outlet for the stresses of the day.
Remember: the difference between idleness and recreation is budgeting
time. By following these suggestions, you can build a strategy to both
win your fantasy league and win your workday.
(P.S. Go Gridiron Chefs!)
