Create Space in Your Schedule for Your Interests

Create Space in Your Schedule for Your Interests

If you're anything like me, you're probably barely getting through each day with everything you HAVE to do, so you've probably wondered how other people find time for "hobbies" and "pastimes."The correct response is to be deeply moved by something.

Despite its overuse, the old adage "if you want something bad enough, you'll get it" still rings true in our modern lives.

Do you feel an overwhelming need to maintain a spotless home? If that's the case, I'd venture a guess that your home is relatively neat and organized.

Are you fully invested in your career and its advancement? Most likely, you are currently climbing that ladder.

However, most of us spend our lives in accordance with the interests and, at times, whims of those closest to us. Why? Simply put, we never take the time to consider what it is that we truly want, love, or are passionate about.

Do you truly believe that if you don't keep a spotless home, the world will end and no one will like you? If that's the case, you should take a few tentative steps outside the confines of the box and remind yourself that the dirt will be there tomorrow, but your friends and dreams might not be. Phew..

It's like a kick in the teeth now.

My ideal home is one that looks ready for a visit from the queen. Why is it that I can never devote the necessary effort to it? Simply put, I don't enjoy cleaning. Never, and I mean never, has this been the case. I'd rather be with my loved ones, whether that's talking on the phone, taking a stroll, or having a wild dance party. And you know what? No royal has ever shown up unannounced at my house.

Our desires can interfere with our ability to concentrate or focus.

Years ago, I decided I should stop smoking. Naturally, I would. You shouldn't do that since it's unhealthy. The issue for me was that I resisted doing it. To the contrary, I found that smoking was enjoyable, so I kept doing it.

It's odd how it's less of a hassle to keep doing what brings you delight.

So, once again, we find ourselves asking, "What do you love to do?" In other words, write it down. Take notes on everything. That includes everything you "shouldn't" do. The time to sort through that is whenever you want to. Don't just start writing down things you're interested in; give some thought to each one first.

Is it more important to you to have a clean and tidy home for yourself or so that your neighbors don't gossip about you when they come over for coffee?Stop for a second and realize that the people you are spending your time trying to please are, without a doubt, not perfect. I can assure you that there will be parts of their lives with which you fundamentally disagree.

When I was growing up, I had a neighbor who spent all day, every day, cleaning her house and letting the world and its mother know that she thought that cleanliness was close to godliness. I don't think I saw anyone but her family enter her house in the twelve years I was her neighbor. Her life's work entailed obsessively maintaining a spotless home.

I suppose it was fine with her, but I felt bad for her and her siblings, who never got to have friends around or get dirty while playing outside. The intensity of her interest bordered on obsession. Her activities were driven by her own motivations, yet I rarely saw her laugh or even crack a smile. In that case, what motivated her inappropriate actions? Maybe she thought that was where she belonged in the world and that no one would hold it against her if she did her job to the best of her ability.

Her kids left as soon as they could, and her long-suffering husband found someone who would rather have him as a roommate than the dust mites. Sure, who could blame him?

Doing the Rounds

In order to make ends meet until the next paycheck arrives, the majority of us must devote a set number of hours each day to working, usually for someone else. To what extent do these descriptions fit you?

After a long day of work, it's important to reward ourselves with something pleasant so that we can keep going the next day.

Governments have figured out this formula, and as a result, the working class can now afford to have fun at home. The TV is what keeps us sane, right? Somehow, watching TV helps us unwind, right? It's a well-known fact that watching TV makes us joyful.

I'm not a big TV viewer. Despite the fact that there are many informative and entertaining shows on television, I have always had the impression that the networks control both the content and the scheduling of our viewing habits.

For Once, I'd Want to Make up My Own Mind on Such Matters

A few weeks back, one evening, I received a cold call from a salesperson. The saleswoman who was trying to upsell me on the most recent cell phone plan cited a TV commercial. I informed her that I had not seen the commercial because I don't have a television. For the next 10 minutes, she kept bringing up the same TV commercial, and each time I told her I hadn't seen it because I don't have cable, she continued on talking. My words were not taken seriously by her at all. Perhaps she was distracted.

Is this where we've arrived—where everybody in our area watches the same commercials, shows, and news every day and night? I suppose we have, yes. All of the people are managed effectively. There is complete agreement among us. It's debatable whether we're all on the same page about which brand of fish fingers is best for our kids since sliced bread.And there is no time for us to waste.

Take a Risk and Try Something New

Try to figure out what you're truly interested in. Take the time to think carefully about everything you write on your list. Ask yourself if you're doing it because you want to or because you think that's what other people want from you. Keep in mind that you are responsible for your own life.

There are times when you have to look after other people, such as when they are unwell, elderly, or young. It is your life, though. You have one and only one chance.

Stop wasting time with those commercials; you may see the same ones again tomorrow if you like. They will not simply disappear, believe me.

Among the many major time-suckers, television ranks high. Your life is passing you by as you watch. How frightful! And it's true!

No attempt was made to make this piece sound like an attack on television commercials. TV is the quickest method to get a global perspective; therefore, it definitely has a place in our lives. However, and this is a major caveat, the vast majority of us reach for the remote and select the least boring station available.

You could be spending time with friends or family or pursuing a hobby if you weren't watching that dull channel.

That fisherman's smile is a waste of time, as is every second you waste watching him cover the latest form of fish with breadcrumbs for a group of kids.

Here's an Experiment to do If You Want More Time for Yourself

Make a list of the things that truly excite you; they must be things that only YOU are interested in.

You should prioritize doing two things.

Wow, that was surprisingly simple.

I picked up the needles myself quite some time ago and learned how to knit. Ever since I can remember, knitters have been getting a terrible rap. Grannies don't knit, yet I'm a grandma, and I knit less now than I did then. To knit means to spend a lot of time doing something tedious. Why take three months to make a sweater when you can pick one up at the thrift store for next to nothing?

In spite of that, I relished the difficulty. Knitting has never been more exciting or more convenient, what with all the trendy new yarns and patterns available; I can even stitch while watching TV (though that's very rare).

Knitting is a great activity to take up and work on for short bursts of time, like during commercial breaks. The apparatus is quite compact. It's easy to implement and doesn't cost much money. And the nicest part, at least for me, is that knitting and eating chocolate are polar opposites. Instead of reaching for a snack when the commercials come on, I like to get out my knitting needles.

My hobby of choice is knitting, and I have developed the skills to create my own unique garments, toys, and useful home items. And, although at moments in my life I have had to live within an incredibly tight budget, I have always found the materials needed to be able to continue with my hobby.

My hobby of choice is knitting; what about you?

Reading? Producing Verse? Stamp collecting? Scrapbooking? or perhaps your interests lie beyond the confines of your home, such as gardening, tennis, or a fitness club.

If you follow your heart, you'll be able to put in the time and energy necessary to see your project through to completion. It's possible you may make a living doing what you enjoy doing. There are books dedicated to the topic.