To schedule your hobbies or spontaneously do them?
Wondering if you should time block your hobbies or just do them whenever you please? Here’s what to consider.
This question is one I have asked myself over the last several months when getting my own time management in order. So, I thought it would make for an interesting post to explore the advantages and disadvantages of time blocking versus spontaneous hobbying. This may help you determine how you’d like to approach your own hobbying based on your personal preferences, strengths and weaknesses, etc.
Time Blocking
This approach involves pre-scheduling what you want/need to do based on open slots in your schedule. You can time block a day, week, or month (or even further out) in advance. For example, you might time block 1 hour to read in the morning or 2 hours to play an instrument in the evening.
Advantages
Establishes Predictability
When you have a calendar of time blocked hobbies, you are very easily able to see what your day/week/month looks like since it’s all planned out. This can work well if you thrive on predictability.
Holds You Accountable
Having your hobbies time blocked creates feasible commitments for getting around them. If you need an extra layer of accountability to actually get around to your hobbies, scheduling your hobbies on a calendar certainly accomplishes that.
Structure Without Rigidity
The core structure that comes with time blocking is defining what you will do and how long you will do it. From there, you can determine what specifically you will dedicate deep focus towards for your hobby.
Sets You Up to Win the Week
If you time block the week ahead and stick with your plan, you will know at the beginning of the week that you will have made progress by the end of it. This works well if you find it difficult to get stuff done without outlining when you’ll do it.
Disadvantages
Life Happens
You can’t always forecast how your day will go down and if you will run into any time overages from factors that are outside of your management. Be prepared that you may need to adjust your time blocks since life will not always go according to how you plan it.
Can Seem a Bit Forced
Perhaps you find that getting around to your hobbies based on a schedule seems a bit regimented and less based on your actual interest to do the hobbies. It varies from one person to another, but this is another possible downside of time blocking.
Possibly Monotonous
By taking a scheduling approach to your hobbies, you may also find that it makes your hobbies seem more like a chore than a genuine thing you want to do. This really depends on how much structure you want (and need) to actually get around to doing constructive activities.
Spontaneous Hobbying
Advantages
Feels More Organic
When you do something you want to do because you genuinely want to do it, it just seems natural. This can make you look forward to returning to that hobby in the near future.
No Scheduling Required
When spontaneously doing your hobbies, you don’t need to create a schedule for what you will do and when. You just focus on your hobby of choice when the time seems right for you.
Triggers Excitement
Hobbying on a whim usually happens because you enjoy the process behind what you are doing and find yourself eager to continue what you are working toward. These positive mind states are great for mental well-being.
Exercises Other Mental Muscles
Getting to your hobby whenever you feel like it also optimizes your mind in other ways. This includes making active decisions, increasing personal motivation, and building a “let’s just do it” mentality.
Disadvantages
Less Predictability
Spontaneously doing your hobbies means that your schedule won’t be as mapped out as if you time blocked your hobbies. If you prefer predictability, you may find this to be a challenge.
Easier to Disregard Your Hobby
Without scheduling your hobby in time blocked increments, you may also find that it is easier to blow your hobby off. Out of sight, out of mind, in a more negative way.
Requires More Discipline
Increasing your self-discipline is not a con in itself; there is so much benefit in becoming a reliable self-starter. If you find that you need extra structure to get around to what you want and need to, though, spontaneous hobbying is likely an approach to consider down the line.
Determining Which is Best for You
Between time blocking and spontaneous hobbying, both can serve different types of hobbyists based on various work styles and preferences. Maybe you find that there is an approach that works better for you based on your motivation, time management, and skills at this time. Or, maybe both approaches could serve you well in difference cases. Feel free to give both a try to see which supports your hobbies best and leave your thoughts in the comments section.
Happy hobbying!