This topic has been discussed previously in the specific context of video game backlogs, but I am coming to realize now that the problem for me extends well beyond video games. I have so many different hobbies, both existing and desired, and I don't find myself spending time on any of them. I have a huge mental list of things I want to do, not limited to but including:
1) Play various video games - new releases, backlog, retro games
2) Catch up on reading some of the dozens of books I have bought over the past few years
3) Spend more time playing tabletop games and learn to paint miniatures
4) Start fishing again
5) Work on my golf game
6) Expand my coding knowledge to dabble in video game development
I could continue listing more items, but you get the idea. All of these are things that I "want" to do, but I have limited time between work, kids, coaching baseball, etc. Realistically, there is no way I'll ever be able to accomplish everything on my list, but I have a hard time crossing things off and then I usually don't end up doing any of them. I might end up with an hour or two free at the end of the night, but starting anything on my list seems like such a daunting task that I typically just end up sitting on the couch and killing time watching TV before bed. Rinse and repeat while weeks and months go by where I don't accomplish anything that I wanted to.
The answer seems simple - Prioritize the hobbies, decide what is most important, and focus my limited time on a manageable set of activities. But something else always pops up that piques my interest and gets me stuck right back where I started with too much to do and not enough time. I am curious if others have felt this level of paralysis where you haven't been able to spend meaningful time on any of your hobbies, and if so what strategies would you suggest to start chipping away at the problem?
I think this is all just part of managing priorities as an adult, but I haven't been able to figure it out, and if anything it continues to get worse over time. I often have the thought that "maybe when I retire I'll be able to catch up on everything I didn't have time for", but I suspect that is both unhealthy and untrue. How do other people manage the desire to squeeze 100 gallons of hobbies into a 10 gallon hat?
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