But, needless to say, our world is changing right now. Coronavirus is keeping us away from our normal schedules, and we now have more “free” time than before. This shift can leave us feeling bored, anxious, and confused—or it can serve as the nudge we need to question the hustle mentality and reconnect to our innate creativity. The trick to picking up a hobby is to step out of efficiency and productivity mode and create just for the sake of creating. And you can start right now. For example, up until last year, my fiancé and I didn’t think we had time for creative hobbies. Our schedules were packed, and the “free” time we did have, we spent putting it back into our work. Even though we both led extremely healthy lives (or so we thought), our brains were constantly on and looking for shortcuts. We ordered groceries delivered straight to our door and opted for intense HIIT-style workouts to save time. The more we could get done in a day, the better. But one day, we looked at how we were spending our downtime and realized something was missing. We didn’t have a habit we simply enjoyed for pure fun. Fast-forward and we have started a business that allows adults to build creative hobbies. Now, we refer to our old after-work habits (dozing off watching Netflix or scrolling through our phones) as “low-quality leisure.” These activities made us feel drained afterward, and oftentimes we did them unconsciously. Once we had a clear understanding of how we spent our time, we could begin to take action. Starting new activities is easy for some people, but sticking with them can be an entirely different story. To start, set an achievable goal for yourself like painting once a week instead of becoming an all-star painter. Remember, hobbies are supposed to be fun, not your next side-hustle. The science of neuroplasticity tells us that over time, our brain can start to rewire itself to make that activity more natural for us to carry out. So, next time you catch yourself trying to become the next Top Chef when you’re experimenting in the kitchen, or you feel the need to perform for your Instagram audience when you try your hand at woodworking—take a step back. Question what your intention is, and reassess your “why.” We can all use a little bit more creation and a little less curation—in every part of our lives. It starts with practicing joy through the hobbies we pick up, straight from our couch.
