Find a microhobby

Make little bits of time more satisfying

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio.
Good Morning, This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast.
Today's tip is to find a micro hobby, something engaging
and meaningful you can do when you have just a
few minutes of free time. Choosing something wisely can really

(00:27):
make life a lot more satisfying. It would be nice
if we routinely had long chunks of free time that
we could use for oil painting or playing the flute
or woodworking. And if you do, good for you. I'd
also argue that many of us can get a few
extended stretches of high quality leisure time each week if

(00:51):
we plan well. However, even with great planning, not all
of our leisure time will appear in this form. Often
we get just a few minutes of free time here
and there. Picture yourself waiting for a conference called a
start door, standing in line at the grocery store, idling
in the carpool line, or waiting for your teapot to boil.

(01:15):
In total, this can be quite a bit of time,
but it is fragmented time confetti. As author Bridget Shulty
once put it, It's easy to scroll through social media
or check email in moments like these, and your phone
is almost certainly nearby. Those activities are marginally entertaining, definitely absorbing,

(01:36):
but they are not that rewarding, and curiously enough, your
inbox will end up being just as full the next
time you sit down at your computer, even if you
do throw time at it now, So on some level,
why bother? Instead, try to find something more rewarding to
do with your micro leisure time. Find a micro hobby.

(02:00):
A hobby is an activity done regularly in one's leisure
time for pleasure. Ideally there is a bit of skill involved.
It is not completely passive. A micro hobby is a
hobby that can be enjoyed in little bits of time. So,
for instance, you might try micro writing. Start a free

(02:21):
writing file and then when you get a few minutes,
aim to write fifty words, a hundred words or so.
I have read whole books of micro memoirs, so you
might be able to create something of real value in
those little moments. Of course, you can also read things
that other people have written. Poems are quick scripture versus too.

(02:44):
Set yourself a goal to read through some chunk of
a sacred text and bits and pieces. You could even
aim to memorize versus or poems as your micro hobby.
Having these phrases floating around in your brain can definitely
elevate your thoughts. If you enjoy art, sketching can make
a great micro hobby. No need to use charcoal, drawing

(03:05):
pencils or special papers unless you really want to, just
use whatever pen or pencil and paper you have on hand.
Some of my favorite art exhibits have included artists sketches
on scraps of paper. I love getting the behind the
scenes view of the idea for a painting as it emerges.
Sketching will help you strengthen your drawing skills and perhaps

(03:26):
get ideas for a more polished painting or drawing, and
it will prompt you to truly look and pay attention
to your surroundings. Taking photographs can do that too. If
you are parked somewhere waiting, get out look at the
plants and shadows and shapes of the world. An experiment
with taking photos from different angles with our phones. You

(03:48):
can just delete anything that doesn't work out. There is
no downside to learning through trial and error. Another option
for micro leisure is to use an app like dual
Link Go to learn a language. You can complete a
lesson or practice session in just a few minutes. See
how long you can get a streak going. You'll get

(04:09):
your brain working in new ways, which you can do
with crossword puzzles as a micro hobby as well. Now,
of course, your hobby doesn't actually need to be totally
self contained in these bits of time. One of the
most rewarding choices for micro leisure is to augment the
more extended time you spend on a hobby at other points.

(04:30):
So for instance, if you play an instrument, but you
can't exactly practice your instrument while sitting in line at school,
pickup watch videos of or listen to other people performing
the songs you are practicing. How have six different musicians
interpreted that piano solo you are learning. If you are
a gardener, use these bits of time to watch tutorials

(04:54):
or read articles with tips on plant care or garden design.
If you are going to go on social media, well
go with a purpose. If your hobby is building dollhouse
furniture and so you have an Instagram account that is
completely devoted to miniature as well, that would be a
good idea. The possibilities for micro hobbies are endless. The

(05:17):
point is to use your time in a way that
is meaningful, rather than counting a few minutes here and
there is worthless and blowing them off on mindless scrolling.
A lot of fun can be had in tiny moments.
You just need to figure out how. If you have
micro hobbies you enjoy, I'd love to hear about them.

(05:40):
You can reach me at Laura at Laura Vanderkan dot com.
In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening, and
here's to making the most of our time. Hey, everybody,

(06:01):
I'd love to hear from you. You can send me
your tips, your questions, or anything else. Just connect with
me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at Before Breakfast Pod.
That's b E the number four, then breakfast p o D.
You can also shoot me an email at Before Breakfast
podcast at i heeart media dot com. That Before Breakfast

(06:23):
is spelled out with all the letters. Thanks so much,
I look forward to staying in touch. Before Breakfast is
a production of I Heart Radio. For more podcasts from
I heart Radio, visit the i heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.