The Wildly Important, Never-Urgent Practice of Hobbies

In today’s episode, Alan shares how a rare open Saturday—spent hiking into the Colorado mountains to fly-fish—quickly turned into another to-do list. He realized that our most life-giving pursuits (hobbies) are constantly at risk of becoming tasks we “have to” check off. In this conversation, Alan unpacks why hobbies are essential to flourishing, offers a framework for rediscovering them, and gives practical steps to reclaim joy, creativity, and rest in the midst of our busy “have-to” lives.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why Hobbies Matter: How leisure activities serve as mental rest, spark creativity, and renew passion for work and family.

• Focal Practices: The power of “idle,” present-moment activities that reconnect you to what truly matters.

• Benefits of Hobbies: From distraction of weighty issues to replenishment cycles that boost productivity.

• Rediscovery vs. Discovery: Tips for uncovering the hobbies you loved as a kid—or stumbling on new ones today.

• Practical Steps: How to schedule your first hobby session in two weeks—no guilt, no strings attached.

Key Takeaways:

• Hobbies are “get-to” activities in a “have-to” world.

• Even large organizations credit “white-space” time for breakthroughs.

• Simple focal practices (gardening, evening walks, hammocking) anchor joy and presence.

• Your work, relationships, and well-being depend on carving out hobby time.

Action Challenge: Block off a 2-hour window in your calendar this week for your rediscovered hobby—whether it’s fly-fishing, woodworking, dancing, or simply sitting in a hammock—and notice how you feel afterward.

Resources Mentioned:

• Anti-Burnout: A Coaching Pathway

• The Sabbatical Journey Field Guide

Have questions or want to share your hobby rediscovery story? Drop us a note at [e-mail] or leave a comment wherever you listen.