Who wouldn’t like to spend more time on their hobby? Whether it is fantasy sports, golf, hiking, scrapbooking, or underwater basket weaving, finding that extra hour or two to devote to your favorite pastime is a challenge.
I’ve met with many executives who report a constant tug of war between their hobby and their desire to be productive.
Two years ago a business acquaintance of mine got me involved in his fantasy football league. Ever since then, I have been hooked. However, I have learned that I need to establish systems to make sure that my superstar team—the Gridiron Chefs—doesn’t interfere with my workday. I have to establish boundaries and guidelines to ensure I am getting the recreation I need, but that it doesn’t turn into wasting time.
A wise teacher once posed this question: What is the difference between recreation and idleness? I believe it is ultimately a matter of budgeting time.
Here are some tips on how to manage your hobby so that you can get the most out of it, but also get the most out of your work day.
1. Budget the time - Just like you would budget money for the expenses you will incur through the month, budget on the calendar how much time you are going to devote to your hobby. Establish a recurring schedule to participate in your hobby. Be sure to give yourself enough time to feel that you can enjoy yourself, but not so much that it cuts into other areas of your life.
2. Schedule appropriately - Choose time slots to enjoy your hobby that are appropriate for the needs of the day. For instance, if you are in sales and your busiest time of the day is 11:00-2:00, it would be unwise to spend time at hobby websites each day at 11:30. Schedule hobby time during slow periods or time of the day where you normally need a break.
3. Filter your attention - If you receive newsletters related to your hobby, try to slow down the number of newsletters you subscribe to or the number of alerts you receive. This will help you minimize how much you switchtask throughout your day. You can also create a special folder for all of those alerts and newsletters. Create a rule in your email account to automatically sort emails into the appropriate folder. For instance, I have a “Fantasy Football” folder where all related emails automatically go. This allows me to wait until my scheduled time to read through all of the updates I’ve received. Also, be cautious of unscheduled surfing. Internet filters (such as the MeeTimer plugin for Firefox) can warn you if you are about to visit a site during hours that you specified as “work time.”
4. Stick to the budget - This goes both ways. Overspending your time budget for your hobby will obviously lead to a loss of productivity. However, as important as it is to not be idle during your work time, it is equally important to take scheduled breaks.
I’ve worked with many executives who were slow and ineffective because they failed to take consistent breaks to recharge their batteries. If you do not consistently take appropriately scheduled breaks, your overall productivity will suffer greatly. Everyone needs an appropriate outlet for the stresses of the day.
Remember: the difference between idleness and recreation is budgeting time. By following these suggestions, you can build a strategy to both win your fantasy league and win your workday.
Dave Crenshaw, Time-management expert and author of The Myth of Multitasking: How ‘Doing it All’ Gets Nothing Done. Check out our sales productivity tips and learn how to become more productive on his productivity coaching website.