Making time for hobbies in a hectic life
How to give back to yourself when you're stretched thin.
You’re reading Soft Hobbies, a weekly newsletter for artists in all mediums, with a special focus on writers. Here you’ll find resources to nurture your creativity, advice to overcome perfectionism, and inspiration to make time for art. I’m Auzin, a Seattle-based fiction and poetry writer. Feel free to visit my author website or check out my socials.
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Anyone else feel stretched beyond their limits? Are you teetering on the edge of burnout, or maybe in recovery from it? Is it hard to find time for yourself and the things you enjoy doing?
It’s only March, but I’ve felt this way a lot in 2026. Getting older comes with more responsibilities, to yourself and to others, and it’s hard to justify activities that don’t fit into the capitalist frameworks of productivity and optimization. We’re told not to do things that are frivolous, useless, or amateur. Except — those things are awesome, and good for your brain, and having fun is what makes life worthwhile. So let’s try to do our hobbies no matter what, okay? I’ll help you.
Please note: I am not a health professional of any kind; I’m just writing from personal and shared experience.
Problem: “I can’t get off the screens!”
Solution: Okay, I won’t make you. But let’s keep it to one screen, and find something to do with your hands other than scrolling. Coloring, painting, drawing, playing with clay, building a Lego set, putting a puzzle together, painting your nails, knitting, crocheting, embroidering, finally working on that sewing project, scrapbooking/junk journaling, lifting weights, doing yoga, step aerobics, braiding your friends’ hair. Just do it for one episode of your show and see how you feel.
Problem: “I barely have 10 minutes to myself in the day.”
Solution: Take that 10 minutes, put your phone in another room, and journal. Write about why you feel so much pressure, where it’s coming from, and how it makes you feel. Write for 10 minutes every day about how overwhelmed you feel. Writing by hand works best. After a week or two, you’ll see what needs to change in your life.
Problem: “Too many people rely on me and I feel guilty taking time for myself.”
Solution: You are a human, not a machine, and you can’t keep going forever without taking care of yourself. Your emotional world is part of the whole, and is nourished by hobbies and creativity. Human beings are creative by nature.
Are you setting a good example for all these people by ignoring your wants and needs? Do they even know you have needs, or have you kept them hidden? Lean on the people who love you. If things really will collapse without you, it might be time for a more supportive community.
Problem: “I keep overcommitting. How do I scale it back?”
Solution: Be honest with others about your overcommitments and how they’re affecting you. Mature loved ones will understand! Take a comprehensive look at your calendar and see how much time you can free up.
Also, get comfortable spending time just by yourself. Oftentimes, overcommitting socially stems from discomfort with being alone. You are your own longest and most important relationship, so make sure to keep nurturing the connection with yourself.
Problem: “I can’t shake this feeling of guilt when I do things I enjoy.”
Solution: I wrote this for you!
Problem: “Okay, I found an hour to work on my hobbies. What’s the best way to spend it?”
Solution: Awesome! Sit down, close your eyes, and take three deep breaths. Think about what’s calling to you. What sounds like the most fun, or what you’d get the most satisfaction from doing? Do that. Enjoy your flow state!
This is a topic close to my heart and I’ve collected some reading material for you, both from Soft Hobbies and other sources:
Know that you are worthy of this time. I hope things slow down for you soon, and remember that your creativity gives you power over both time and oppressive systems. Please let me know your tips and tricks for finding more hobby time — I bet you have great ideas!
Softly yours,
Auzin
Thank you for giving my solutions to my problems with my hobbies!