Maybe I need to write it down

It has occurred to me recently that I have far more interests, or hobbies if you will, than I have time. Further examination of this revelation, though, is making it clear that it’s not so much a lack of time as it is a lack of managed time.

The things that I manage to actually do, and with some measure of consistency, are those things that are scheduled or have specific time slots that are recurring and known to me: work, fencing, bi-annual teeth cleanings, and my annual physical.

With this in mind it has occurred to me, further, that I need to schedule my interests, actually blocking out and setting aside time during which my attention is to be focused on one single interest/hobby or another, even if it’s only for one hour a week. I also think it’s important that I cut back on some of the things I’ve been burning time with: television, WoW, and generally sitting on my big, fat ass. I won’t be stopping those things; just hopefully gleaning some valuable time from those worthy endeavors which will then be channeled into newer, equally worthy endeavors.

What will I spend this gleaned time on? Hmm, a good question. I think I need to make a list of my interests/hobbies, and then prioritize that list. There are a lot of things I’m interested in, some of them more than others. Anyone who knows me well knows I go through periods where I’m gung-ho on one thing or another, making it the only thing in my life, and then I sort of peter out. It’s not that I lose interest, it’s more that I either hit a wall, or something else comes along, or I just get over stimulated and need a change. I think scheduling things on a weekly, or maybe even monthly basis, will keep little fires of interest stoked and burning, instead of consuming it all in one roaring, but brief, conflagration.

The short list, in the order that occur to me as I write this, but otherwise no meaningful order, right now consists of illustration, photography (still and video), web design (and other programming), fitness, gaming (WoW and others), knitting, and fencing. There might be other things, but that’s what springs to mind right now. I of course must also consider things like family time, work, and chores and honey-dos; I also would love to work it out so that some of these interests were mixed with family time. I think it’s going to take some thought and planning.

I’ll get back to you all shortly.

In other news, I got a new watch band. I think I hate it, or maybe it’s just that I miss my old, musky, supple, leather one; I did have it for ten years.