Productivity Tip: Find A Hobby
In his book, Stillness is the Key, Ryan holiday explains how the great Winston Churchill had a hobby of painting. Apparently during his time in politics, Churchill painted hundreds of pieces. None of them were especially good.
“He had lived for forty years on planet earth consumed by his work and his ambition, but through painting, his perspective and perception grew much sharper. Forced to slow down to set up his easel, to mix his paints, to wait for them to dry, he saw things he would have previously blown right past. After the major powers of WWII met for the Casablanca conference in 1943, weighed down and numb after so much death, Churchill travelled five hours to paint a sunset in Marrakech. He returned to Britain re-energized and ready to finish the task.”
Ryan Holiday makes compelling arguments through Churchill’s painting hobby, and other hobbies of successful people, that leisure and relaxation is an important piece of true productivity. Finding a way to turn our brains off and completely focus on one task actually reenergizes us to perform at a high level.
I grew up playing music all the time. Trombone, guitar, drums, piano, voice. However, when I started my freelance career, I pumped the brakes on my music hobby. How could I justify playing guitar for hours when I needed to win clients? Reading Holiday’s interpretation of hobbies encouraged me to schedule in more time for music. I can proudly say that during the worst of quarantine days, I found solace and rest in writing songs completely as a hobby. I emerged refreshed, as my brain had time to switch away from work mode. I felt more confident, as I felt I was doing something I was good at. And ultimately, I just had fun.
I think the trick with a hobby that increases productivity is to do something that you can get totally lost in. What brings you into a flow state in which you don’t even remember to check your phone? Find something that comes naturally to you, then put it in the calendar. There will always be people to see, things to do, and unfinished tasks. But when you realize that your goals–and the important people in your life–will be better served by a version of you that is refreshed, scheduling that time becomes much easier to justify.
What’s your hobby?
