How To Keep Your Hobbies With Young Children

It’s already hard to have just one hobby as an adult. 

Between work, work, and work, who even has time for anything else these days?

And when you factor children into the equation, it’s a miracle that anything ever gets done, right? So because of the time constraints, hobbies are usually the first thing that parents give up on.

But that doesn’t have to be the way, parents! 

You CAN still indulge in your hobbies, and you don’t have to feel guilty for it.

I won’t lie, it is a little tricky. So read on as I attempt to get you back into your hobbies!

Indulging In Your Hobbies=Self-Care

First things first, your outlook on doing your hobby needs to change.

It shouldn’t be “I’m going to do my hobby,” it should be “I’m going to indulge in my hobby.”

Saying “do” just sounds so cold and like as if you’re doing it out of obligation. 

When you indulge in your hobby, you’ve made time for yourself, and it shows that you care for yourself, as you’re intentionally doing something that makes you happy!

This can be a pocket of peace in your day when the children go to sleep or every week when they’re at swimming lessons.

Your Hobbies Feed Your Mind, Body, And Soul!

Think about what it does for your mind, body, and soul in the long run too!

Firstly, it helps to take your mind off of whatever problems you have now. Like that Ribena stain on your child’s shirt or deciding which one of SmileTutor’s 20,000 tutors would be the best for your child! 

And if you’re feeling burnt out, which most parents do, indulging in your hobby is like a warm bath on a cold, rainy day. Even taking a break to crochet or sketch for 10 minutes will recharge your battery.

Secondly, you might not realise it, but stress does affect the body in physical ways. You might dismiss your headaches, stomachaches, and fatigue as the costs of being a busy parent, but those are also common symptoms of stress!

Lastly, aren’t enjoyment, fulfilment, and relaxation the keys to nurturing your soul? Your child already checks the ‘fulfilment’ box, but what about the ‘enjoyment’ and’relaxation’ boxes?

But How Do I Even Find Time For Myself?

Great! So you’ve resolved to get back into your hobby.

“But I’m just so busy. My schedule is packed, even down to the minute.”

Don’t worry. It can be done.

Take advantage of whatever you can. 

Waking up even half an hour earlier or going to sleep 15 minutes later will still give you time to finish your painting. 

Or take advantage of nap time or when the children are at preschool to finish your book!

Lastly, make sure to communicate with your partner. Are there any chores or errands they could pick up that would give you more ‘alone time’? Don’t be afraid to ask. If they love you, they’ll understand!

Plan Your Sessions!

Now that you’ve opened up a few extra hours in your week, stay productive!

You don’t want to have made free time for yourself just to not use it wisely, right? 

If it’s been a long time since you indulged in your hobby, you might have to plan what you’re going to do first. So here are some points to take note of!

Firstly, set an attainable goal.

Having a goal will give you something to work towards, so you won’t waste your time! And you’ll feel accomplished afterwards too! 

However, remember to make sure it’s realistic. If you have not touched the piano in 8 months, practicing every day for 30 minutes is more realistic than wanting to learn a whole concerto in 3 weeks.

Secondly, be flexible

As a parent, you know that not everything will go according to plan. So if your child wakes up from their nap while you’re frosting your cake, don’t feel dejected that your plan has been derailed. 

Be open to changing your plan. As long as your compass is set in the right direction, you’ll still reach your destination.

Thirdly, make your environment conducive 

You’re on a tight time budget here! Every minute counts. You’ll be more productive if you don’t have to waste time scrambling to find the different coloured yarn if you have prepared everything beforehand.

Also, make it an enjoyable experience! Play some lo-fi or classical music, or put on an episode of your favourite show while you’re doing your yoga.

Consider Picking Up A New/ Alternative Hobby

This one might hurt. But it might be time to let go of your teenage skateboard or electric guitar.

This doesn’t mean to throw them away! You could swap your skateboard for something more family-friendly, like cycling. Or put your Tony Hawke or Jimi Hendrix dreams aside until it’s a better time to pick them up again.

So in the meantime, why not try something else?

Is there another hobby that you’ve always wanted to try? No better time to try it out than right now, right?

Involve Your Children

I know, I know. I told you to use your hobbies as a chance to escape from your parental duties and to spend time with yourself for a while.

But realistically, it might be more feasible to let your kids join in. 

You won’t have to find time away from them if they’re involved too, and they’ll be meaningfully engaged.

It also exposes them to something new, and they might even get into your hobby as well!

And think of this as a long-term strategy too! 

You can also take the chance to establish boundaries now, like telling them that meditation is a quiet experience. So in the future, when they see you on your mat, they’ll know to be quiet.

Conclusion

Hobbies and alone time feed your mind, body, and soul. 

Remember that one date you went on, who bored you out so much because they didn’t have any interests or hobbies? You don’t want to be them now!

But it doesn’t have to be a challenge to still indulge in your hobbies with children if you can snake around your daily schedule.

So here’s to getting back into old indulges that will improve your life by feeding your mind, body, and soul!