Downtime and Hobbies and connection

What do you do with your downtime? Do you even have downtime?

In a conversation with a friend and colleague, we spoke about what we do to try and switch off and recharge the internal batteries. What we found was that even our downtime is centred around 'work'.

It is said that 'do a job/role you love, you'll never work a day in your life '- but there really is more to life than what we do. And what we do for fun outside of the very very large sphere that is our work can significantly improve our life.

When I was a kid, I was encouraged to have a hobby or two. You had to make friends with entertaining yourself. Learning to draw, building lego, model kits, fixing bikes and reading books. Lots and lots of books. (Catch up was provided by video stores- anyone remember Blockbuster. Streaming a programme was watching it live via terrestrial TV).

The concept of the hobby is not as popular as it once was. Entertainment and entertaining oneself is very much reliant on mobile devices and screens. The practical hobby requires more effort as it is so much easier to do something on your screen or be entertained by 'content'/ Either professional content (netflix etc) or amateur content - your friends reels, tik-toks and insta. We have 24/7 access to constant stream of entertaining images that gives us the illusion of entertainment.

Trying to find a hobby that doesn't require money to begin and enjoy is challenging to say the least. Clubs, groups and third spaces where people gather are not that common. Covid shut a load and the article by Mark Williams here https://ww3.rics.org/uk/en/modus/built-environment/homes-and-communities/third-places.html

gives a very interesting take on todays issues of belonging and connecting with people.

In the exhibition world, when covid finally allowed us to get back in the exhibition hall (with restrictions) the feeling of relief was palpable. Connecting back with fellow event profs was great. Connecting with delegates was amazing too. Mainly because the delegates that were there, really wanted ot be there. Footfall was down - meaningful engagement was up.

We crave the meaningful engagement. That's why exhibition halls sort of become third spaces in that expo profs and delegates and industry peers can meet up, and have meaningful engagement.

Going back to hobbies - having hobbies gives us a wider base of knowledge and understanding from which we can engage further. If your hobby is playing an instrument and your local third space has an open mic night. There is a group of people that have a common interest and common purpose. Strangers playing the same song together breaks down barriers.

Hobbies give you commonality, and much more than that, your hobbies give you an interesting life. Not to everyone mind (I love Formula 1 and the technicalities of it - not all F1 fans like that level of geekery though😁) but you do have more tools in your toolbox to be able to find common ground and engage.

You might very well love what you do, it might well consume you (heck this is being written an 9pm on a Thursday ) but widen your worldly viewpoint - do something that doesn't require mobile devices and become a hobbyist. It is absolutely good for the soul.