1 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:14,920 Speaker 1: Good Morning, This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. 3 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:20,640 Speaker 1: Today's tip is to find a micro hobby, something engaging 4 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:22,960 Speaker 1: and meaningful you can do when you have just a 5 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 1: few minutes of free time. Choosing something wisely can really 6 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 1: make life a lot more satisfying. It would be nice 7 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 1: if we routinely had long chunks of free time that 8 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:39,159 Speaker 1: we could use for oil painting or playing the flute 9 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 1: or woodworking. And if you do, good for you. I'd 10 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:46,520 Speaker 1: also argue that many of us can get a few 11 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:51,000 Speaker 1: extended stretches of high quality leisure time each week if 12 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 1: we plan well. However, even with great planning, not all 13 00:00:56,800 --> 00:01:00,560 Speaker 1: of our leisure time will appear in this form. Often 14 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:02,880 Speaker 1: we get just a few minutes of free time here 15 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:06,680 Speaker 1: and there. Picture yourself waiting for a conference called a 16 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:10,320 Speaker 1: start door, standing in line at the grocery store, idling 17 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 1: in the carpool line, or waiting for your teapot to boil. 18 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:17,040 Speaker 1: In total, this can be quite a bit of time, 19 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:22,240 Speaker 1: but it is fragmented time confetti. As author Bridget Shulty 20 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:26,279 Speaker 1: once put it, It's easy to scroll through social media 21 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 1: or check email in moments like these, and your phone 22 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:35,679 Speaker 1: is almost certainly nearby. Those activities are marginally entertaining, definitely absorbing, 23 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:39,920 Speaker 1: but they are not that rewarding, and curiously enough, your 24 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:42,119 Speaker 1: inbox will end up being just as full the next 25 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 1: time you sit down at your computer, even if you 26 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 1: do throw time at it now, So on some level, 27 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 1: why bother? Instead, try to find something more rewarding to 28 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 1: do with your micro leisure time. Find a micro hobby. 29 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 1: A hobby is an activity done regularly in one's leisure 30 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 1: time for pleasure. Ideally there is a bit of skill involved. 31 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 1: It is not completely passive. A micro hobby is a 32 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 1: hobby that can be enjoyed in little bits of time. So, 33 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 1: for instance, you might try micro writing. Start a free 34 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 1: writing file and then when you get a few minutes, 35 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 1: aim to write fifty words, a hundred words or so. 36 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 1: I have read whole books of micro memoirs, so you 37 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 1: might be able to create something of real value in 38 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:38,240 Speaker 1: those little moments. Of course, you can also read things 39 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:43,360 Speaker 1: that other people have written. Poems are quick scripture versus too. 40 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 1: Set yourself a goal to read through some chunk of 41 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:50,680 Speaker 1: a sacred text and bits and pieces. You could even 42 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:54,080 Speaker 1: aim to memorize versus or poems as your micro hobby. 43 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:57,760 Speaker 1: Having these phrases floating around in your brain can definitely 44 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 1: elevate your thoughts. If you enjoy art, sketching can make 45 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:05,800 Speaker 1: a great micro hobby. No need to use charcoal, drawing 46 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:09,400 Speaker 1: pencils or special papers unless you really want to, just 47 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:12,360 Speaker 1: use whatever pen or pencil and paper you have on hand. 48 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:16,359 Speaker 1: Some of my favorite art exhibits have included artists sketches 49 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:19,640 Speaker 1: on scraps of paper. I love getting the behind the 50 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 1: scenes view of the idea for a painting as it emerges. 51 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:26,360 Speaker 1: Sketching will help you strengthen your drawing skills and perhaps 52 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 1: get ideas for a more polished painting or drawing, and 53 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 1: it will prompt you to truly look and pay attention 54 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:37,000 Speaker 1: to your surroundings. Taking photographs can do that too. If 55 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 1: you are parked somewhere waiting, get out look at the 56 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 1: plants and shadows and shapes of the world. An experiment 57 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 1: with taking photos from different angles with our phones. You 58 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 1: can just delete anything that doesn't work out. There is 59 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:57,400 Speaker 1: no downside to learning through trial and error. Another option 60 00:03:57,480 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 1: for micro leisure is to use an app like dual 61 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 1: Link Go to learn a language. You can complete a 62 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 1: lesson or practice session in just a few minutes. See 63 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 1: how long you can get a streak going. You'll get 64 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 1: your brain working in new ways, which you can do 65 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 1: with crossword puzzles as a micro hobby as well. Now, 66 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:18,279 Speaker 1: of course, your hobby doesn't actually need to be totally 67 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 1: self contained in these bits of time. One of the 68 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 1: most rewarding choices for micro leisure is to augment the 69 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 1: more extended time you spend on a hobby at other points. 70 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:33,279 Speaker 1: So for instance, if you play an instrument, but you 71 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:36,640 Speaker 1: can't exactly practice your instrument while sitting in line at school, 72 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 1: pickup watch videos of or listen to other people performing 73 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:46,279 Speaker 1: the songs you are practicing. How have six different musicians 74 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:50,360 Speaker 1: interpreted that piano solo you are learning. If you are 75 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:54,480 Speaker 1: a gardener, use these bits of time to watch tutorials 76 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:58,280 Speaker 1: or read articles with tips on plant care or garden design. 77 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 1: If you are going to go on social media, well 78 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:05,839 Speaker 1: go with a purpose. If your hobby is building dollhouse 79 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:08,800 Speaker 1: furniture and so you have an Instagram account that is 80 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:11,279 Speaker 1: completely devoted to miniature as well, that would be a 81 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 1: good idea. The possibilities for micro hobbies are endless. The 82 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 1: point is to use your time in a way that 83 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 1: is meaningful, rather than counting a few minutes here and 84 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:28,160 Speaker 1: there is worthless and blowing them off on mindless scrolling. 85 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 1: A lot of fun can be had in tiny moments. 86 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 1: You just need to figure out how. If you have 87 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 1: micro hobbies you enjoy, I'd love to hear about them. 88 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 1: You can reach me at Laura at Laura Vanderkan dot com. 89 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 1: In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening, and 90 00:05:51,240 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 1: here's to making the most of our time. Hey, everybody, 91 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:03,400 Speaker 1: I'd love to hear from you. You can send me 92 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 1: your tips, your questions, or anything else. Just connect with 93 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:11,520 Speaker 1: me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at Before Breakfast Pod. 94 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 1: That's b E the number four, then breakfast p o D. 95 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 1: You can also shoot me an email at Before Breakfast 96 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:23,719 Speaker 1: podcast at i heeart media dot com. That Before Breakfast 97 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:26,479 Speaker 1: is spelled out with all the letters. Thanks so much, 98 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:34,720 Speaker 1: I look forward to staying in touch. Before Breakfast is 99 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 1: a production of I Heart Radio. For more podcasts from 100 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 1: I heart Radio, visit the i heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 101 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.