Hey friend,

This week was hard. I think I'm withdrawal. 😣

It was the first week I didn't get to escape to the pottery studio in two years (excluding session breaks) - and I have another 10 weeks to go!!

Before you roll your eyes at me, hear me out.

the trap

The world is always telling you to focus and narrow your goals, strive harder - this is the key to success.

It's easy to take this at surface value and deprioritize everything that doesn't directly benefit your "goals"-whatever they happen to be right now.

A lot of ambitious people fall into this trap, myself included.

It plays into a certain kind of natural energy: passion, focus, purpose-driven energy. Not necessarily bad, except when it's out of balance, then

I lose perspective.

I burn out.

I get stuck.

hidden value of hobbies

If you can relate at all, there's something you've probably overlooked and undervalued so far in this rat-race.

Your hobbies (or maybe lack thereof)...

If you're like most people who still need to earn an income, you probably think about your hobbies as something "nice to have" in your life, not must-have.

However, it turns out having a hobby outside your daily work is one of the MOST important things you can do to be at your best.

Studies show that people who have hobbies are not only happier and more satisfied with life, but that hobbies actually help you be more resilient and successful in other areas - especially when those hobbies have nothing to do with your work.

This is because being "all-in" on something can easily be the precursor to burning out. Being laser-focused on one thing is emotionally, cognitively, and creatively putting all your eggs in one basket. Despite conventional wisdom that you need to be 100% focused on your goals - maybe it's wiser to give a little space for prioritizing your hobbies.

my lessons learned

I wonder if anyone else can relate: I spent most of my adult life not really sure what my "thing" was at this point in my life. I wasn't especially talented at art, music, sports, or anything else that could be a good adult hobby. It was easy to stay busy with work (and work) and then family (and family). Throw in working out and time with friends (occasionally), and I didn't really have time for a hobby anyways.

Until one day I signed up for a parent-kid class with my 2 sons at the local pottery studio. That class was 90 minutes of pure creative joy once a week. I didn't have anything else like it in my life, and the experience finally convinced me to try and sign up for an adult wheel class, which I had never done before.

As someone who spent literally years wishing I had a hobby and a creative outlet, I was in HEAVEN. And I learned some surprising things...

1. Working with my hands (and body) is really grounding. Centering clay and throwing pots were skills I had to learn with my body. That was a new for me; most of what I learn at work I do with my mind. It was hard, and took lots of practice, but when it finally clicked - it was like a magic trick. Now sitting down at the wheel activates another part of my brain, and it's magically grounding.
2. Becoming less attached to the outcome of my pottery translated to being able to feel less attached to outcomes of my work. This one was really cool. All potters know anything can happen in the kiln. Once I made a set of beautifully crafted and glazed bowls...only to find pieces of someone else's shattered mug haphazardly stuck in ugly, turd-like chunks to the outside and middle. I've learned to shrug it off - it's just clay, and I can always make another. Turns out practicing letting go, like little micro-acts of resilience, have made it easier for me to apply the same mindset to work that really matters to me - my clients - when things don't go the way I expected. It's a way more fun, low-stakes way to build my inner resilience, if you ask me.
3. Finding flow is a fantastic reset. My class was from 7-10pm, and my normal bedtime is between 9-10 pm. At first I was worried I'd fall asleep at the potter's wheel, but actually, most nights once I get going, time flies by - totally in flow - and I am one of the last ones to leave. Every time. I credit my energy surge to the power of flow. Then I go home and get a good night sleep. :)
4. I really like a hobby that gives me an excuse to leave the house. Maybe this would be different if I didn't have kids, but I doubt it. Just the act of forcing myself out of the house - to a new place - does wonders for my mental health. Post-COVID, I still work from home, and it turns out I do really well when I'm forced to get up and get out. Bonus: class was over bedtime (I love you J.R.!!)
5. With practice comes progress. I can literally see how far my skills have come in the last 2 years when I look at various creations around my house, and that brings me a lot of joy. It's a lot harder to see the progression of my work skills, given they are mostly soft skills, and I also suck at recognizing my own progress. So this daily, visual reminder that I DO get better over time is a huge blessing, and is a great counter-balance to my inner critic.

I suggest reading David Epstein's recent piece on hobbies, which really struck a chord with me - even though I'm not a high-performance junkie or professional athlete - because I had experienced these balancing hobby benefits, and I think they are really important for all of us.

My favorite part: he talks about how even HE missed the message that unrelated hobbies can be a secret sauce to success in his earlier research when a renowned sports psychologist specifically pointed this out to him.

It's just that counter-intuitive to what the world keeps tell us. And guess what? You don't have to buy that B.S. about staying 100% focused on one thing, either.

3 things to try

Here are 3 simple things you can do to put this "practice to thrive," into practice...

1. Read: David Epstein's piece on Why Hobbies Are An Advantage, Not a Distraction, if you want a little extra inspiration from other people.

2. Ask: What's ONE fun thing you've wanted to try, but haven't made time for?

Tip: If you're drawing a blank, ask a friend what they do or have wanted to try (I can personally attest, as a hobby procrastinator, that signing up with a friend is a great motivator). Skim classes offered at your local community college or community center for inspiration, if nothing is obvious.

3. Invest: Put some skin in the game. Consider paying for something - or signing up with a friend - so you have an extra motivation to keep it up (after all, if you've avoided it for this long you might need a little extra motivation to gain momentum)

Stay playful

Here's to finding time for a fun hobby, even if it makes you feel a little awkward at first.

Warmly,

Allie

P.S. And if you enjoyed this post, please share it. :)

P.P.S. If you want to sign up for summer (or fall) pottery with me @ Seward Park, shoot me an email! :)