Making time For One’s Self

Hobbies are the things that keep me sane to be perfectly honest. I have a vast number of them, which is why I consider myself a Jack of all Trades, master of none. The problem comes with making time to partake in my hobbies, or just taking the time to relax and be myself.

For those that don’t know, I am unemployed, primarily due to the current economic climate and my being a student. Not many people are looking for part time employees these days, and if they are they generally want some kind of work experience. Considering the only thing I have any experience in is writing, that’s not the greatest piece of information I want to hear while job hunting.

Because of this one main fact, I spend the vast majority of my time on the internet trying to eke out just enough money to survive on. Most of the time I fail, but fortunately my family usually has a few odd jobs I can help with, be it cutting the grass or helping to move furniture. And they pay me for these jobs, usually far above minimum wage. But it’s still only just about enough to get me through month to month. All my time is used up on the internet trying to make money through a hundred different online projects through fifty different names. Websites, blogs, freelance writing….

Due to the combination of ‘business’ and the lack of a reliable income, I don’t have a lot of time to spend with myself or my friends. I usually manage to squeeze in an hour of “me time” just before I fall asleep, where I can write stories, read books and listen to music. If I’m lucky, I might get a day where I can hang out with friends and go to a park or something. But if they want to go to a cinema, I have to politely decline. I’m not one to scrounge off my close friends, so I’m not willing to have them pay my way through our movies and meals. I just order a small fries when they order a Big Mac meal. I don’t get popcorn when we see a movie. It’s not ideal, but it works.

It’s extremely important to make the time for yourself, at least an hour a day. I’d go stark raving mad if I didn’t do that. Just take the time to lie down, put on some music, and read a book. Play with your children if you have them. Watch TV, talk with a friend on the phone. Write a letter.

Life’s not as serious as people want you to think, and if you don’t stop to relax it will overwhelm you. If you let the intricacies and complications of life get to you, you’ll never survive.