Somewhat recently, a blog reader emailed me and said she was shocked that we had a Netflix membership. I figured she was going to rant and rave about how TV was the most horrible thing ever and would certainly ruin our children’s brains.
However, she was actually thrilled to know we had a Netflix membership because (as she put it), “It means you actually have free time and that you actually kick back and relax every once in a while.”
I had to laugh when she told me that — because obviously I DO relax, it’s just not something I write about on my blog (until today, I suppose). I figured my freetime activities would not be extremely interesting to anyone, and since my focus for this blog is “productivity”, “time management”, “organization”, etc. I just never thought to blog about free time.
However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized it might be a great post topic. So for those of you who have ever wondered what I do in my free time… here are a few of my favorite hobbies!
This is for sure my most favorite “hobby” — if you can really call it a hobby 🙂
Although I realize we will probably never do many of my crazy ideas, I absolutely LOVE dreaming up creative (and most likely very expensive) future home renovations and projects. In fact, over the last 8 – 10 years, I’ve “corrupted” Dave’s brain too and we’ll both sit and brainstorm crazy scenarios.
We have so much fun coming up with ideas, getting all hyped up about them for 3 or 4 days, talking about them constantly with each other for those 3 or 4 days, and then realizing it’s never going to work… and moving onto the next idea.
p.s. you can take a tour of our house here 🙂
2. Cards and Games
We enjoy playing card games as a family now that our kids are a bit older. The kids are especially into playing Solitaire as it’s a fun game they can do on their own — maybe when they need a little downtime.
NOTE: If you want to try a fun version of Solitaire, check out Solitaired, where you can play different variations of the classic game.
3. Thrift Shopping
Did you know I’m a huge fan of thrift shopping (both in store and online) — it’s how I buy almost everything!
We save so much money buying used… and I love the thrill of finding exactly what I was looking for!
Here are a few of the posts I’ve written about online shopping.
- My Favorite Online Shopping Sites
- 6 Ways to Get Free (or almost free) Clothes
- 4 Ways I Save and Simplify With Online Shopping
- How we clean thrift store purchases
4. Listening to podcasts
I do almost no social media and I honestly don’t spend a ton of time online these day — but I do really enjoy listening to podcasts.
I listen while I make meals, while I clean, while I fold laundry, while I do yard work, or while I walk.
It’s a great way to “multi-task”.
Here are some of my favorite podcasts.
5. Digital Photo Books
I got started with digital photo books the year after Dave and I were married and I was searching for a way to digitize all our photos from birth on. I was originally very overwhelmed by the task at hand — but I quickly realized that I loved working on digital photo books, and have created 10 large books already!
I have made dozens and dozens of books over the years — here’s how I do it.
Digital photo books is just the perfect hobby for me because it doesn’t involve any pieces or parts or storing anything in my house. Plus, it’s all done via the computer — and I’m on the computer so much already that it’s no big deal to just make a couple more pages before I shut down for the night.
Also, it gives me an added incentive to keep my photos organized and provides the perfect opportunity for me to print hundreds of pictures in one, nice, neat, organized book (because I really dislike loose photos all over the place!)
6. Walking
I’m guessing many of you can probably relate to the fact that I dislike most “formal” exercise methods. I don’t like getting sweaty, I refuse to spend money on a gym membership I wouldn’t even use, and I’m just not willing to make the time in my already busy schedule to exercise when I don’t even like doing it.
However, I do really enjoy walking — and we walk ALL the time.
Unless it’s raining or icy, we walk somewhere almost every single day. Often it’s to run errands (we live really close to everything) but many times it’s just to get out of the house and take a few laps around the neighborhood.
I fully realize that I’m not burning massive amount of calories just walking, but I enjoy it, and it’s better than sitting on my butt! Plus, my kiddos love walks and I love our double stroller!
That’s about it for my hobbies and free-time activities.
I’m certain this list sounds awfully boring to many of you — but it’s just perfect for me and the stage of life I’m in right now. I don’t have the desire to make the time or space to do lots of crafts, I’m not excited about traveling with 2 little kids, and I enjoy being home.
So, for those of you who may have thought I was a work-a-holic, let me assure you, I have plenty of free time (at least enough for my liking) and when I do, you’ll most likely find me doing any number of the activities listed above.
In fact, in the process of writing this post, I watched 2 episodes of Friends on Netflix, I took a break to place an order on Amazon.com for a few things for Nora’s birthday and on ThredUp.com to use a coupon code I had. I checked Facebook once to upload a couple of pictures, stopped to chat with Dave about installing our new front door, and I have my photobook program ready to go now that I’m just about finished with the post.
Oh, and we went for an hour-long walk earlier today — stopping to pay our water bill at City Hall, returning a package at the post office, depositing a few checks at the bank, and stopping by the grocery store for some pop corn 🙂