How to Make Time for Hobbies (Even When You’re Busy) (TPS577)

12 snips

Sep 8, 2025

Feeling too busy for your hobbies? Discover how to shift your mindset from just 'finding' time to 'making' it. Learn practical tactics like weekly planning and how to double-dip your downtime by combining activities. Explore treating hobbies like skills to level up your enjoyment. The hosts emphasize the importance of prioritizing leisure to boost happiness and productivity. Plus, they share personal stories and encourage listeners to block out dedicated time for fun this week. Time to reclaim your passions!

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INSIGHT

Hobbies As Purely Personal Value

Many people stop having hobbies because they treat every activity as needing utility or business value.
Reclaiming activities purely for enjoyment improves happiness and productivity.

ADVICE

Schedule Hobbies In Weekly Planning

Schedule hobbies during your weekly planning the same way you schedule work.
Make the mindset shift from "finding" time to deliberately "making" time.

ADVICE

Treat Hobbies Like Calendar Appointments

Block specific days/times for hobbies and treat them like appointments to protect them.
Use weekly planning to force the habit until the hobby becomes routine.

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Feeling like you never have time for your hobbies? In this episode, Thanh and Brooks dive into practical strategies for busy professionals to reclaim their personal time. Discover the crucial mindset shift from “finding” to “making” time, learn tactical approaches like weekly planning and calendar triage, and explore how to design your lifestyle for intentional leisure. Get actionable takeaways to integrate your passions into your busy schedule and achieve a better work-life balance.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources. [02:56].
Is the gym a hobby or a habit? The surprising line between the two. [08:40].
The simple planning tweak that makes hobbies actually happen. [11:31].
Time-poor? Practical moves to carve out space for fun again. [20:15].
Double-dip your downtime: pair a pastime with what you already do. [24:57].
Level up faster by treating hobbies like skills with “boss levels.” [31:29].
What your calendar quietly says about your priorities. [36:06].
From trail miles to new obsessions—childhood favorites and what’s next. [38:22].

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