[BF #046] 🎮 How do you unplug?
Nov 28, 2020 3:17 pm
(1-minute confession time)
Do you sometimes get a feeling that you're "always working"? Even when you're not "working" you're doing "something" that's related to work?
No?
Just me!?
Ooook! 😅 😅 😇
I'm sure adults around me would describe me as a "lazy kid" when I was growing up, and that wouldn't be far from the truth. I was always the type of person to find a quick and effective way of doing things. So I can get back to my Nintendo / PC / Photoshop / Whatever...
If you have a difficult task, give it to a lazy man — he will find an easier way to do it.
Finding an effective way of doing a task is a great skill to have when you're building a career in User Experience, but at some point along the way, probably when I started doing things I love for money not just for kicks, I went from from "lazy" to "workaholic". (at least if you'd ask people who know me)
During a conversation with a dear friend, we've both discovered that we've managed to put ourself in a state of mind that is "If you're not moving forward, you're failing". And in doing so, we started to feel guilty whenever we'd start doing something "unproductive" or "fun". And that's not a good feeling, especially for two comedians.
I guilted myself in feeling bad if I'm not chasing my dreams, working on my projects, moving the needle forward, etc... I started to feel bad watching an interview with someone like Kevin Hart or Tom Holland, and I would think "I am sitting on my couch doing nothing, watching people living their goals." And I'd feel bad and got moving.
It's great having motivation, working on achieving your goals. But realised that every once in a while I just need to take a break and everything will be ok. When the weather is nice, I would ride my motorcycle or go hiking, but that's not that often living in England 😅 - so I wanted to find a hobby I can do indoors, and with my hands, that doesn't involve a screen. So no gaming, tv, Kindle, nothing digital.
I always loved scale models, and I'm a colossal aircraft nerd, so I decided to start building scale models as my new hobby. Every Saturday morning, until I get tired and lose focus.
(it's going nicely for a total noob) :)
It's a sort of meditation. Allows me to tune out, train my patience, listen to music and see something come alive using my hands, some tools and some glue.
But more importantly - it feels like I'm doing something for myself, and I don't feel bad about it.
How do you unwind and unplug? I welcome suggestions! :)
Have a great weekend!
T.
Tom Kozacinski, sir Freelance-a-lot 🙃
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