## The cost of improvement [(00:00:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=0s) - Creativity and the pursuit of improvement can come at a cost, including emotions such as bitterness, envy, and disappointment in oneself, particularly when trying to excel in multiple areas like creating beautiful things, becoming a skilled athlete, and maintaining a healthy social life [(00:00:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=7s). - The desire to achieve multiple goals and be good at everything can be a heavy burden to bear, especially for those who are not privileged with wealth, perfect discipline, and a predictable life, making it difficult to attain all of these aspirations [(00:00:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=19s). - Content creators often offer solutions like time management, habits, and morning routines to help achieve these goals, but even with nuance and realistic expectations, these solutions can be idealistic and may not work in practice, leading to feelings of hopelessness when they fail to produce the desired results [(00:00:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=46s). - The pursuit of ideals and solutions can be frustrating, as they often seem achievable in theory but fall short in reality, leaving individuals feeling like they are constantly trying to reach an unattainable standard [(00:00:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=59s). ## Hobby seasons [(00:01:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=61s) - The concept of Hobby Seasons allows for chill and sensible growth, enabling individuals to pursue their passions and interests over a lifetime, rather than trying to do everything at once, which can lead to burnout [(00:01:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=61s). - By spreading out passions and interests over a lifetime, it becomes possible to focus on a few things at a time, putting the rest on the back burner, and revisiting them when the time is right, which can help manage expectations and make progress without feeling overwhelmed [(00:01:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=76s). - The idea of Hobby Seasons is to capture the reality that good things take time, and it's essential to be fair with oneself and not rush to complete everything immediately, instead, focusing on one to three things for a period and then saving the rest for another time [(00:01:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=111s). - This approach can be particularly useful during periods of work, college, or school, where it's possible to make progress while still having some variety in life, and it's not necessary to squeeze everything into the present moment [(00:02:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=139s). - [[Squarespace]] is a tool that can enable creativity and help individuals make their passions public, with features such as a drag-and-drop editor, AI website builder, and tools to accept payments, making it easier to create and share content [(00:02:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=156s). ## In practice [(00:03:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=225s) - The concept of hobby seasons involves selecting one to three pursuits to focus on for a given period, which requires prioritizing certain activities and neglecting others, with the understanding that there will be opportunities to try new things in the future [(00:03:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=225s). - This approach allows individuals to explore their interests and desires at a particular moment in their life, and as they mature, they can adjust their pursuits to supplement their life rather than clashing with it [(00:04:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=261s). - An example of this concept is cooking, which was a significant hobby for a period of three years in college, involving finding recipes, sourcing ingredients, and learning from mistakes, but due to its time-consuming nature, it left limited time for other activities like painting or playing an instrument [(00:04:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=274s). - The time element is a crucial factor in managing hobby seasons, as dedicating time to one pursuit can make it challenging to keep up with other activities, and individuals must be mindful of their time allocation to maintain a balance [(00:05:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=308s). ## Supplement life, don't distract from it [(00:05:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=314s) - Doing less can provide more time for other activities, and there is a hidden benefit to this approach, which is that interests can be chosen based on current needs in life, allowing them to amplify core parts of life without serving as a distraction [(00:05:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=314s). - These core parts of life may include work, relationships, or personal identity, and they can change over time, making it possible to tailor hobby seasons to provide what is needed when it is needed [(00:05:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=325s). - For example, learning to cook in college made sense because it is a necessary life skill, and having this skill can be beneficial in various situations, such as when hosting others, and it is important to find someone who appreciates simple efforts like serving ground beef on toast [(00:05:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=345s). - The idea of hobby seasons is to supplement life, rather than distract from it, by choosing activities that support and enhance core parts of life, rather than pulling away from them [(00:05:32)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=332s). ## Common worries addressed [(00:06:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=373s) - A common worry about stopping a hobby is the fear of getting worse at it or missing it, but it's okay to take a break and return to it if it's something meaningful and valued [(00:06:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=373s). - If a hobby is stopped, muscle memory will still be present, allowing individuals to pick up where they left off, even after a long time, and this concept is comparable to building strength and physique in the gym [(00:06:48)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=408s). - Muscle memory is incredibly powerful, and even after months or years of not practicing a skill, such as playing the [[Violin | violin]] or cooking, it will still be there, providing a foundation to build upon and quickly regain proficiency [(00:06:55)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=415s). - The concept of muscle memory is similar to building strength in the gym, where it takes a long time to lose muscle and strength, but when returning to the gym, it's possible to build it back more quickly than before because of the existing foundation [(00:07:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=467s). - The idea of "hobby seasons" shouldn't be a significant issue, as once effort is put into building up a skill, it will stick around for the long term, making it easier to return to it if it's something that's truly valued and enjoyed [(00:08:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=494s). ## Energy balance [(00:08:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=505s) - Hobby seasons allow individuals to work with their energy levels rather than against them, enabling them to prioritize activities based on their available energy [(00:08:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=505s). - After a long day, it is understandable to feel drained and not want to engage in demanding hobbies, such as film making or cooking, and instead opt for more relaxing interests that recharge energy [(00:08:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=518s). - Saving busy periods for relaxing interests that require minimal effort and energy, such as practicing Photoshop or reading, can be an effective way to manage energy levels [(00:08:54)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=534s). - During quieter periods, such as holidays or less busy times, individuals can switch to more demanding hobbies that require a significant investment of time and attention [(00:09:09)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=549s). - By using energy wisely and adjusting hobby schedules accordingly, individuals can achieve the best results and make the most of their time and energy [(00:09:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=557s). ## 10:32 What do you do? [(00:09:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=563s) - The concept of "Hobby Seasons" is a simple idea that helps keep things realistic, fresh, and dynamic, allowing for variety in life while making progress without feeling overwhelmed [(00:09:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=563s). - This approach forces individuals to be minimalists and adopt a "renaissance man" mindset over time, which can be beneficial for personal growth and development [(00:09:44)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=584s). - The idea of Hobby Seasons may not work for everyone, but it is considered realistic because it promotes a long-term perspective and flexibility [(00:09:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=591s). - Viewers are encouraged to share their own philosophies or approaches to time management and personal growth in the comments section, as sharing ideas can help others grow and learn [(00:09:58)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=598s). - A newsletter is available, linked below the video, which discusses similar ideas and new, exciting topics, and although it is not frequently updated, more content is expected to be added in the coming months [(00:10:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=610s). - The creator expresses gratitude to the viewers for watching and invites them to check out the newsletter, with the promise of more content to come [(00:10:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k&t=630s). ## Sources - [website](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usOgvEPaW4k?si=mF8TO6s6iox0ojXR)