Right now I feel busy. We're in a new house with its own new set of projects, there's a lot of important and exciting stuff going on at work that needs my attention, and we've hit a stretch in our social calendar where free weekends feel like a non-renewable resource.
I'm not overwhelmed but there's a little bit of whelming going on, and when that type of 'I'm too busy with important things' energy begins to creep into my life I know that the first things to get cut are the things that feel like play.
That's only sensible, when time gets tight you have to make hard decisions and nobody is emailing you frantically demanding those doodles you spent 15 minutes drawing in your notebook while eating lunch.
Listen, there will always be stretches in life where the seesaw of responsibility descends in favor of the real adult work you have to get done. And at times like these it's worth remembering that what got you all of these fancy responsibilities and impressive stressors in the first place was - at least in some part - mucking about. That you're better at your job now because of the curiosity that led you to reading things that have nothing to do with your job, spending time with hobbies untied to some greater goal, diving down rabbit holes outside your regular Overton window of inputs - that stuff built the foundation that prepared you to be good at the serious work.
And these things still play a role now and it is greater than just making us happy (which isn't that the point of this all? If I can't scuba then what's this all been about?) - they get you out of your routine, help prevent burnout, and bring diverse inputs that wet the foundation where ideas grow and motivation gets renewed.
So here's my reminder to myself - I don't have any tattoos but getting this on my thigh wouldn't be unwise - don't stop finding time for things that have no set purpose. When things get busy defend small pockets of time to do things that make everything feel lighter. Do something each day that isn't scrolling on your phone and isn't attached to some greater goal. Know that you'll often feel busy in life and it's not an excuse to always take it so seriously.