How do you make your life better and have fun at the same time?

We all like fun. We all (in theory) want to live better. And since guilty pleasures can get in the way of more constructive habits, I believe that it’s important to find activities that are both productive and enjoyable. Perhaps you have a particular affinity for working a garden, fixing a car, or cleaning. If so, that is terrific, but others (like me) may have to think a bit more creatively to find constructive hobbies.

These are some items that I would consider constructive hobbies for me:

Reading

My most consistent constructive hobby, I spend at least a few hours a week reading books. I find that reading is one of the best ways to expose myself to new ideas and attempt to broaden my horizons. At the same time, it is very entertaining for me.

Running

I know running is not fun to a lot of people. And I can admit—if physical activity wasn’t also really good for me and in the best interest of my long-term physical, emotional, and financial well-being, I probably wouldn’t be as excited to partake. But it is, so running provides not only an excellent opportunity to keep my body in shape, it also is a good time to think critically or to re-charge emotionally.

TED Talks

I occasionally watch these online lectures, which are short (18 minutes or less) but very powerful. The topics include virtually anything in the worlds of technology, entertainment, or design, and the talks are branded as “ideas worth spreading”. These powerful talks can be educational, thought-provoking, inspirational, or all of the above. To read more, click here.

Do you have any constructive hobbies? If so, please share, because I am always looking for more!

Guilty Pleasures

We all have hobbies that might be classified as “guilty pleasures”. They are activities that are not necessarily bad, but in excess they may serve as distractions.

Distractions can be a good thing. They allow us an escape from the real world, if only for a short duration. They can also be a bad thing—a force to pull us away from challenges that need to be faced, tasks that demand attention, or conversations that need to be had.

These are some of my guilty pleasures and how/when they manifest:

American College Football

With the wife in grad school, I am able to watch as much as ever on the weekends. And it’s particular exciting these days because my favorite team, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, is off to a fantastic start. And since this is mainly a weekend thing, I am able to remain focused on more important things during the week.

Fantasy Football

I am an obsessive fantasy football player. I am in three leagues and spend hours preparing before the season starts. Now that the season has begun, I generally give it a few minutes each day to check news and read analysis for the next weekend’s games.

Sporcle.com

As I have always enjoyed trivia about most any topic, I find Sporcle.com to be one of the most fun (and relatively edifying) ways to occasionally spend a couple of minutes in the evening. This timed quiz site makes even the blandest of topics entertaining.

What are your own personal guilty pleasures? How do you keep them from taking over your life?