Pottering Around: How I'm going to fill up my free time this summer

A to-do list of spare time

In the spirit of this Substack’s name, it felt appropriate to start with a list of hobbies I plan to make time for in the upcoming months. I’m definitely not reinventing the wheel with this list - why make life complicated? Most of these I am already doing anyway. I ideally just want to do some of them a little more.

Writing

As I have recently created this Substack, the most obvious activity to begin this list with would be writing. I have no previous professional experience and equally as little as a hobbyist. I lack confidence in writing and it often feels challenging for me to articulate what it is that I am meaning to say, kind of like the words aren’t making sense in the order that I put them in.

This summer, I am making time to try and refine my writing skills. I may never be brilliant, but writing for me is intended as a tool to explore my thoughts and in some cases help organise my life. Ideally I would like to aim for one post a week on Substack to start with - a realistic goal is more likely sustainable. Here to dilly dally, do a little writing and maybe connect with some lovely people in the process.

Reading

To write, I need to read. Here are a few on my current on my TBR list:

Book Journaling

Earlier this year, I started a book journal. I have often found that I can finish an amazing story, then when I am asked what I loved about it a few weeks later following my own enthusiastic recommendation to someone, I can’t actually remember much of the details.

My book journal is intended as a space for me to record new vocabulary, interesting quotes or write a reflection once I’ve finished. I’ll perhaps mention which characters I liked, which I didn’t, if the themes resonated, did it make me cry or did it make me laugh and then give a rating out of 5. It has been such a wonderful addition to my reading experience, encouraging me to truly contemplate the content of a book (and actually remember it).

Knitting and / or Crocheting

Apologies to any avid knitters or crocheters as I have just put these very two individual fibre arts under the same heading.

Very rarely a day goes by when I don’t do at least ten minutes of either knitting or crocheting. I usually have multiple projects on the go and often carry at least one of them in my bag when I leave the house. At home, I rarely sit down to watch something without having a current WIP (work in project) in my hands. Then on more busier days I’ll pick up my project and find that it allows me to switch off for a short period of time, providing an opportunity to simply zone out, as I focus on the movements of the needles and yarn.

Summer knitting and crocheting is always an opportunity to create lighter wearable items and pretty accessories. Current summer mood board looks something like this:

Sewing

Sewing is a skill that I very much view myself as an absolute beginner, even though I have had my sewing machine for few years now after a friend kindly gifted me a second-hand one. When I first received the sewing machine, it definitely needed a little TLC, with some broken switches and a pedal that wasn’t working quite as well as it could be. Like any new hobby, I was initially super excited and felt thrilled about the idea of learning to make more of my own clothes. I paid to get the sewing machine serviced and fixed, however over the course of the past three years, I have never truly found my rhythm with sewing. I’ve picked up patterns for skirts and dresses that seemed like they should be easy enough, however I found myself getting frustrated as soon as it didn’t work out perfectly, then gave up. Going forward, my intention is to go into my sewing with the same attitude I wish to apply to my writing - that I am not going to be immediately great at it, as I have never really practiced. Enjoying the journey of developing these new interests should be the primary goal and the dress, the shirt, a really great personal essay, should come second.

Save my house plants

I love having plants around the home and I feel like they can completely change the vibe of a room. I am however, notoriously bad at keeping them alive. It can start off well, with me regularly tending to my new plant babies a couple of times a week, watering as needed and moving them from sunny spot to shade, in order to find the most satisfactory location. Soon, slowly and inevitably, in creeps the infrequent watering, leaves starting to turn brown and then eventually becoming unsalvageable. Over the summer months, I want to *try* and create some consistency with taking care of my house plants. I don’t have many and I don’t intend to buy many more - the plan here is to learn about the plants I already do have and give them the gift of actually being able to thrive.

At least my snake plant is doing okay with the little toddler and baby there.

Thankyou for being here. Let me know about your summer hobby plans in the comments :)

About the author:

Hello, I’m Amy. I have created this space here on Substack for a couple of reasons:

1. To hold myself accountable to writing

2. To hold myself accountable to my other hobbies and interests that I want to fill up my free time with over choosing to just be on my phone againnn.

I work for a charity 3 days a week and then find other creative ways to pay the bills, working in a way which feels meaningful to me. Currently this looks like running a small Etsy shop and some occasional cat sitting.

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Thanks for reading!