How much time do you spend on hobbies?

[Hobbydonkey]

Especially if you work full time and have young children.

How much time do you have/ allow yourself for hobbies?

I do a bit of sport/exercise, maybe 3 or 4 hours a week.

I'd like to do a part- time university course as well for about 6 or 8 hours a week, some during my lunch break or after the children are in bed, but some would have to be when they are up.

Is this too much? How much hobby time do you think is fair, and how much do you have?

My Son and I share a pony so that takes up a lot of time. We spend most weekends up at the farm and I try and take him for a ride a couple of nights after school. I’ll go up on my own when I can so I can ride too! It’s a fab joint hobby that we both love. There is not time for anything else though!

I work around 36 hours a week, DH probably almost double that. We have a cleaner once a week and a lady who picks up and drops off ironing. I do all the cooking and washing. Weekends, one day we spend between us doing jobs round the home and garden, food shopping and washing, then the other day is usually a family day out or bike ride.

My hobbies are reading and yoga. Probably spend 4-5 hours a week doing yoga as I do it in the evening at home after the primary aged kids are in bed. Reading I probably spend 1-2 hours a week doing at some point over the weekend or on a nights DH wants to watch a football match.

I do think that exercise isn't a 'hobby' as such but should be part of everyday life, however I choose yoga over other exercises as I love it. If you want to exercise I do think everyone can fit some in somewhere, even if it's getting up 20 mins early to go on an exercise bike or do a YouTube HIIT session in the kitchen.

However the age of your kids is probably a big factor in how much time you can spare. If they're 1 and 3 it's much harder than if they're 8 and 10. I've just finished yoga and the kids are watching a film with DH and getting themselves ready for bed. If they were 1 and 3, we would be both reading stories to them, baths, breastfeeding (me), praying for a good nights sleep etc. so very different.