Active rest
Due to the nature of my work I spend a lot of time in front of screens. Most knowledge work is done behind some screen or another, and while it can be rewarding (especially since I enjoy what I do), all that time spent sitting and thinking, and thinking and sitting does get to me. I feel tight between my shoulders, and afterwards my head is muzzy and I'm low on energy.
I don't see this as an explicit problem. Knowledge work has its perks, and isn't as unhealthy as the news, podcasts, and YouTube videos would have us believe. The problem—I've found—is the screens after screens. Finishing up a long day of work only to plop down on the couch and turn on a slightly larger screen for entertainment is the real adversary. My brain needs rest, but not this kind.
One solution is hobbies and crafts. I've always loved working with my hands. When I was younger it was building fortresses in the mountains with my brother, or putting together small models with superglue (inevitably sticking my fingers to the table in the process), or drawing and inventing new Pokémon. These hobbies have morphed significantly as I've gotten older, but the premise stays the same: the best form of relaxation isn't consumption, it's creation.
On writing this post I realise that I've collected a lot of hobbies over the years: Gyming, rock-climbing, riding motorcycles, cooking, writing, and hiking, to name a few. But more recently I've gotten into crafts such as leather-work and mechanics. These activities allow my brain some rest and my body to take over.
This has grown so important in my life that in April last year Emma and I rented out a small workshop in an industrial building in Salt River, where we make all kinds of cool stuff. We invite our friends over for workshop evenings where we order food and work on interesting projects.
From left to right we have Riko sewing up a storm (yes, he made that shirt himself); Andrew fixing his coffee grinder; Emma putting together some lego (although more recently she's been sewing and painting with watercolours); and Simon drawing. We've had friends bring in their speakers and mix decks and make music, not to mention some workshop jams.
I've predominately been doing leather work (which is ironic for someone who doesn't eat meat). Over the November and December period I designed and created all kinds of bags, wallets, and belts. Needless to say I didn't have to do any Christmas shopping this year. People just got fancy bags, and wallets, and belts.
I did a 5 day intensive wood-working course this past year as well. It was taught by a delightful old man with over 60 years of experience woodworking (and all of his fingers). However, I found that woodworking wasn't to my liking. Wood-chips want to get into your eyes, the wood dust into your lungs. The power tools will give you tinnitus if you give them half a chance, and take a finger or two in the process. There's also the cleanup.
I'm sure woodworking is rewarding for some, but everyone needs to find their own yum.
In order to learn mechanics I undertook stripping a worn out 125cc scooter down to the frame, refurbishing every component, and rebuilding it into a sporty little scoot which was gifted to a friend.
More recently I bought a non-running 1964 Honda Super Cub which I managed to get moving (although only temporarily, this is still a work in progress). I may be a bit too big for it, but it's so cute!
My brother is currently rebuilding an old American Muscle car (a 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle). I visited him in November to help with the installation of the engine, which required some heavy lifting. He has a whole blog on the restoration if you're interested.
All of these activities have been wholesome and satisfying. Certainly more so than binge watching all of Squid Games. After a few hours at the workshop I'm physically exhausted, in the best of ways. I've done something rewarding, spent time with the people I love, and (hopefully) have something cool to show for it.
That isn't to say I don't spend some time consuming as a form of relaxation. I'm currently half-way though the final Stormlight Archives book (Wind and Truth). But I've never once regretted going to the beach or on a mountain walk after work. Never once spent time on a hobby and deemed that Netflix would have been better.
Admittedly, I'm very lucky to have a workshop (it only costs me $150 per month in South Africa and is worth every cent). I'm also lucky to live in a city that has both mountains to climb and oceans to swim in. But I'm sure no-matter where I am, I'll still find something to keep myself busy.
What will you do in 2025?