What if your hobbies could be the one place you don’t have to optimize, be productive, or “do it right”? In this episode, we talk about keeping hobbies fun—especially when perfectionism shows up and makes us hesitate to start, abandon a project, or turn enjoyment into pressure.

We share real-life examples from knitting, bullet journaling, visible mending, watercolor and sketchbooks, and even reading. We also talk about how tracking and goals can quietly turn a relaxing hobby into a stressful one, and how lowering the stakes can help us get back to the point: doing something because it feels good.

What We Talk About

1. 02:46 - When hobbies get “too fiddly,” perfectionism can make us quit Janine finds abandoned knitting projects and talks about how frustration (and not wanting to back up and fix mistakes) can stop us from continuing.
2. 04:05 - A mistake doesn’t have to mean you’re done Janine shares a “rookie mistake” on her hat, then unknits and keeps going.
3. 04:38 - The fear of “ruining it” can keep us from starting Shannon talks about not wanting to mess up a sketchbook or watercolor journal with something that doesn’t feel good enough.
4. 07:40 - Bullet journaling: functional vs. Instagram-perfect We talk about how artistic bullet journal examples can intimidate people, even though the original method was meant to be quick and simple.
5. 09:10 - Visible mending: daunting to start, satisfying to finish We talk about the pressure to choose the “right” way to mend—and how gratifying it feels once we do it.
6. 15:33 - When reading becomes a numbers game Shannon shares how tracking books read started to create stress, especially during shoulder recovery.
7. 18:56 - Protecting hobbies from becoming work Janine shares why she said no to a knitting-related work opportunity so knitting could stay fun.

Key Takeaways

1. Perfectionism can sneak into the fun stuff: Even hobbies can start to feel like performance—especially when we think there’s a “right way” to do them.
2. Lower stakes = easier starts: When something is private, practical, or “just for us,” it’s often easier to experiment and keep going.
3. Functional can be beautiful: A bullet journal that works, a sweater that’s patched, a project that’s imperfect but used—these can be more satisfying than “perfect” things we never start.
4. Tracking can turn joy into pressure: Goals and numbers can be motivating… until they make the hobby feel like a quota.
5. Let hobbies stay hobbies: If turning something into work adds stress, it can cancel out the reason to do it in the first place.

The Bottom Line

Hobbies are allowed to be messy, imperfect, and purely for enjoyment.

Multitasking sounds like a superpower, but most of the time it’s really task switching—jumping back and forth so fast we don’t notice the cost. In this episode, we talk about the difference between true multitasking and rapid switching, and why switching can make you less effective, less productive, and less present.

We also share a few real-life examples (knitting while watching TV, exercising with an audiobook, checking email mid-writing) and a simple “Good Enough” experiment: using tiny waiting moments—like a login screen—as a cue to take a few breaths and come back to what you’re doing.

1. 01:28 — When multitasking can work: knitting while watching TV (and why writing postcards while watching is different).
2. 03:33 — A combo that often works: physical tasks (folding laundry, exercising) while listening to an audiobook (or podcast!).
3. 04:29 — Why switching tasks can make you less productive than single-tasking.
4. 05:47 — The “attention test”: if both tasks need brain power (like sorting and chatting), something gets missed.
5. 06:45 — Phone + conversation: noticing how it affects connection, and small ways to be more present with people.
6. 10:22 — The “lag reflex”: switching away during a short wait (like logging into a bank) and getting pulled into email or Facebook.
7. 11:08 — A simple strategy: practice staying with a few seconds of discomfort so you can finish the task.
8. 13:01 — Meditation explained in plain terms: not “no thoughts,” but returning to your focus.
9. 14:42 — Anchoring mindfulness to your desk chair: building calm where you actually work.
10. 15:44 — Shannon shares how ADHD can amplify distraction and unfinished tasks (especially off meds).
11. 17:13 — Reframing single-tasking as self-care: more calm, more “done,” and less stress.

1. Most multitasking is really task switching: If you’re bouncing between email, a document, and social media, you’re not doing three things at once—you’re switching. And switching often makes everything take longer.
2. Some pairings can be “good enough” multitasking: If one task is automatic or physical (like knitting, folding laundry, emptying the dishwasher, brushing your teeth), it may pair well with listening.
3. If both tasks require attention, you’ll feel scattered: Sorting, writing, and meaningful conversations all need focus. Trying to stack them usually means you’re only half there.
4. Use waiting moments as a mindfulness cue: Instead of opening Facebook during a 10-second pause, try three slow breaths or counting breaths...

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed lately, you’re not alone. In this episode, we talk about what it’s like when what’s happening in the world takes up more of our bandwidth than we realize—and how that can show up as low energy, stress, and doomscrolling.

We remind ourselves that even when we’re not personally in immediate danger, it still takes real energy to be in the world right now. So we explore a good-enough approach: set kind-but-firm boundaries around news and social media, calm your nervous system first, and then choose one small action you can actually sustain.

1. 00:45 - Feeling overwhelmed and “maxed out,” and naming the nervous system impact
2. 01:10 - Remembering to factor in what’s happening in the world (on top of personal stressors)
3. 02:43 - How external stress compresses our capacity and bandwidth—even if we’re not directly threatened
4. 03:51 - The push-pull of wanting to stay informed without getting pulled into constant news consumption
5. 05:34 - Creating a container for the news: skim headlines, read one article, or set a 15-minute timer
6. 06:57 - Choosing your inputs on purpose: unfollowing/unfriending and skipping online arguments that won’t lead to real dialogue
7. 10:37 - Taking action to feel less helpless: donating, writing postcards, protesting, and focusing your energy where it can matter
8. 12:53 - Not letting perfectionism hijack activism: it’s not all-or-nothing, and “doing a little” still counts
9. 14:26 - Connection over consumption: reaching out to friends and checking in instead of scrolling
10. 16:23 - “Oxygen mask first”: calming your nervous system makes it easier to take meaningful action and help others

1. External stress is real stress: Even if nothing in your personal life changed, what’s happening in the world can shrink your capacity.
2. Set boundaries so you can stay informed (without spiraling): A small “container”—headlines only, one article, or a timer—helps you avoid doomscrolling.
3. Curate your inputs like it’s self-care: Unfollowing, unfriending, and choosing what you engage with can protect your nervous system.
4. Small actions beat perfectionism: Donating, writing postcards, protesting, or helping in your community doesn’t have to be perfect to matter.
5. Calm first, then act: When you feel steadier, it’s easier to take meaningful action.

When everything feels like too much, it makes sense that your energy is lower and your brain wants to scroll, worry, or shut down. In this episode, we remind...