If you’re like me you are passionate about the outdoors. Whether hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, or backpacking you know that time spent in wild places is always worthwhile. In a perfect world, we would homestead some land and build a cabin, living off the land as much as possible. However, in reality, most of us have a 9-5 job and bills to pay. There are many things that get in the way and separate us from time spent outdoors. If you’re in this position you have to structure your life in a way that allows the most time possible doing what you love.
The irony of this situation is that hobbies and passions cost money. Gear is expensive, hiring guides is not cheap, and traveling can be a major expense. Thus, we are caught in a cyclical pattern: working hard to earn as much as possible so that we can do the things we want to do when we are not at work. It can be a vicious cycle if we’re not careful. If you only work two days a week you may have a lot of free time to spend in the woods, but may not be able to afford to do the things you want to do. On the flip side, working too much can make us financially rich, but what is the point if we don’t have the time to spend doing what we enjoy? This balancing act can be difficult. It requires conscious planning and purposeful action. If you really want to maximize your time hunting and fishing you can’t go through life haphazardly.
Organization is the key to living the life you dream of. When we are purposeful, there is no wasted free time. Every minute of the day can count towards fulfilling our goals. We spend time doing the everyday things we must like cleaning, sleeping, and eating. Then there is time spent at work to earn a living. Time must also be budgeted for maintaining relationships whether with significant others, family, or friends. The balance of your time should be directed towards your passions. Practice with your bow, scout new property, go camping, seek permission to hunt new spots, network with conservation groups, join a sportsman’s club, etc.
While the dream of living off of the land may not be a reality for most people, we can still plan our lives in a way that maximizes our time outdoors and doing the things we love most. I truly believe that being in nature gets us closer to spirituality and closer to how we were designed to live. Be purposeful and achieve your goals.
