How do you balance photography with everything else?

I'm referring to YOU time.  Getting out, with just you and your camera.  No gig, no purpose other than practice and enjoying finding a good picture.  When I do have down time, there always seems to be something I need to do for my family or life.  

Kind of curious what others do to balance life and their photography?  

It's like anything else that you really want to do. You have to be determined to set aside time for it...just like working out at the gym, visiting an elderly relative, riding your motorcycle, etc.

It helps tremendously if you have an understanding and supportive family, no matter what activity you want your "me" time for. 

If you don't make time for it in your schedule, you will never find time for it in everyone else's schedule.

Priorities. When I began making a family, I got dependable work, and my cameras and darkroom/lab got little use. Now the kids are grown, educated and on their own and I do what I want, when I want. I enjoy my camera time more now than ever, and only do it as an enthusiast.....

I have a PHD in planning


aka a calendar that is used often

TimeBandit wrote: It's like anything else that you really want to do. You have to be determined to set aside time for it...just like working out at the gym, visiting an elderly relative, riding your motorcycle, etc. It helps tremendously if you have an understanding and supportive family, no matter what activity you want your "me" time for.  If you don't make time for it in your schedule, you will never find time for it in everyone else's schedule.

+1 here and as TB says above ...
If you don't make time for it in your schedule, you will never find time for it in everyone else's schedule
Phil from Downunder

TimeBandit wrote: It's like anything else that you really want to do. You have to be determined to set aside time for it...just like working out at the gym, visiting an elderly relative, riding your motorcycle, etc.

It helps tremendously if you have an understanding and supportive family, no matter what activity you want your "me" time for. 

If you don't make time for it in your schedule, you will never find time for it in everyone else's schedule.

Well said. 

You get a +1 agree from me.  

It's not all that difficult when you schedule the time ahead of time.  I use to not be so uptight about my calendar, and even when I started using one, I was reluctant at first, but soon found there is no better way if you want to reduce mayhem, which has the tendency to come from not having one. 

Calendar or it seriously won't happen.  

Fitch wrote: Calendar or it seriously won't happen.  

yep yep yep

I block off time every two weeks on Saturday morning for 6 hours.  

I just block time off ahead of time with my wife and calendar.  

I just make the time on the weekends or try to get out a couple nights a week.  

Ozzie_Traveller wrote:

TimeBandit wrote: It's like anything else that you really want to do. You have to be determined to set aside time for it...just like working out at the gym, visiting an elderly relative, riding your motorcycle, etc. It helps tremendously if you have an understanding and supportive family, no matter what activity you want your "me" time for.  If you don't make time for it in your schedule, you will never find time for it in everyone else's schedule.

+1 here and as TB says above ...
If you don't make time for it in your schedule, you will never find time for it in everyone else's schedule
Phil from Downunder

   well said 

OMG can be tough at times.  Things come up last min all the time. 

Everything down to scheduling family time is scheduled  on my calendar.  So on Sundays I do block off 11am to 3pm for my personal get out behind my camera time.