Time Management for Reenactors

Being a reenactor can be an all-encompassing hobby, for some of us, it’s more of a lifestyle.

Going to your group’s business meetings, practicing your chosen martial or preforming art, researching not only your time period but where to buy the tools of your trade and venues for your group, performing on the weekend… doing all this doesn’t leave much time for anything else.

So how does one fit in work, family, social life, housekeeping, garden work, family emergencies and whatever else your “normal” life throws at you while being a reeanctor?

Might I suggest limit your time on Facebook?  Facebook and other social media are time management’s enemies.  I go on Facebook with the intention of checking out my homepage and lose an hour viewing cute cat videos and commenting on other people’s dramas.

Another time waster—watching TV.  Some reenactors can spin, sew or do needle work while watching television.  The rest of us need to ask ourselves watch TV or practice our chosen skill or art?  Some may choose both and sacrifice sleep time.  Not a good idea.  There’s plenty of literature detailing the benefits of a good night’s sleep.  Nothing prevents you from doing all you need to do like a lack of sleep.

Clean your weapons as soon as you get home.  Yes, you’re tired from a day at the fair, but drying a sword that got wet is a lot quicker than spending hours scrapping away rust.

Instead of wasting time during your lunch hour running around to a restaurant, waiting for your order and getting back to your workplace, brown bag your lunch and spend the time sewing  buttons on that shirt you’re wearing this weekend or polish up that poem you’re entering in the bardic competition.  Use that tablet to so some research.

Most importantly learn to say no.  Spreading yourself too thin both in reenacting and your ordinary world leads to stress.  I’m not just talking about volunteering to do work for your group.  Do you really need to be a fencer, a guitar player, a brewer, a spinner, and a leatherworker?  Have fun  pursuing one or two skills and then enjoy the efforts of the masters of the other talents you’re interested in.  Because in the end no one can really do it all.