As of late, time has been slipping through my fingers.  This is, unfortunately, not an uncommon occurance for many of us.  But when you have a hobby such as photography, or any creative hobby, you need to spend time to keep your skills well practiced.  So what are we to do when we have such a diminishing resource?  You have to find time.  To give you an idea as to how, here’s a short list of ideas on where you can make time:

• Lunch breaks – Get out of the office and have fun.  As an additional bonus, getting some activity during lunch will probably increase your efficiency throughout the day.  Wins all around, why not give it a try?
• Waiting Time – You carry your camera everywhere (right?), so there’s no harm in pulling it out while you’re waiting.  The shot shown here, appropriately titled “Waiting”, was taken while I waited for my train.
• At the End of the Day - at the end of the work day, I like to take just 5 minutes and snap a few photographs on my way to the car.  Or maybe I’ll take a break on the way home, stop at a playground or park and spend five minutes.  It’s only five minutes, but it relieves stress beofre your commute.
• Morning Routine – A friend of mine wakes up a half hour earlier than she needs to so she can photograph some of the things in her yard.  It’s become part of her morning routine, and it seems to help her wake in the morning.
• As a Passenger – Whether you ride the train or ride as a passenger in a car, you can often find some great things to photograph both inside and outside the vehicle.
• Weekends – Thanks to reader, Lisa for suggesting this obvious point (see comment below).  Even if you have a family, weekends are a great time to take your camera along.  Many of my shots are from the weekends when I spend time with my kids, be it at the Zoo or even in your back yard.  The weekends are surely a time where you can multi-task with your camera.

These aren’t for everyone, but if one of these ideas works for you, it’ll be good to retain your skills.  If you have any other ideas, please share them with the readers.

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