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Anime Time Management, Ano Natsu de Matteru, Arata, Black Gold Saw, Black Rock Shooter, Chihaya, Chihayafuru, Dead Master, Hibiki, Kanade, Kanna, Karen, Mato, Nisemonogatari, Symphogear, Taichi, time, Tsubasa, Tsukihi, Yomi, Yuu
I mentioned on my past posts that time is the variable that I fancy the most. In fact when I was in university, it came to the point that I got so obsessed with it that I wanted everything to be in-sync and happen exactly like I perceived. I was being raised by a single parent. Unlike some lucky kids, I have to support my schooling by my own.
So while I was enjoying the success of handling both school and work, it somewhat hurt my personal relationships. I started to notice that I could no longer relate with my friends’ inside jokes and I always dozed off easily whenever I go on dates and events. But overtime, I managed to fix it not only by finding the schedule which suited me best, but also because my shift became more flexible as I gained seniority at my workplace.
Anyway, I guess what I’m trying to convey is regardless of my time management, I still need to sacrifice some stuff if I want to gain other stuff because I cannot have everything. That’s why in terms of forming my anime list, I tend to have a somewhat short list. The first impression matters a lot to me because I don’t have the time to see up to three episodes whether I’m going to keep a series or not. After one or two episodes, I’m concluding my decision.
Usually, I only tend to keep four or less series on my bucket per season because if I choose more, that would mean I would have to cut some of my hobbies such as watching TV shows, browsing new music, and hanging out with friends—which are relevant in order for me to socially exist IRL.
Aside from this, I also chose to blog. Although I’m talking about anime, I still want to present something unique and contribute ideas that are beyond the usual aniblogosphere discussion. Thinking of a topic takes most of my time. Over the weekdays, I’m not in the mood to blog because I’m already exhausted by the time I get home from work. But to maintain my posting consistency, I always set myself a deadline.
Meeting this cut-off time and coming up with a unique theme is the most interesting part whenever I write because it gives me challenge, leisure, and drive to continue. My regular visitors might have noticed that I frequently blog over the weekends, that’s because I have more time to sleep and free time to reflect. It’s also important for me to keep-up with the shows that I’m watching so that I can write something relevant in time. But that being said, I still keep this anime hobby unknown to my friends. It’s because sometimes, I just want to have that solitude moment and this anime pastime rewards me that space and escapism that I’m seeking.
Another way for me to keep up with anime updates and connect with the blogosphere is through Twitter—I have it on my phone. Seeing those anime avatars exchange ideas is so amusing to look at. I enjoy reading threads and debates, except for spoilers. However lately, I keep on noticing that some people tweet that they are forever alone and that the only friends whom they have are their computers. At first it’s so funny to read tweets like these, but come to think of it, every joke is a half truth.
For us bloggers, it’s really gratifying to gain that virtual presence, but if you’re empty IRL, I don’t think it’s good. Come to think of it, successful interaction is just all about timing and balancing of both worlds—real and virtual lives.
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Side Notes:
- I’m honoured that a fellow blogger, Kai of Deluscar, invited me to participate with this Anime Time Management project. Check out also his interesting post.
- Most of my main sources of ideas came from the discussions that I had with friends, what I watched on TV, and what I read from somewhere.
Lemmas and Submodalities 
Your experiences and thoughts mirror my own. I think everyone deals with time management a little differently which is why the time management project exists, for us to share and learn about how each other is able to do everything they do despite holding down busy schedules. Everyone faces similar issues but has their own ideas of how to juggle their lives, anime, and their blogs and try to reach a harmony that creates the best possible outcomes, so it’s been great reading everyone’s opinions on the matter. That being said, I think you’re about the closest to how I deal with the matter, especially being to tired to write after coming home. Thanks for sharing your thoughts in this post.
Time management is always going to be an issue. Although I would like to watch more anime (as I’m piling my list) and blog frequently, I just can’t do it because of lack of time. That’s why when I’m reading some of the posts about this topic, I wasn’t too surprised seeing the parallels.
LOL
I work very long hours, 9 hours is a rare treat. It’s mostly 10-13. This really cramps up my hobby schedule especially since I have a wife and kid.
I generally only write anime blog posts during weekends, wherein I do at least 2 posts for the shows I follow and blog episodically (Gundam AGE, Nisemonogatari). After watching the episode I immediately write.
The Cowboy Bebop posts take about two weeks to finish writing, each.
As for marathon viewings, these are very rare now. I can only keep up with weekly airing shows.
Sometimes I just sit down and post something quickly, like I did here. Sometimes it kind of works out.
Your blog is an inspiration. Even though I’m not a meccha fan, when I’m reading your post, I can truly feel your passion about it. And considering that you have a family, I’m no way near with your blogging prowess. That’s why I respect your blog a lot.
Blogging episodically is something that I would like to try out. But I felt like, I’m going to run out of words and ideas. I don’t have that much verbal stamina and usually I enjoy writing when I overanalyze some things. Maybe if I become better in blogging and become more free, I will do episodics one of these days.
“Sometimes I just sit down and post something quickly.”
Last time you gave me an advice on G+, it helped me a lot. I will certainly try your suggestion. Once again thanks to your advices, I really appreciate.
Thanks.
Episodic blogging did not come to me naturally, as I only tried it out many months after I started (Bakemonogatari, Tokyo Magnitude 8.0). I started out writing full editorials on the episodes I watched.
Right now, I don’t do this. Instead I only focus on some aspect to comment on and finish a post well under 1,000 words. Nisemonogatari being a sequel makes it easier because my theoretical groundwork (authenticity/inauthenticity) has been laid in blogging Bakemonogatari.
For Gundam AGE, I rely on a gimmick (the anime talking heads panel) to close out every post. Episodic blogging feels the most natural thing now.
That’s really an interesting take on episodic blogging, forming a theoretical groundwork as your foundation. Pretty much it’s just like thinking of a theme to remain coherent with your ideas. Actually, one of the things why I’m staying away from episodics is don’t want to end up summarizing the show and just simply giving my impressions and speculations. I enjoying writing when there’s some sort of a thesis because it acts like a goal and backbone to my work.
Perhaps next season, I’ll try to see if I can do an episodic blogging. Thanks again.
Well, I do supported myself financially during my whole university career and I have both parents. Just as I know people with a single parent (a lawyer in this case) that didn’t had to work in order to go to university. So be careful when generalizing. ;)
For the rest it’s pretty much like me. We work and at the end of a work-day we go back to our home and write something for our readers…:D
Oh I’m sorry if I sounded like I’m generalizing. I’m just specifically narrating my experiences but not exactly pertaining to everyone.
I guess, after graduating and finding a job my schedule is less hectic and more routinised that’s why I was able to start blogging. I guess most of the bloggers endure the same issues in terms of time management.
“Anyway, I guess what I’m trying to convey is regardless of my time management, I still need to sacrifice some stuff if I want to gain other stuff because I cannot have everything.” <- very true, we can't have everything as much as we want to so it's important for us to choose what has higher priorities and is more precious to us. In my case, I now have lesser anime on my list per season compared to previous seasons. It's sad, but what has to be done must be done.
And again, I agree – balancing both sides of the world is essential as well.
Overtime, I noticed that as I get mature and face responsibility my options in terms of watching anime are becoming more narrow,Just like you, I’m adapting the changes based on priorities.
It’s sad, but what has to be done must be done.
This is really a sad statement, you made me think of the end of blogging lol.
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Time management is a craft that I’ve yet to learn how to use properly, mainly when college is involved. I was lucky to have passed and subsequently entered a subsidized state university where my mom could cover the tuition, so I could move working aside for now and just focus on studying.
Well, now I guess I’ve sort-of improved by doing the same as you and focused posting during the weekends. Still a bit hard though when I have other stuff I want to do and/or to take care of in the weekends. Thankfully it’s a bit easy (for now at least) to stay socially “alive” with my friends. It helps that we’re all seemingly busy anyways, lol.
In the end though, I guess for now I’m happy as long as I have enough time to just take a breather, watch anime and blog about it.
I got into some scholarship by maintaining my GPA but the competition is really fierce. Some semester, I couldn’t make it but at least I got a job that’s why I was able to stay away from loans.
To be socially alive IRL is really important to me too–more important than my virtual life, however virtual world is a fun place that’s why I keep on coming back. Just like you it’s a breather. That’s why I really try to time manage at least preserve the both worlds.
Wish I could say I am one of the lucky ones, but the reason I do not work is because for now I am forbidden to work; until a break or at least find something that is worth it. I will play for it when I am older since most of the loans I will likely be paying off until I die. Well, at least my major pays high for my skill set, so only a matter of time.
“For us bloggers, it’s really gratifying to gain that virtual presence, but if you’re empty IRL, I don’t think it’s good. Come to think of it, successful interaction is just all about timing and balancing of both worlds—real and virtual lives.”
Although, you very much speak the truth on needing to exist on both planes, virtual and real if you want to mange time properly. In that regard, the social aspect is where I fall sort in and try to over compensate with justifying school comes first and taking the time to socialize, but in reality; that has been undoing for me. My hobbies are therapeutic, but then again like with most of them (including blogging) the quality at which I do it at is terrible and in turn makes me feel empty reading it. I can identify the emptiness part in more ways and one and glad you brought up the part I was too afraid (or lack the ability) to write.
typo
*not taking the time to socialize.
Oh that student loan, I can hear you… My mom doesn’t want us to take student loans because it might take forever before we pay it. So part of making us independent she raised us to be responsible for our own financial needs, but she’s still there to support us all the way.
My hobbies are therapeutic, but then again like with most of them (including blogging) the quality at which I do it at is terrible and in turn makes me feel empty reading it.
I used to think this way. There was a point that I wasn’t proud of my writing and I really felt insecure. I guess we feel this way because we are our greatest critics. If we’re not proud of what we are doing then who else will be.
I can identify the emptiness part in more ways and one and glad you brought up the part I was too afraid (or lack the ability) to write.
I enjoy reading your post because I see that it’s well-thought out and you’re really trying to unleash the topic to make it easy to understand. So in my perspective I don’t think you lack ability to write. Maybe try to be more enthusiastic with your tone. Some twitter friends told me that I sounded serious. When I’m reflecting, I realized that when I started blogging, I wanted perfection because I was so used to be criticized by my professors. But then I realized that the aniblogosphere isn’t exactly like the “real” world. It’s way much more forgiving. So as long as your joy resonates with your words, it should be okay and overtime you’ll develop that skill. (that’s what I noticed with myself after almost a year of blogging)
You have a good mother I would say. Being someone capable with financial dealings (and also a male), my parents (dad anyway) expect for me to do it by loans or scholarships. I can understand, since my sister is in high school and will be next one off to college (if she chooses) and expect for myself to be long and done, before she enters. Technically, on taxes it says it makes too much, which is only just enough not to be qualified. My mom and dad would do their taxes separate, I would get some by my mother claiming me, but my dad works backwards :P
And yeah, it might not seem great to you, but someone else might like it. I just find myself second guessing what I do all the time. And thank you, I guess I can try to be enthusiastic, but I guess my diction and way of writing makes sound otherwise. If anything, you do not sound too serious; more like thoughtful or critical (not in a negative fashion, yet rhetorically gifted. Also that is a good point, to be forgiving – I guess had enough criticism to be able to be subjected to improve myself, but like you stated it happens gradually overtime I suppose.
Thanks for the helpful pieces of wisdom, I feel somewhat more assured I can improve myself ^^
My mom is the only one we have so it’s already planted in our minds since we we’re young that we need to work for college. Filing taxes is also a pain here, but good thing though is since I’m supporting myself I can claim money, haha. That’s why I guess I can imagine why your parents would do their taxes separately so that one can at least qualify for the claim.
Anyway, overtime I tried to incorporate some slang and Engrish to make my post appealing and funny to my readers (since those are some of the few things why I enjoy watching anime). But I guess, we don’t really need to totally change our writng because we need to preserve our voice and identity–which I believe what makes each blog unique.
Btw, thanks for your kind words.
Wow, it really DOES look like I have the simplest schedule of all animeniacs in the blogosphere.It’s not like I have a lot of free time on my hands…I’m just lucky College is my only major obstacle to greatness at the moment.
Indeed, you seemed to be the luckiest. I wish I have that non-hectic life at least for a day.
Balancing work and school is tough. I am doing that myself at the moment and it is far from easy. I took a little siesta from anime for nearly 6 months. I used to keep up with blogs and kept one up on my own but, It just got to be too much of a hassle. Only until recently have I been able to make time to get things straight again.
My social life is only at work. I have a few friends in real life that I can hang out with from time to time, but sadly I can go 2 months without interacting with anyone other than my co-workers. Somehow during all of this I have been keeping up a relationship with my girlfriend.
I think that bloggers like you who have been able to keep up their posting consistency and not opt out of the blogsphere due to time constraints shows a real dedication your own “art”. Life is hard and, keeping up two of them isn’t any easier.
I give you credit for blogging, working and studying at the same time. I don’t think I’d be able to keep up with blogging while studying and working at the same time.
Not that I’m really part of super big circle of friends, what’s really important to me is I’m maintaining my relationship and my friendship with my closed friends. I believe that quality of friendship rather than the quantity is more significant. That’s why my point on this post is it’s much healthier and better if anibloggers can manage their both worlds because these two are sources of inspiration.
Btw, welcome to the blogging community. You have some nice blog design. I will be looking forward to your posts, and enjoy blogging.
Thanks for visiting my blog.
After high school all time management went random. Firstly, many years of hard studying accumulated with a negative effect of disliking studying and slacking off (surfing on the net). Secondly, my university was one of the messiest I know. We had lectures every possible hour, even until 22.00. There were really light periods then again some very hectic. Thirdly, with the realization I’ve been supressed my whole life, something ticked in me and keeps denying to be so accurate on time – my father’s time neurosis? no, thank you, I won’t take.
Now that I’m unemployed and do some work here and there things are even more random. And there’s also the issue of what I call ‘got my day screwed or the others are the hell’. I don’t handle well emotional blusts and if sth goes bad from the morning, my whole day is for the bin :/
And then ofc is my problem with coming up with a good post or the determination and mood to complete it. I have so many ideas written down on different files and notes, but…
Quite messy life, quite messy person I am, aren’t I?
You seemed to have so much tough times. Time management was really tough for me as well. Just like your dad, my mom also set curfew. I’m not going to deny that sometimes I also complained. But at the same time, I’m thankful because it highly helped me to become disciplined and focused with my priorities. I chose not to blog before because it’s so out of my list. Now that I have some free-time, I’m enjoying it. But I guess, if I pursue my Masters I would definitely stop blogging.
Life can be really messy, but it would only become messier if you stuck yourself in it. Why not try to change how you define your life and move forward. I know that it’s easy said than done but you need to do what you have to do to find your way out.
Good luck with life. Stay positive and focus with your priorities.
I find curfews illogical, if I can be as good and keep up with my studying. As you said, balance is really important. And then I appreciate freedom very much. I prefer to have the freedom and not to exercise it as a choice or from other objective circumstances rathen than obeying to rules. I hate ‘musts’. I am not irresponsible or a wild-party person anyways.
Change isn’t an easy thing in the end. In these crisis times you program one night and next morning everything you’ve worked for doesn’t work. Finding a job in my country is also a big deal nowadays with so high percentage of unemployed people. I can only hope that this bad luck won’t get worse or that things will get better eventually.
It would be a bit sad, if you quit blogging, but that’s your choice in the end. I wish that even then we’ll be able to see you around in some other platform :)
Thanks for your kind words.
I guess different parents, different kinds of raising a child. ^^ I know that my mom trusts me but still she was giving me curfew, I don’t think that’s to take away my freedom but it’s more of to remind me where I stand or guidance.
Btw, I really do hope that Greece would get through on this tough crisis… But just wondering, would you consider looking a job on your neighbouring countries? Maybe you’ll find better somewhere. But whatever may happen, I’m wishing you all the best.
Btw, thanks for your kind words too, as always.
It isn’t very easy to find a job in a neighbouring country. It’s mainly the nature of my job which is tied to the national curriculum and the experience they want nowadays, which I didn’t have the opportunity to get. Then it’s also the cost of living… :/
I guess I’m pretty lucky when it comes to free time. I always have trouble when I can’t stretch my arms and have enough time to do what I want. It’s good to hear that things are working out with you in the end, though.
Some people seemed luckier than the others, but I guess, it only balances because the harder you get, the more experience you gain to develop your time management skills.
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I willingly leave my social life somewhat in limbo. I often meet up with a friend, think “Why haven’t I talked to you in awhile?”, then they say something and I remember why I stopped talking. Since I’m a college student who doesn’t have to work, I spend a good portion of my time on the computer, often doing multiple things at once, mostly anime-related.
However, I do leave time for socializing with people that I actually enjoy being around; I go to a DnD game every other week or so, if my friends decide to meet up at a restaurant I’ll usually tag along, and I see movies with my brother on a regular basis. But these people are so few and far between that I just spend the rest of the time doing stuff on here or generally being a layabout.
I totally understand when people just prefer to be by themselves because sometimes I also do feel the same way. It allows me to think carefully and critically about the situation or whatever. I really like learning things by myself so… And sometimes, I just really want that quiet space for some reason.
“Successful interaction is just all about timing and balancing of both worlds—real and virtual lives.”
Awesome quote.
I also don’t expose my anime hobbies much to the outside world. But in my case, it’s not all about acknowledgement or insults and all those. I don’t have any of those problems as of yet, just that most of the people here are more ignorant of anime then you think. I can possibly say 90% of us didn’t even know about visual novels, I only knew it myself back in 2009, which was quite late already in my opinion.
I know visual novel but I only played a few. Anyway, some of my friends think that anime is childish and to be honest I used to think that way–yes, I’m guilty of being like that :(. And, it’s just that when I watched a slice-of-life anime that I started to be aware of the different kinds of anime.
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Balancing time is an important topic and it’s interesting to read how you do it, Snippet!
Actually, I’m watching far more anime during the week than on the weekends, when I have more time. I have a rather stressful job with long hours. When I come home late in the evening I like to spend an hour or one and a half watching two or three episodes. I rationalizise this by saying to myself that other people need the same amount of time to “come down” after work but instead spend it on watching TV. I don’t watch any TV at all; anime has a far greater effect in terms of relaxation and emotional balancing for me. On the weekends, I’m usually so busy with friends and RL stuff that I don’t find much time for anime (with few exceptions, e.g. recently when I marathoned the awesome Haibane Renmei!).
The other part of my “anime hobby” is reading blogs which I do during the day, when I have a free minute or lunch break. Due to my work I don’t follow time-consuming social networks like Twitter or Facebook. With blogs, I can decide for myself when I have a bit of time to read a post and comment on it.
Oh, and once in a while I totally immerse myself in pixiv or one of these awesome tubmrl’s posting anime picture – this is REALLY time consuming!
One of the reasons I don’t have a blog myself is that doing a well-researched post would take me weeks of rewatching the respective show, looking for pictures, wiki-ing and so on. If only I could learn to write more spontaneously, I would be quite tempted to post my own thoughts. For now, however, I stick to commenting on other people’s interesting posts!
Oh yes, reading blogs is another portion of my anime hobby. It’s fun to read the different opinions and stories of other bloggers. I used to remember that I started as a blog lurker, I wouldn’t even comment on blogs because I felt like I was complete outsider–I’m afraid that my opinion may not be that valid–but overtime that changed. Thanks to those thoughtful bloggers who were acknowledging their readers.
I guess, I’m also getting used with blogging that it feels like this hobby is becoming a habit. The first few months were really more time consuming, but now I’m improving.
If only I could learn to write more spontaneously, I would be quite tempted to post my own thoughts.
I was also like this and so unsure whether I would last on blogging… but thankfully, I’m still here. Big part why I’m continuing to blog is because it’s satisfying to release my thoughts in an open air, plus knowing that somebody reads it adds extra value on that rewarding feeling.
Btw, it’s always such a pleasure to read your thoughtful comments and thank you for sharing your experience. ^^
Real life commitments take precedence over hobbies like anime and blogging, but I’m impressed that you’ve found such a good balance between work and play. For me, it’s always a struggle to find time for the things I want because of unknowns or a sudden increase in my workload. Those usually cause anime backlogs and an absence from the internet for a week or so.
Thanks, Nopy… Anime backlogs are one of the reasons why I have a short list. I really don’t want to start a series unless I’m going to finish it.
I keep telling people: there is actually tons of time in a week, people just waste it on stuff they don’t need to do. The summer I worked full-time was a challenging time to watch anime, and it will be the same once I start working after I graduate this summer, but I know I can handle it if I just manage my time right. I have time for my friends, my personal relationship (my anime avatar is not forever alone ;) ) and my hobbies. Sure, sometimes it feels like my life is suffocating me, but I can still crank out 2 posts a week and watch my Japanese soap opera cartoons. Sometimes I get back from work or school and the last thing I want to do is write about anime, and when I force myself, that’s when crappy posts are written. Blogs need love, which I guess is the one thing I learned after almost 3 years.
Keep it up, Snipp. I’m a big fan of your work.
I truly agree with you, Kevo. Life can be so suffocating that’s why I find it fun interacting online and blogging because it’s gives me a different atmosphere. I’ve been through with what you’re going right now. And like what I said to KyleM above, I’m giving so much credit and admiration to all bloggers who are working and studying at the same. It was really though for me to juggle those two together with my other commitments. Plus, blogging is something that I wasn’t able to do when I was studying.
So hang in there once you received your invitation for graduation, it’ll be one of the best moments ever. Good luck on your school, life and your new blog at the Behind the Nihon Review, and thanks for sharing your experiences.
The first impression matters a lot to me because I don’t have the time to see up to three episodes whether I’m going to keep a series or not.
Indeed; life’s too short for sh*t anime.
I guess if you love something, you’ll make the time for it. Though, that’s not to say that if you don’t have much time for something that you don’t love it at all, just that you might be going through a change in mood or lifestyle that may require you to reassess your (changing) priorities. In short, I think you’ll be fine, so try not to worry too much about it. :)
I’m glad that we agreed, Miss Hana.
Though, that’s not to say that if you don’t have much time for something that you don’t love it at all,
Thanks for your kind words, I wish all people are as understanding like you. ^^ But overtime, managing my schedule is something that I learned to adapt–not to say I’m really good at it, but as you said I always try to reassess my priorities.
I reread this post once again today in lecture, and I’m just surprised at how… keen this post is to my own experiences.
I think we are both approaching that stage in life where we really don’t have much time to just spend on hobbies. We structure our schedules around obligations–school and work and others–and we have to make compromises on things.
Like you, I only watch at most four (usually fewer) anime each season, and I select them very strictly. There just simply not enough time to watch so much. To fit in blogging as well, I really just have to squeeze time out of nowhere, since–I’m sure you’re aware–a post takes a massive amount of time. I generally keep a notebook with me at all times, and just jot down ideas and make outlines whenever I have some extra time. (In fact, I think I get the most done during train rides to and back from school). Multitaksing becomes a must, and lectures are not just for learning, but for studying and reading as well. Socialize and answer emails during meals. Reading when in line.
Even then, I always still feel like I don’t have enough time. Perhaps I’m just too prone to a relaxing, laid-back life style… Sigh…
I guess I understand what you mean, Yi, because of that transition in life, we feel like we’re running out of time for our hobbies. Actually, it’s not even a year yet after I graduated but my approach to life, in general, is already quite different–especially when I think about the near future.
Indeed, writing takes a lot of time for me too because I’m a laid-back person. I’d like to slowly digest things first before writing a post, and usually that takes days. I’m afraid to say that I don’t keep drafts and I still find it so hard to write my ideas because it feels like if I jot them down incompletely, I’m going to spill and lose my thoughts. That’s why it’s only when I fully know what I wanted to talk about that I start writing a draft/post. And yeah, for some reason it’s when I’m travelling that my mind starts to wander around as well. I also try to do some stuff–socialize, read blogs, and answer emails–to squeeze in that little leisure as a breather when I’m on break or if it’s not busy at work.
Btw, I’m also surprised to hear how your experiences are so similar to mine. Hmm… perhaps you can be my BFF if I know you in real life~
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