How Playing Outside Your Business Helps You Thrive Inside It

We LOVED this episode. We felt so inspired after recording, and we hope you'll feel inspired too. 

This week, we’re diving into the wonderful world of hobbies. Yep, those fun little things you do for no reason other than they make your soul sing.

Stacey and Ané chat about why hobbies are the ultimate vibe. You’ll hear how stepping away from work can light up new ideas, spark connections, and just make life feel less hectic. They riff on everything from veggie patches to DIY home projects to ten-pin bowling. There’s even a bit about punching out your frustrations in a boxing class.

This ep is all about reminding you to play. You don’t need to crush it, master it, or make it perfect. Just follow the whisper of what lights you up. Let’s make hobbies cool again – no pressure, no goals, just good vibes.

What you’ll get from this episode:

• Why hobbies make your business better (yep, they really do).
• The art of intuitive hobbies and following your whims.
• How to embrace being a beginner without needing to be “good” at it.
• What to do when your hobby doesn’t go to plan (spoiler: pivot and keep it fun).
• How hobbies can clear your energy and expand your mindset.

And hey, Stacey and Ané are keeping themselves accountable – they’re locking in their own hobbies for the year ahead. Wanna join? DM or email with yours – they’d love to hear it!

You can find Ané and Stacey on Instagram at:

Stacey - @barefootbranding
✦ instagram.com/barefootbranding
🌐 barefootbranding.academy

Ané - @mgmnt__
✦ https://www.instagram.com/mgmnt__/
https://msha.ke/anemgmnt

Visit us here: 🌐 trustingtheuniverseandshit.com
Email us: 📩 hello@trustingtheuniverseandshit.com

Intro music by Tyler Dixon

Transcript

Ané: 0:05

You're going to meet new people and you never know how those connections conform into opportunities. It's really just changing your environment and not having any expectations.

Stacey: 0:14

When we do new activities, our brain is creating new neurons, new pathways, and those new pathways are lighting up our brain.

Ané: 0:47

Hello everyone. And welcome to another episode of trusting the universe and share today. It is with Stacy and I,

Stacey: 0:56

Hello! Welcome back to another episode.

Ané: 0:59

and today we're just like chatting about this. I love that we always start this way, but we really do we just riff on what are we going to talk about today? And we saw this really cool, like real Stacy did it and she sent it to me and it was about like hobbies and. Things that you do outside of your business that, make you feel expensive, get you creative juices going like anything, or just as purely fun and joyful, like just a hobby, but actually is and benefit you for having a business. So we want to talk about that today, especially coming up to the holiday season. I think there's especially if you have your own businesses, there can be a lot of things come up of I got to prioritize this and that, but socializing. And this event and that, and there's like all of this stuff. So yeah, we want to tie these two together for in case when this episode. does air it's a great little reminder that having hobbies and having interests outside of your business is very beneficial.

Stacey: 1:58

So beneficial, and I've gone through so many over the course of my life, the different hobbies that I'll switch in between. So I think today what we'll do is we'll discuss some of them and some of the benefits and different things that we've tried. And like you said, that make you feel excited. you can't just be in the business all the time, because we need to pluck from different industries, different disciplines in order to have that really well rounded rich, like whole life. The one that that plays in all the different realms and Like you said, we're coming up to Christmas. It's such a good time to take up a new hobby because we have all this spare time. Hopefully you have some spare time to pick up something new. And, I don't know. Yeah, just play a little. Play a little and see if there's something new that you haven't done before that maybe you could try.

Ané: 2:56

Yeah. Yeah. So one hobby that I'm not like, I'm still a beginner and I'm still learning, but it's actually was so fun to just be a beginner. And this new thing was. make planning a veggie patch. So in winter, I actually did this in winter and yeah, one of my friends, she does it and she's so good at it. And I was like, you know what, that would be really cool to learn a new skill, but at the same time stretch my mind of taking care and nurturing something. And so in winter, that was like a really cool thing to see how, yeah, I definitely want to make it a seasonal thing. I'm not the best right now, but I have planted some carrots and some onions and it was just like really, it was like it was like that whole what do you call it? Like when it's like delayed gratification, like that's how it felt. And I, it was just a really good reminder That's the same as how you nurture it. A business or anything that you do or clients or a project, like it's a delayed gratification and yeah. so that was one hobby that I'm like, okay, this is really fun. And I'm really excited to do now my summer season of veggies, and fruits.

Stacey: 4:06

That's so funny you mention that because just the other day I randomly bought some tomatoes and zucchinis. And I was like, yeah, I'm going to plant these because where I live now I have more space and more sunlight to do it. And yeah, I just follow those whims. I'm walking around Bunnings and I just see something and I just buy it and I just bring it home and plant it. I do it if I feel like I want to, on the days, while I don't pressure myself, I'm not like, you must plant these, you have to do it. It's just following the whim of what do you feel like doing today as your little break that you take from the digital space when we're on our screens all day. So for me, a lot of these are definitely physical things that I need to shift out of being on the computer because we're on our screen so much. So for me, it's always usually something that I'm doing. That's not computer screen based.

Ané: 5:02

Yeah. Yeah. So what would you say is your recent hobby that you feel other than like also veggies, but yeah, that you feel has supported you.

Stacey: 5:11

Yeah. So my recent hobby is like renovating little things around the house. So I'm currently doing that. Going to paint one of the bathrooms and I bought like a new toilet roll holder And i've just been buying lots of little things like that and i'm going to paint and you know I've been puttying all the holes and lots of home diy type of projects So I bought all this contact paper and I lined all like the inside of all the drawers where the pots go for example, and I just spent like I don't know how many hours on a sunday just sitting there, just like Without my podcast on or without anything. And I'm just there with my little knife and I'm cleaning and I'm cleaning the walls and I'm putting everything in there. So for me, it's really, yeah, just doing those little upgrades. Oh, the other thing I did the other day too, is I upgraded my shower head to a rain shower and I was so proud of myself when I did it. And it looks so good. And the shower is so nice now. And. It looked quite complicated at the beginning because it came with all these little bits and pieces and I was looking at it thinking, oh no do I need to get a professional? But I just watched the YouTube and I went step by step and I just did it all and my partner was really impressed. And yeah, so it's just been little things like that for me. So very physical related things that I do around the house. If I'm sewing, it's another thing I do, or if I'm doing like a puzzle. Those are all sorts of things that I'll do.

Ané: 6:40

Yeah. it's all very like intuitive as well like I think that's one thing that the quicker we can like, again like work on what intuitively we want to go into the quicker we just don't ask too many questions and we just do it. So I Love that like intuitively for you, it's like the home and the environment and like really making it. like feel expansive because I have this theory that if you're in the mood to clean your environment, get rid of stuff in your environment, like there's usually then like some sort of up leveling happening, whether that's financially, whether that's like more projects and opportunities coming, like whatever I just feel like Things want to clear energy wants to clear in order to really come through. So I love that you have that going. And yeah, for us actually, we just booked a, like a hard rubbish for December because we too want to like, really like declutter. It's so funny that we have a similar, like bath happening. But one thing about, say it's nice. Like we always, we do shift, we do, we're mutable. Yeah, Like we do like to have change happening. And hobbies can change, but there's some people who want to stay in a hobby for, years and years. Let's say it's I don't know, running, like running marathons or she just Sue or something like where you really have to build that skill set. Like some people really benefit of seeing like the longer results space. And so another hobby that I'm just recently going to do is boxing. Cause I just have this feeling that like boxing would be really good. I actually used to do it back in the day. When I was going through like a breakup and I was so angry and I just like

Stacey: 8:17

punch it. You're like, I got it.

Ané: 8:24

you'd have to tell me twice. I already had a day on my face. It's so funny anyways. And I just, I want to do something that's like cardio related, but isn't cardio. Like I'm never going to run. I'm sorry. I've never, this whole run club situation. No, I'm good. I like that walks and I like to like swim or something like that, but running is not for me. I'm tall. I just, no, but anyway, so that's another hobby. I think that feels really exciting. And painting as well, like I love and not like pretty, I am not like the most artistic in that way, but it's been really fun to just let loose and just like paint and not have an agenda. I think that's the thing with hobbies. It's like not having some sort of agenda or some sort of I don't know, results back. It's just a thing that in the spirit of the moment, it's either going to bring you energy. It's going to get the creative juices going. Like I mentioned, like that's all of the stuff is so beneficial in the long run. Yeah.

Stacey: 9:23

it being a hobby and then mastery, I think the mastery is something that, yeah, we have over long periods of time. And I think a hobby is more just something we can dip in and out of. We don't have to tie ourselves to it for a really long period. It's just where my whim and my intuition takes me. And I think that's really important that we just use our whims because otherwise. We end up forcing it and we say to ourself, Oh no, like I've been making soaps and things like that. So if, I'd force myself and say, you must make, three batches of soaps tonight, stuff like that. I don't push it on myself because it starts to not become enjoyable. And then it's defeating the whole purpose of me just enjoying what I'm doing. And then I feel like the love goes out of it. And, Yeah. So I do feel like it being intuitive is very important and following that. And also, I think, like you said, being a beginner right at the beginning, I think that's important to, to allow yourself to be that beginner and not feel like I have to be really good at this in order to begin and just seeing, because one thing I'd really love to take up as well is like playing tennis and It's just something that, so you just get this idea in your head. So if you're wondering like, what do I like follow? What do I do? You just, it's an idea in your head. And I just have a little note thing in my phone and I'll just write down all the little things that come to me and taking action on them when you get the whim, because if you wait a couple of months, that whim will be gone. in July, I got this whim to just start reading more fiction books. Cause normally I read all business books. Like my whole bookshelf is like mostly business books. And I was like, I really want to read some fiction books. And then I was thinking about those, that Court of Thorn and Roses series. And I was like, that's the one I think I want to read. Cause I'd seen everyone on TikTok posting about, and I was like, I'm going to read this thing. And then I was telling my sister and we're just like a big W. And she goes, she's Is that the one with this character and this character? I was like, I don't know. I haven't read it. And she goes, I actually have that whole series. You can just have it. So I went to the shops with her to go and buy the book. And she's I already have them all. So she just gave them all to me. So it's funny because sometimes there are synchronicities and you think, how is this going to happen? Like maybe you don't have the money for something, but often if you're following it, there's something will just come up and it will pave the way or open the way for you to do that thing.

Ané: 11:55

Yes. Oh my God. That's so bizarre that you mentioned that. And I love that because same thing with the boxing. Like I wanted to do one on one and then this guy was like, I'm doing like free group sessions. And so it's just Yeah, that door just opened. I think that is that because we've honored that intuitive nudge. We're like, okay, this is what I want to go. You send it out in the universe. And then with no expectations, you will either find yet the financial ability to do that thing. Or like you said your sibling would have all the books or a free group, like training will happen, open up. and it's like, all of these things are such great. Yeah. Synchronicities and like you communicating with the universe of I'm ready to do that. So I love that. And you know what I was even thinking? Like now that we're getting out of, not out of, like we're preparing and priming for next year. I was just having a thought of what everyone is like ready to shift identity a little bit when it comes to that new year. Like we all have that goal, whatever, but it's like, what are the hobbies that person and that future self. are doing in order for you to step into that. And I think that is like such a little like life hack, like rather than writing the goals and the intent of course that's, there's a place for that and that's all good, but why not us, yeah, really visualize and. See in the future what that person is doing and then slowly, but surely do one, one of those hobbies. I think that is such a great way of shifting that timeline. Yeah.

Stacey: 13:27

Into the new year? And does it have to be in the new year? And, on the last episode we were talking about planting seeds. We're planting the seeds now so that we can Watch that growth begin to happen so that we can pluck and harvest in the new year. So it's not as if, we get to the new year and then we change everything. We're maybe we allow that slowness so we can hear the whispers of our intuitive nudges. And then we follow them and then we plant these seeds and then we don't know where it's going to take us, but we just follow them because we trust, don't we?

Ané: 13:59

I love that. It's so I think hobbies are like much deeper than just like doing something, but at the same time, it's also supposed to just be fun and joyful and playful and not have, Yeah, Like the agenda piece that I mentioned of course it could have some sort of intentionality of yeah, I want to be in that. Like new state of alignment or higher vibration and stuff. So that's perfect, but let's not try and make it like you need to get exact results, something because that's now more of a goal than a hobby. And I think that's the differentiation of it. So I love the message about finding the seat as well, because you're so right. Like sometimes, like I mentioned as well with like your period, it's what did you do the month before? Did you. taken to that intuitive nudge or did you just avoid the whispers and ignore the whispers and you're still in the same state and dealing with the same issues like It's more than just like looking at the present moment. It's also looking at like the future evolution as well.

Stacey: 14:53

Yeah, and we'll listen to those negative voices in our head that say, I don't have time, I don't have the capacity, I don't have the financial ability, or whatever those little mean voices in our head is like telling us. How about we switch that and we do a little mindset shift and we say to ourselves, Okay, but how could I? Maybe, if swimming is one of your hobbies and you think I can't get there. I can't get to the pool. Is there another way that you can begin? Could you maybe get in the shower? Just this minute, could you maybe just feel how the water is feeling? Like maybe you could drink like a giant glass of water. I don't know. It's can you just. Open your mind to the potentiality of something happening and it not having to be this huge goal that you've set for yourself and then being disappointed when you don't get there. It's just, it's it's about lightness and fun and not pressure. We don't want to pressure pack these hobbies. Yeah.

Ané: 15:54

merch pressure. It's not pressure packed hobbies or goals because you're so right with pressure. We're just going to fall into a really unconscious state because we're not feeling safe. And then that way we're just like re emerging back into an old way. But I love that. And how does. Hobbies really benefit our business. I believe the more fun and lightness and joy that you can have in your day to day, the more that your business will feel fun and light and exciting as well. And I think if you're just in that state, then you're of course happens and, triggers happen or whatever, but the quicker you can find things that really bring you back into joy, the quicker that your business will also feel really expensive. And I also believe that you're going to, let's say you do, yeah, let's say a painting class or a boxing class or whatever. You're going to meet new people and you never know how those connections conform into opportunities. It's like really just like changing your environment and not having any expectations. Like we're saying, like not going to these things. We're doing these things to have. More network or whatever. That's not the point, but you can get surprised and delighted by having these hobbies. I think that is how hobbies can really benefit your business and how you operate in the business.

Stacey: 17:09

I think that's really key, is to not have the expectation. To go into it without having, yeah, the pressure packedness of it, the expectation of a specific outcome, we have to release the expectation of the outcome, and release the attachment, because we get very attached to a lot of things in this life, and so we need to practice the art of non attachment, and so we need to practice non attachment. I'm just going to allow this and open myself and see what the universe has to offer me, to see what connections I have, like you said, like There have been so many times where I've just gone out to dinner with friends and I've gotten a new client. It happens to me all the time. So I just, I don't go there thinking I'm going to pick up a new client tonight. That would be, I don't know, that would be weird. But yeah, I just go and it just, I'm just talking normally and they ask me what I do and I tell them and they go, wow, I actually really need that. And I just, because, I'm not trying to sell someone on something. You're just talking about it normally and then they're like, actually you could really help me out. And then I go, yeah, I could help you out with that. So it's something that, yeah, it's not, Pressurizing and it's not giving a specific outcome like, when we go to these networking business events and we're like psych ourselves up so much because we're like, Oh my God I've really got to say the right thing because I can't fuck this up because there's all these people in the room that, are going to be judging me and doing all these things. So this is why I think hobbies are good because it doesn't, You're not going to have that same amount of pressure on you, hopefully, because it's just for fun.

Ané: 18:45

Yeah. Yeah. For sure. So funny because recently when I did go to some business summit and I knew it was very bro marketing, but I went anyways, cause I was really intrigued and I feel like sometimes it's good to put yourself in environments where it tests your values and see if you're still anyways. And I went to it and they were talking about selling and how selling is, a manipulation tactic. And I was just like, I get what they trying to say, but I also don't want to align with that because if I'm manipulating, I'm not a safe person and if I'm not a safe person to work with, It's not going to last. That's just how I view that. And it was, but I'm glad I went because it really challenged me to like really discern whether or not I agree or not. And with you bringing up the whole like, I would go out and I'll have a chat just, With random people, new people. And I don't, I'm not trying to sell them something. It's those are the most like in my in my experience, those are the most like valuable and very deep connections because again, it's not, you're not there to have an agenda or to, manipulate someone to work with you because of, yeah. And work on their like vulnerability or whatever. It's you're just chatting with like how you would chat with a random. And that is just, so I love that you brought that up because I think that is such a great way as well with hobbies. It's you don't have that, Agenda of manipulating someone to buy something or whatever. You're there because you want to learn a new skill or you're excited and a bit nervy to try something new. There's all of these, what is the integrity and what is the intentionality of going to these things? It's a really good question to ask yourself.

Stacey: 20:21

It's so funny how they said sales is manipulation. I think sales is only manipulation when you're trying to get someone to do something that they didn't already want to do. So you're trying to part them from their money, but they're very hesitant and maybe they don't have the capacity or the financial means in that moment to do it and they're trying to really pressure them to do it. So for me, sales is really, here is what I do. I can help you. If you want me to help you and that's all it is. It's not a, you're not trying to force someone to do something they don't want to do. And there's nothing wrong with going to those networking events. I used to go to them quite a bit and I made a lot of connections that way. But when I was first out of my business, those were the only events I would go to. So that's the difference here. It's don't just only go to those types of events. Go to the ones that are just a craft night. Or like we've done with one of our friends recently, we've been doing Harry Potter crafting days and creating all these craft objects with each other for Christmas. And yeah, it's just like a fun afternoon, something that you're not doing because you try to make sales in your business. You're just like having a fun, easeful afternoon.

Ané: 21:34

Yeah. And in those moments, I also feel like you really get to know people because it's not this like ego that is caught up in those networking events. Of course, we're not like, they're great to have, but obviously you're going to have a persona. Of course we all are. We all have a bit of a mask that we, when we go into these things, but when it's like something fun, that's a hobby, that's a craft, that's, artsy that's like a little bit not edgy but you know that's gonna bring you out of your shell you're really going to see true people on those moments because like you're really going to have fun with it and you're going to have play with it and you can have those conversations going whereas Yeah, networking events it can be very much like we've got a mask i'm gonna have to be a certain way to get you know so i Yeah, I think hobbies can really, and this is, this draws exactly in over like how this could benefit your business is you can really grow with other people in very different parts of what they do. But it can bring a lot of expansion and, join connections into your business evolution.

Stacey: 22:35

Yeah, I think it can also stretch and expand our brain because when we do new activities, our brain is creating new neurons, new pathways, and those new pathways are lighting up our brain. And so when we do the same thing over and over, it's there's a pathway in the woods and it gets very worn and we wear down the same path. But when we do other activities, We light up new pathways, they're not as worn in, and that allows us to make connections in our business that we may, might not have had, so we get new ideas, we think of new ways of doing things, and I feel like that is extremely important because it's so easy to get stuck in what someone has taught us, like the blueprints of business. And we think I have to do it this way. And you can get stuck there and it's not working and you'll stick to it. Cause you think if I just remain consistent, if I just remain consistent, it will pay off eventually. And sometimes consistency will pay off in that way, but it's also not so fun for us because yeah, we're gripping on, we're like grasping and it's not so fun always to, to run your business that way.

Ané: 23:42

Yes. So true. So true. Okay. So I just thought of a really fun thing. Let's now be accountable and say one hobby for next year that we want to do. And it can be as big, as small as it is. I already have mine. You want me to go first?

Stacey: 23:58

Yeah.

Ané: 23:59

It's already in the screen, so I thought it's

Stacey: 24:01

Oh, okay.

Ané: 24:02

I need to, not need to, but I, one of my hobbies is I've been wanting, I used to play the piano when I was a

Stacey: 24:08

Mm mm-Hmm.

Ané: 24:10

And I completely lost it, which is really bummed. My partner even bought me a bloody keyboard, which is in the back. I really want to get back into piano lessons, whether that's, yeah, keyboard lessons from someone, whether I learn it on an app, I don't know. I try to do it on an app. Maybe I need to do it in person. And this is the thing I feel like with hobbies, you think it's going to go a particular way. And then you try it on YouTube, you try on apps, you try these things. And it's there's still so much resistance. It's okay, maybe I need a pivot. Maybe it's instead one on one like actually being at a lesson going into Maybe that is. The thing that's going to shift that for me. So saying it. out, out now that next year, this time next year, I want to at least know the basics again of how to play piano slash keyboard.

Stacey: 24:55

I love that. I love that there was like a little clue in the back, but if you're listening to this on audio, you can't see it, but yeah, there's like a little clue in the back. For me, it might be taking up bowling, like 10 pin bowling. Cause I love 10 pin bowling. I just love the ASMR. Like I like the sounds of the

Ané: 25:14

Oh, really?

Stacey: 25:15

And the, cause my brother used to be in a bowling league. And I went one day and he taught me like, just like two basic things and it just changed the whole game. And I was like, Oh, this is so different. So I was like, imagine if you actually learned the technique, it would be really fun. So probably either that or tennis, maybe something like that. And then maybe I would pick a third thing. That's not. super physical so that if I'm not feeling, if I don't have the energy or something, there's something else I can do. Also, I tried to look into all the bowling leagues and they're really far away because I'm in the city. So that's a, yeah, they're all like in the suburbs, like the leagues,

Ané: 25:53

the legs.

Stacey: 25:54

there are lanes in the city, but there are all the leagues are like quite far out. So I'd have to like, think about if I want to do it enough to drive out there to do it.

Ané: 26:03

Yeah. True. True. Yeah. Okay. There you have it. We will report back in a year's time and I feel like, yeah, if you guys want to share yours and keep being like, keep have that accountability, then please email us. Or you can DM one of us all of the details in the show notes. Cause yeah, I think it would be really fun to keep that a little bit of accountability and check in. And we can also check in with you guys every month or every three months this hobbies. And again, it's supposed to be fun. so we're not here setting goals and big things and missions. And it's there's going to, it's not a rigid and pressurized thing. It's just to keep us accountable of the things that we want to do that. Brings us expansiveness together. Yeah.

Stacey: 26:49

so much and I loved this episode. It makes me feel so light and expansive. Because it's like this what if. What if I Did dot. What if I did this? What if I did this? And that's the great thing about living this 3D human life is there are all these little options that we have. There are so many and sometimes it can be overwhelming but that's why it's also important to tune in and listen back to that voice because you'll hear the whispers. The whispers will tell you what you should be following.

Ané: 27:20

100%. So true. Like it shifts the lack mindset to the expansive opportunist mindset, so I love that you brought that up for sure. It's, and it just shows you that how privileged we are that we can have so many different hobbies going like we have, we can get anywhere we want to. It's. It's really a really cool time to, especially with all the negativity in the world right now. I think this is a really good shift to be like, actually we can do so much when we want to. And yeah it's really exciting. So I really hope you guys enjoyed this episode too. We would love some stars. If you do listen to this on Apple or Spotify as well, it means the absolute world to us. We do this, free of our time. So any reviews and rates really do help us a lot. So thank you for listening.

Stacey: 28:09

Yes, we would love that. Please leave us a review if you can. We would love you forever. And yeah, please message us what hobbies you're going to pick up over the Christmas break or in the new year. I would love to hear.

Ané: 28:24

Yes. Yes. Amazing. All right. See you guys.

Stacey: 28:28

Bye!

Ané: 28:29

Bye.