Aint nobody got time for that!

I seem to have been reading a lot of online discussion lately about people being either upset or amused or insulted by non-knitters commenting that they'd "never have time to do something like that" when the subject of knitting comes up. The implication seems to be that the knitter is somehow lazy in their day-to-day life, neglecting work or chores in order to have the time to knit. The non-knitter seems (to the knitter, at least) to be making themselves out to be so  involved in more worthy activities that there just aren't enough hours in the day for them to sit around knitting.

I've never actually met that attitude in person towards my own knitting. I have had comments meant in the sense of "I admire your time management skills, that you can fit in everything that you do and have time left over to allow you to knit", but always in a positive sense.

It occurs to me that the issue is not one of time but of motivation. After all, we all have the same 24 hours in a day and it is up to each individual to choose how to use them. Something that you want to do, that you choose to do and are motivated to do, you will make time for. Whether that's knitting, chatting on the phone with a friend, watching a TV show you enjoy, going for a run, baking a cake with your children.... Even negative activities can have time found for them if there's enough incentive to do them (or sufficient punishment for not doing so). For example, there are few people who would choose to spend their time doing their tax return, getting a dental check-up, having a medical screening test, cleaning their toilet, but sometimes needs must!

Once you have the motivation, and for me the enjoyment of the knitting itself and the ultimate accomplishment of the finished object even more are very motivating, it's amazing how much time there is available. Time that others might waste can be put to use knitting. And just to prove that knitting doesn't have to be done on a sofa at home, here is photographic proof that finding time to knit isn't all that difficult.

1. On the train

Here I was actually on my way to a knitting weekend with friends. However, if you commute by train, as long as you can get a seat you can get a few stitches in. Usually I drive to work, but sometimes I'll let the train take the strain and then you can guarantee I'll be knitting there and back.

2. In the car

Disclaimer here: Unless you're completely at a standstill, engine off, in stationary traffic, I'm going to add "when you're a passenger" to this one! We took a family trip recently which should have been a 5-hour drive (long enough in itself) which heavy traffic made a 7-hour drive. My husband is an incredibly fidgety passenger and would far rather drive, which means I get all those lovely long hours to knit, and knit, and knit.

3. While waiting for something, or someone

In this photo, I was waiting for my husband and older son to come down from the top of a monument in the Lake District! I had the toddler in a baby carrier, and since neither carriers nor toddlers were allowed to climb the monument, he and I sat and enjoyed the view while the others climbed up and back down.
There are plenty of places you wait - the doctor or dentist's waiting room, at the school gate, at the kids' after-school or weekend activities, for flights, for delayed buses and trains, for a film or play to start, in the playground....

4. And then there's the planned knitting time. Whether that be during your lunch break at work, or just that lovely time at the end of a busy day at work, or at college, or at home doing housework or errands or chores, chasing after children or pets, when all your tasks are done and you get to sit down and watch television while you knit!

When do you find the time to knit?