So we all know the old phrase about idle hands being the devil’s playthings. They are not wrong. Who hasn’t done some really stupid things when they were bored, as people younger than you are now (and I mean up to and including yesterday.

But idle hands can also be your gateway to learning.

I was thinking of this in the context of going to and speaking at conferences. When I pick a conference to go/submit to speak at, it is 100% about the main theme of that conference, usually SQL Server (and Microsoft Fabric is entering the picture gradually). So I go, speak, and attend the sessions I want, and then what?

I start looking for the next best thing

If I have any more presentations, I am running through my slides/code again. I never want to look unprepared.

Sometimes, it is the hallway track, as my friend Jason Romans (aka TheDaxShepherd) posted about last week so nicely.) But being mildly introverted and more chronic pain oriented, I rarely start the session in that track. And when I look all uncomfortable standing with you, it is even odds I am more uncomfortable mentally or physically.)

Sometimes I might go find myself a latte. This was a habit I picked up at my last company. They had this machine that would spit them as many as I asked for, and one week, I found my tolerance for caffeine. Then I discovered decaf is pretty good, too.

But if I am not using my time talking or hunting caffeine…what then?

I go to a session

And not a session I would have selected, not one I would have put out in a blog about what sessions I am looking forward to. Just whatever is available that looks interesting. Sometimes the speaker. Sometimes it is the topic. Often it might be something professional development. Which I will admit wasn’t something I always did. In fact, in the past few years, I have started doing more and more sessions about writing.

Even when it doesn’t pertain to me personally, I tend to learn something about something. And that hour doesn’t go to waste.

More than just conferences

This has been my philosophy for the many years I have spent time writing, editing, and preparing presentations. I am writing this on a cold Sunday afternoon. Part of me wants to go get on the couch and cover up in my 30-year-old (clearly not made of natural fibers) Afghan blanket and watch TV. Oh yeah, and get a snack or twelve.

Sometimes, though, taking your extra time and writing a blog (perhaps about idle hands?) is far more valuable.

Just keep it reasonable

Don’t work yourself stupid, even when you count all this extra stuff as much as a hobby as a side job as I do. The fact is, everything that you do all the time that becomes something you have to do loses its fun.

Sometimes you need to be able to hit the couch and watch TV all day, go see a movie, or do something frivolous. At a longer conference, it isn’t bad to skip a time period and find a corner/go back to your room and unwind for a bit if you don’t have a session you need to go to (for your learning, or the people who sent you there’s benefit.)

Life comes at you non-stop, and sometimes you need to have fun. But whenever you really feel like you are wasting time and not getting any benefit from whatever you are doing… maybe take your idle hands and scroll through a book or documentation site, open a writing app and start taking notes, whatever.