What Are Your Joy Buffers?
Photo by CoWomen via Pexels
When we are deep in the trenches of our day-to-day work, it's easy to let the tasks, expectations, and to-do lists consume us. Even if our “day jobs” or big projects light us up, they can feel heavy after a while.
During the pandemic, and also during more recent tough times, I've discovered something that's changed my creative life: the power of joy buffers.
What's a Joy Buffer?
Think of it as a passion pursuit that exists separate from your primary work. It's not about productivity or portfolio-building, it's purely about joy, connection, and rediscovering that spark of enthusiasm we sometimes lose in our day-to-day grind.
For me, this revelation came in two forms: podcast hosting and joining writing groups.
Now, you might think, "Wait, aren't those just more creative pursuits?" And you'd be right.
But here's the crucial difference: they're spaces where I don't have to perform or deliver. There are no clients or bosses to please, no metrics to hit, no pressure to monetize. They're simply spaces where I can show up as myself and connect with others who are coming to the table with joy and energy to discuss things that light them up.
When I sit down with my writing group, something magical happens. The weight of the day melts away. It’s just me and my friends exploring words and ideas together. The simple act of creating alongside others, without any agenda beyond the joy of the craft itself, has become my sanctuary.
Similarly, when I'm hosting my podcast, I enter a different headspace entirely. My mind can focus on the moment and on having genuine conversations with fascinating people.
Benefits of Joy Buffers
These joy buffers have become my emotional anchors. They're my reminder that creativity and passion pursuit don’t always have to be about output and outcomes. Sometimes, it can just be about connection, curiosity, and play.
The beautiful paradox I've discovered is that by having these pressure-free creative spaces in my life, I've become more resilient and innovative in other aspects of my life. It's as if these joy buffers create a psychological safety net, allowing me to take bigger risks and stay grounded even when life gets unpredictable or chaotic.
Finding your joy buffers might be the breath of fresh air you've been looking for. Maybe it's joining a local photography club where you only shoot what delights you. Perhaps it's starting a casual sketch group where finished pieces don't matter. It could be joining a community choir, taking up pottery, or starting a weekly creativity circle with friends.
The key is to choose activities that:
Have no professional stakes attached
Connect you with others who share your interests
Allow you to be a beginner or simply play
Exist purely for the joy of doing them
When we're constantly doing work for others — clients, audiences, employers — it's easy to lose touch with those inner sparks that fuel us.
Joy buffers help us maintain that essential connection to play, experimentation, and genuine enthusiasm.
I'm curious: what might be your joy buffer?