Find a Hobby and Improve Your Work-Life

Recently I asked myself, “What hobbies do I have?” This caused me a great pause.?I then answered myself, “Actually, I don’t really have any,” followed by another long pause. As I reflected on this, it seemed to suddenly strike me that my life was way out of balance. I was working and the free time I had, outside of work, was spent volunteering within the community.?Now don’t get me wrong.?There is nothing wrong with volunteer work.?I enjoy being a servant leader within my community.?I love helping our veterans and their families.?But what have I done for me lately?

Many of us can relate to this lifestyle. We have long given up on having any personal time in order to devote our energies to our work, families, community, etc.??But rarely do we give ourselves time for our own activities. Yet finding time for ourselves is important. It can actually improve all the other aspects of our lives. Having a hobby may be even more important to people who lead very full and busy lives.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a hobby as a pursuit outside of one’s regular occupation, engaged in especially for relaxation. It’s not something you “have to do,” but rather something you “want to do”— because you love to do it. As a result, a hobby can take many forms, be it stamp collecting, gardening, woodworking, playing tennis, traveling, or in my case drumming.

Research has shown that people who have hobbies are generally healthier and have a lower risk of depression. Having a good hobby positively impacts your quality of life and work.?An ideal hobby would be one that serves three purposes: a diversion (escape from daily life), a passion (engage in something you love) and a creation of a sense of purpose.

Scheduling time for a hobby in our lives enables us to take a break from the stress of life.?Many hobbies also provide a social outlet for us if we join teams or interact with others (such as with my dance and drum group). These social interactions can provide a degree of social support we may need. Hobbies can also bring pleasure to our life.?Hobbies provide an outlet from daily stressors that can keep us from getting burned out in our jobs. Further, hobbies may actually improve our work performance if they improve our decision-making skills, creativity and confidence.

Setting a routine to carve out time is important initially.?Make your hobby a priority. Set goals for yourself.?Find some time for yourself to relax, enjoy some fun and pick up a hobby — especially if you are depressed, stressed or going through a tough time. You will thank yourself for it, and so will your family and colleagues.