My New Hobby (and Why You Should Have One Too)

I've been busy nurturing a new hobby… dancing.

A few years ago while still transitioning out of corporate life, I was introduced by a dear friend to a dance studio called Attitudes Master Class. She told me it was a great place for people of all ages to take dance lessons. I parked the idea at the time because I was too busy co-founding and running a company and taking care of my ailing father. I could barely squeeze in a yoga class a week.

Eventually, I decided to give the studio a call. Tim, the dance director, sensed my hesitation and put my mind at ease. "We have students as young as three and as old as 83 here", he said. After doing a quick average in my head, I figured I would fit in just fine.

I started with a jazz class and dragged my husband out to take ballroom lessons with me once a week. A few months later I bought a membership so I could take unlimited classes of different genres. Fast forward to today and I'm proud of what I’ve accomplished in a relatively short time:

• I performed six dances in various styles recently at the annual studio showcase event.

• I've been spending three evenings a week and Saturday mornings at dance classes over the past year. I've never felt better, calmer, and more energetic!

• I've enriched my life with many new friends who share the same passion and inspire me every day.

 I have a few useful things that I learned from pursuing this new hobby:

• There is never a better time to start than now. I ditched the excuses of why I "can't". The reward of seeing results is beyond words.

• It makes everything else I don't like seem tolerable. An annoyance at work or a crazy driver on the road doesn’t bother me anymore. My serotonin (a neurotransmitter known as the "happiness hormone") level is at an all-time high. No matter the circumstances, I can always decompress in class and come out refreshed and rebalanced.

• I'm more focused and productive at work and at home. In order to make it to class by 6:00 PM I must have everything done by 5:30 PM. Prioritization and efficient use of my time is a must. 

Today, I'm still running the same company I co-founded four years ago. We are busier than ever. I love my work, my partners, my team, and my clients. But there are three things I love uncompromisingly more:

1. My health
2. My family
3. My dancing

You know what? Dancing makes everything else better! It is a wonderful form of exercise for body and spirit.

Do you have a hobby you'd like to share? What are your learnings on the impact of having a hobby on your work-life seesaw?  I'd love to hear from you and thank you for reading my blog!

You are also welcome to connect with me on Twitter @CsuiteDialogue or find me on www.theITmediagroup.com.

*Photo credit: Long Ma,  May 20, 2015, Vaughan City Playhouse.