What do you do outside of work?
by Paige Cohen, Senior Editor
Last weekend I hiked 17 miles through the Mahoosuc Mountain region in Maine. With 30 pounds of gear strapped to my back, I crossed forests and streams, climbed 4,180 feet up the slippery shoulder of Old Speck, and descended through overgrown woods to a campground beside the Bear River.
It was a four-day, three-night adventure filled with sunburns, mosquitoes, and wet, uneven ground. At one point, I woke in the middle of the night to the pitch-black walls of my tent, startled by the sounds of thunder and showering rain.
There were points when I wanted to give up and be back in the comfort of my apartment, wrapped in a blanket with a glass of wine, watching the storm through my living room window. But there were also moments of complete silence. Trails that wound through moss-covered tree stumps, rock valleys that rose above the skyline, and manmade walkways built into the mountainside that gave way to open views of the range.
Since moving from Boston to Maine, getting outdoors has become a goal of mine. Camping, canoeing, hiking, and backpacking trips are activities that admittedly make me uncomfortable. Physically, I often feel pushed to my limit. Emotionally, they force me to be present and give my brain a much-needed break. When I’m scaling down the side of a mountain, my to-do list is the last thing on my mind.
These experiences have made me realize the importance of having meaningful hobbies outside of work. The more I push myself to engage in new things, the more I discover about my own identity. When I return to my desk on Mondays, I sit down refreshed and resilient. I feel ready to focus on my next task, knowing that it’s just one part of my very full life.
While getting outside is what works for me, I know it’s not for everyone. So, this week, I want to encourage you to explore a hobby that excites you — even if that exploration is small. Google pottery or fencing classes in your area, try out for your local roller derby team, or join a Dungeons and Dragons club. Whatever sounds interesting to you in this moment, explore it.
Odds are, you’ll be happy that you did.
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1 年Dear HBR Ascend -#Gratitude starting my day with your cute post.Well my #Life is literally #outside of #Work. We go on weekend & try out different cuisines, different varities of #gastronomy,#gym 5 days keeps me motivated on my toes & also got a pressure on my toes like athletes feet??not even close to. #started doing archery ?? when bored recently for fun, #hikes. As my inner critic says #IMBORED always??So we wanna try newer things-Well traveling in a campervan from #Melbourne to #Darwin-#OhBoy that’s the most till date my #Rollercoaster ride.We got stuck at times & this is a #noman land apart from desert creatures well big #BW & #RoadTrains swungs us by their forced aerodynamics.Uff came out as one piece??.I am awe stucked with #people #aussie #blokes & #families how many #people helped us when in trouble in #nomanland is #True #Kindness.So no matter what when we think #Good,only #good will #come into our #lives. My mentor told me when you are ready for your journey #Universe will come #together to help you.So take it easy & make right decision,smallest moments in #Life.For even when its hardest its still a #Blessing somehow.#Thankyou so much #Harvard??you have helped developed my personality??#HappinessisAChoice??