Ever feel like work-life balance is almost impossible? What if I told you the key to finding it lies in something as simple and enjoyable as a hobby?
In comparison to older generations, Millenials and Gen Z have realized there had been an unfair balance between work hours and spare time. Both generations grew up with their parents working overtime, coming home exhausted, and, a lot of them, unhappy, complaining about the poor salary of a job they don’t even like.
Obviously, we don’t want to go through the same thing, and some patterns have already been broken. Younger generations are not willing to work (unpaid) extra hours, they’re informed about their labor rights and are not afraid to demand them, and, more importantly, they prioritize their LIFE outside of work. Why? They realized that having a life-work balance reduces stress, increases motivation and productivity, and allows them to build meaningful relationships with people outside the workplace.
Now, the current economy makes it difficult for someone to find a job they enjoy and fully respect their rights as employees. Especially at the beginning of your career, when you need experience to apply for entry-level jobs, and the salary is far from great.
If you see yourself in this situation, don’t worry! Getting a dream job is a long process, but it is possible to start improving your life-work balance by just taking up one thing…a hobby!
Work-Life Balance
Let’s start by talking about a life-work balance. What is it anyway, and what does it entail?
According to Business News Daily, work-life balance “is the state of equilibrium where a person equally prioritizes the demands of one’s career and the demands of one’s personal life”. This balance may seem different from one person to another, but it follows the same ideal.
This work-life balance dream is the reason why many people have started their own online business. Recently, I’ve seen many people promote their own digital products on social media, offering their services as freelancers, indulging in affiliate marketing, or drop shipping. And a lot of these people completely shifted gears and are not practicing their initial careers anymore.
Additionally, remote jobs have increased significantly after the pandemic. Especially since, in some cases, you don’t have to be in a fixed location to work, and don’t have to waste time commuting.
Does this mean you’re doomed to not find balance in your life if you are stuck in a 9-5 office job? No. Depending on the employer, it might be more difficult, but it’s possible.
Benefits of a Balanced Life
- Reduced stress: The separation of professional and personal life allows you to fully unwind and recharge during your off hours. Sufficient downtime allows you to engage in healthier and more relaxing activities, like working out, more hours of sleep, and healthy eating habits.
- Increased productivity: Regular breaks and time away from work prevent burnout and help you approach work with greater focus and energy. Also, prioritizing tasks helps you develop your time management skills.
- Improved mental health: Engaging in activities you enjoy and spending time with your loved ones can boost your mood and emotional health. Having some control over your schedule and knowing you’ll have time for personal interests can reduce anxiety and create a sense of stability and predictability. More importantly, you will have the chance to work and build great personal connections, reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Achieving an appropriate life-work balance requires careful management of time and priorities to ensure neither work nor personal life are neglected. It can include aspects such as:
- Time management
- Flexibility
- Setting boundaries
- Manage stress
- A satisfying job
- Support systems
As you can see, there are many things to cover and a lot of factors are involved in each one of them. For now, let’s focus on hobbies and their impact on time and stress management.
Why Hobbies Matter
Reduce Stress
According to Connect Health & Community, hobbies reduce stress by allowing you to have some “me” time and distract you from work. Additionally, hobbies that require creative skills, such as writing or painting, increase positive moods.
Not only that, but hobbies lead to a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction; after all, many hobbies make you establish goals, like finishing a book, a painting, or winning a game. As well, with hobbies like painting or knitting, you have a positive feeling after you finish a unique creation.
Hobbies also provide an opportunity for continuous learning. You might learn different techniques and improve your decision-making skills, which will keep you motivated and energized.
Time Management Skills
When it comes to time management, hobbies help you define structured schedules to implement them into your routine. For example, if you dedicate an hour each evening to your hobby, you’ll learn to manage your day more effectively to make that time available. Also, knowing you have a specific time set aside for your hobby encourages better allocation of time for other tasks, ensuring that work and personal responsibilities are also managed efficiently.
Since you have an extra activity, you will be able to prioritize different tasks and identify the most important ones. Committing to a hobby requires discipline, which can carry over into other aspects of life. Regularly practicing a hobby helps develop the habit of consistent effort and dedication.
Choosing The Right Hobby
As someone who didn’t have a hobby for more than 5 years, I know how difficult it can be to find one you’ll actually enjoy. One of the tips I can give you is to think about the things you enjoyed doing when you were a kid, and then see if there’s an “adult” version of it.
You can also:
- Ask your close friends what are their hobbies and why they like them so much. If possible, you can ask them to let you try it.
- Consider your current skills or something you’ve always wanted to do. It’s crucial to find something that helps you grow personally, so don’t be afraid of stepping out of your comfort zone.
- Think about whether you prefer to do solo activities or in a group.
- You can also set a goal for your hobby! Do you want to relax, interact socially, do physical activity, or develop a skill? This will help you narrow down your options.
Cost/investment should also take part in your decision. After all, money is scarce, and no one wants to spend it on something that seems “unnecessary”. Hobbies like painting or crochet require the purchase of materials like acrylics, canvases, yarn, and hooks, among others, which involve a higher investment than hobbies like reading, writing, and playing sports, among others.
There Are Many Options
The important thing is to try and see what you like. In fact, one hobby might lead to another one. Personally, I loved painting by numbers when I was a kid, so when I had the chance to buy a Paint by Numbers artwork with acrylics, I jumped right into it. But, for some reason, I never finished it and is still stored somewhere in my room.
Not too long ago, I went to an Arts & Crafts Expo and discovered Diamond Painting…little did I know I’d become obsessed with it. If you think about it, it’s just another way of painting by numbers but instead of spending time taking care of the acrylics, painting everything, and making sure I don’t go over the line, I could just pick tiny and shiny diamonds and place them on top of the canvas. Pretty easy, and the result is beautiful.
Overcoming Challenges
All this sounds ideal, but you still don’t have enough time for a hobby? Here are a few things you can implement to integrate hobbies into your routine.
- The good thing about hobbies is that you can dedicate as much time as you wish, so 10-15 minutes would be more than enough to start! The more you enjoy it, the more time you’ll end up making for them!
- Binge-watching something in streaming is already a hobby, but it’s so easy to waste a lot of time, and the benefits are reduced. Instead of watching multiple episodes, try dedicating that time to something else. Depending on the hobby, you might be able to do both at the same time!
- Start on the weekends. You don’t need to practice your hobby every day; you can start by dedicating some time during your days off work.
- Share your hobby with someone else. Gathering in a group or with a couple of friends might make the experience more enjoyable! Not only you’ll be nurturing your relationships outside of work, but you’ll also make time and commit to it.
Now, forget about time. What about motivation? After hours of work or studying, all you want to do is lie down, right? Or perhaps you came home from the gym and are exhausted. Motivation comes and goes; consistency is the key in almost every aspect of your life. You just have to remember all the benefits it can bring to your life. Remember that a hobby is just the first step towards a balanced life. It’s one step ahead.
In Conclusion
Hobbies are a game-changer when it comes to finding a balance in life. They give you a sense of achievement and satisfaction, making your days feel more rewarding. Plus, they help you manage your time better and keep stress levels in check. When you set aside time for a hobby, you learn to prioritize your tasks and handle your schedule like a pro. And let’s be real, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of nailing a goal you set for yourself.
Adding hobbies into your routine isn’t just about having fun (though that’s a big part of it!). It’s about taking control of your well-being and making sure you’re not all about work. Whether you’re into something creative, active, or social, hobbies help you unwind and recharge, so you can hit your work with fresh energy.
In today’s hectic world, making time for hobbies is a solid step towards a balanced life, keeping you happy, productive, and well-rounded. So go ahead, find that hobby that lights you up and see how it transforms your life! Don’t forget to let me know in the comments how it goes!