A good hobby outside of your job can be a key difference between job happiness and a daily slump, according to New York Magazine.
It matters less what the hobby entails than that you enjoy doing it, the article continued. Not only does a hobby “inject a dose of creativity,” into your job approach, it also makes you a more fun person to hang around, Quartz said.
Hobbies for adults can allow you to establish an identity outside your job, which is healthy as it gives another outlet for your energy and provides a psychological cushion if the worst happens and you lose your job, New York Magazine reported.
“In other words, diversify how you spend your time, and you’ll grow the number of things in your life that can bring you enjoyment,” wrote Carl Romm for New York Magazine.
It’s just “a matter of figuring out how to manage your time and energy,” Quartz said. The more time you want to pour into your side pursuit, the less demanding of a full-time job you’ll want. The article cited research from Florida State University that suggested humans have a finite store of willpower that drains away over the day.
And while some might not be able to afford the time for a hobby, that’s rarely a permanent state. Eventually, most people’s lives settle to where they can find time for a hobby, Quartz stated.
“The secret to a side hustle for the soul is to believe in the power of incrementalism,” wrote Phyllis Korkki. “Know that 20 minutes here and there add up.”
For those who want to be productive with their free time, The Muse suggested five creative hobbies that also help foster skills for work:
- Painting: Lets you tap into suppressed thoughts and feelings, opening up your mind to more solutions and ideas.
- Gardening: Caring for something everyday builds patience and persistence, which can be just as important to completing a task as “being ready to go full-force.”
- Crafting: Following instructions for something like a DIY set of cups rather than assuming you know better and winding up with a mess as the result keeps you humble.
- Knitting: The repetitive motions help calm the mind and release tension, leaving you in the right mindset for brainstorming.
- Decorating: An eye for space in decorating gives the ability to consider a problem from all sides.
- Fastcompany.com suggested five other hobbies to improve job performance: Yoga, for “a kind of mindfulness or self exploration.”
- Playing an instrument, for the reminder that “while practice makes perfect, perfection is unattainable,” and to develop listening skills.
- Volunteering, for greater perspective and sense of community.
- Competitive team sports, to bolster your cooperation skills.
- Improv comedy, as it teaches how to think on one’s feet and create and present ideas “without fear of ridicule.”
Even though they may not be directly related to your vocation or profession, hobbies can make a good resume-builder for future jobs, according to JobMob. As most people neglect to include a hobbies/interest section on their resume, including it is a way to stand out and show you’re a well-rounded person. https://twitter.com/hkrogs/status/748980559955759104https://twitter.com/AdinaApplebaum/status/766341507083300865
If you do include a hobbies section, JobMob recommends it be:
- Relevant, such as saying you cook as a hobby, if you’re applying as a chef.
- Relatable. Put whatever a future employer will connect with the most, and this may change.
- Authentic, or something you can discuss if asked about.
- Positive, showing that you’re not just killing boredom but developing skills in your free time.
- Passionate, as your employers will notice.
- Unique, which may require adding detail, such as saying you enjoy reading Shakespeare rather than simply reading.
- Concise. Don’t bore your employer.
Contact the reporter at smanderson@deseretnews.com; Or follow her on Twitter at @Sarahsonofander.