If you’re a career-oriented professional, you probably spend much of your time thinking about work and preparing for upcoming projects. This “all in” approach sets you apart from your peers and shows your manager that you’re serious about career advancement.
However, left unchecked, overworking to reach stretch goals can actually derail your productivity. That’s because chronic stress undermines your work-life balance, increases fatigue, and dulls your mental faculties.
Conversely, regular breaks can recharge your batteries and help you achieve higher levels of productivity. Short vacations take your mind away from work and help you return to the office with a fresh perspective, too. Similarly, engaging hobbies give you something to look forward to after your shift ends and may help you develop creative thinking skills that will take your career to the next level.
Work-Life Balance
Proactively maintaining your work-life balance is key to a long, successful career. Without a proper balance, you’re almost certain to burn out and lose your passion for work. This is a serious issue around the globe, as the World Health Organization estimates that the global economy loses $1 trillion due to burnout every year. You can establish a better work-life balance by:
- Learning to delegate more effectively;
- Setting boundaries around your work hours and responsibilities;
- Practicing more effective time management;
- Prioritizing self-care.
Taking strategic breaks and pursuing passion projects can improve your work-life balance, too. When you’re invested in your hobbies, you’re far more likely to say “no” to extra requests that would take you away from your pottery wheel, easel, or running club. Proactively booking a vacation after a challenging project can give you something to look forward to and help you destress quickly after working with difficult delays or combative clients.
Hobbies for Success
Most folks think of hobbies as little more than ways to fill the time when you’re away from work. However, some of the most successful entrepreneurs know that hobbies can spark growth and lead to periods of professional success. If it’s been a while since you dedicated some time to a hobby, consider starting with productivity-boosting activities like:
- Reading: Folks like Warren Buffett and Oprah Winfrey routinely attest to the power of reading. Reading regularly helps you destress, understand social issues, and promote personal growth.
- Instruments: Learning to play an instrument gives you a creative outlet that is low-stakes and engaging. Instruments teach you the power of persistence and can help you embrace a “can do” mindset, too.
- Endurance Events: Cycling, running, and swimming are favored amongst busy entrepreneurs for a reason. They help you stay in shape, boost your mental sharpness, and give you a sense of accomplishment that can fuel your passion for self-improvement.
Crucially, these hobbies require a significant investment of time. This is important, as you need to take time away from work if you want to become the best version of yourself. You can learn to balance hobbies and work more effectively by assessing your priorities and blocking out time for hobbies that are meaningful to you. This helps you achieve non-work-related goals and improves your time management.
If you’re still struggling to find time for passion pursuits, consider dedicating some space at home towards your hobby. For example, if you love yoga but always miss class, consider setting up a studio in your garage. This helps sustain your motivation and makes it more convenient to complete the activities you love.
Empowering Vacations
Sometimes, you simply need to take a prolonged break from work to recharge your batteries and renew your focus. This is entirely normal, as we weren’t built to work from 9-5 all year round. However, you shouldn’t necessarily spend all of your vacation time lazing on the couch or lying in till noon.
Instead, consider building your vacation around your passions. For example, if you love art and history, you may benefit from booking a hotel in a cultural center like New York or Washington. This takes your mind away from work while you develop your critical thinking skills at heritage sites.
If it’s been a while since your last vacation, consider booking an activity-based trip with family or friends. Activity-based vacations will keep you occupied and reduce the chances of you logging on when you should be resting. Trips based around activities like card games can improve your business skills, too. Even simple games like solitaire teach you how to organize your thoughts and prioritize the most important tasks. Similarly, games like poker can strengthen your ability to negotiate and improve your self-knowledge.
Just be sure to make time for kicking back and relaxing while on vacation. Pack a few good books to help relax your mind and schedule some relaxing days to rest properly and focus on self-care. This ensures you can top up your tan and return to work ready to take on new challenges.
Conclusion
Every high-performing professional understands the value of rest and recovery. Taking time to pursue passion projects can help you destress and build transferable skills that will serve you well in the entrepreneurial world. Similarly, empowering vacations give you a chance to rest your business brain while developing your self-knowledge. This will help you achieve your career goals and minimize your risk of chronic stress and burnout.