Other benefits of hobbies
Find new challenges/ways to relax
If you’re bored at work, you might try a hobby that provides a challenge. And, if you’re overstretched in your job, doing something more relaxing and calming in your spare time can provide some much-needed balance.
Switch off from work
"With portable tech such as laptops and mobiles, we’re overfilling our social hours with business tasks,” explains Emma.
"This in turn overinflates the importance of our jobs in our lives. Work does need to be taken seriously but, once it dominates, it becomes harder and harder to see it in context, meaning natural challenges become major emergencies.”
Forget your worries
It’s easier to switch off your worries and anxieties when you lose yourself in a hobby. Or you could choose a more energetic hobby where the exercise is an outlet for the kind of pent-up physical stress that occurs where you suffer fight/flight overdrive.
Enjoy a sense of achievement
Learning new things may give you a sense of achievement you won’t get at work. “Many jobs are relentless, meaning there is no moment of celebration or reward - but a challenging hobby can supply that," says Emma.
"Workplace stress often creates huge dents in our self-esteem too, so we see ourselves as losers because we’re struggling with deadlines or tasks. A hobby can remind you of your ability to achieve and win, and therefore re-boot your ego.”
>Read more on how to improve self-esteem
Make more friends
A more social hobby will mean you meet non-workplace friends, too. “Although it’s good to have colleagues you can discuss your job with, it’s also hugely beneficial to mix with people who see you more for who you are and less for what you do for a living."
