The way we spend our time defines us. Most of us are tied to a full-time job for 40 or more hours per week, leaving the other 128 or so hours for us to focus on everything else.
Whether it’s rest, spending time with friends or family, focusing on your health, or pursuing passions, there’s always something that can take up our time. However — if there’s one thing you should find time for, carve out time to pursue a passion of yours.
There are so many benefits to finding a past-time outside of your day job that brings you joy. Not only does dedicating time to yourself act as a form of self-care, but it also fuels your motivation for other areas of life. A creative hobby, a rigorous workout routine, volunteerism and so much more can fill a space in your life that a day job simply can’t fill.
Travel
One example, Oswaldo Loor of You Move Me Miami uses his passion for travel to move his moving company forward. The company’s values are PIPE: Passion, Integrity, Professionalism, and Empathy – each of which has been inspired through his adventures. By taking the time for himself away from work to pursue something he loves, he is able to find inspiration for ways to run his business while putting a healthy barrier between him and work.
The truth is, if you don’t have something away from your other responsibilities adding value to your week, you may see motivation begin to wane in other areas of your life. Taking time for you will allow you to appreciate your job which provides income, time, and support for you to pursue this passion you may otherwise not have.
Health and Wellness
Finding your passion in the realm of health and wellness can kill two birds with one stone allowing you to feel refreshed at the end of every workout. However, this passion doesn’t have to just live in the gym. Joining a sports league, practicing yoga and waking up early for a daily run are just a few examples of ways to put space between you and your regular work and spend time dedicated to yourself with the added benefits for your physical health. If you work somewhere that encourages employee wellness, see if there are benefits to your regular workout practice as extra motivation to stay focused on your health.
Volunteerism
Fighting for a cause you care about is an important part of life. Donating money is one way to support that cause, but you can also donate your time by volunteering. Spending one day a month or a few hours a week at a local animal shelter, helping out at charity events, cleaning up trash or tutoring kids at your local after-school program is a great way to connect with your community and feel like you have spent your time in a valuable way. Volunteering is also a great way to network and meet new people as it relates to your day job – allowing you to meet and connect with new people who share your passion for a specific cause and relate to one another.
Creativity
Everyone is creative and opportunities to be creative are everywhere. Dedicating time to expressing yourself through visual arts, writing and playing music are just a few common ways people channel their creative energy into something they are proud of. The best part about creative past times is that they can be as time-consuming or as brief as your schedule allows and you don’t have to possess the talent to get all of the benefits. By building a habit of thinking imaginatively, you’ll be able to translate that skill to your job where creative problem solving and addressing your company’s needs are likely part of your day-to-day.
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Regardless of what you choose, the benefits of having a passion outside of work are endless and will allow you to thrive both personally and professionally. Take time to try different things and see where you want to dedicate your time most. A healthy balance of the above three past times with a more in-depth focus on one will help you switch things up and keep you interested as time goes on.
Motivation is a big problem for a lot of people and probably why some succeed and others don’t.