The Importance of Having Hobbies as a Business Owner
Intentionally taking time away from your business
As a business owner, it’s difficult to ignore the pressure that you should be devoting all your time to growing your business. If you want to stay ahead of the competition, it can feel like any time spent away from your desk is time wasted.
Today, let’s explore the case for having a hobby — for intentionally taking time away from your business. A hobby is not a side hustle, it’s not self-improvement, and it’s not an activity intended to be productive. Instead, it’s something you’re doing simply for the sheer enjoyment of it. It’s inherently valuable because you love doing it, not because it’s going to pay off later.
I believe that for business owners, hobbies are actually necessary. They help us recharge our batteries, of course, but they also help us to innovate and be more creative. This, in turn, helps us to be even better at our craft.
Why it’s important to choose a non-work related hobby
You might be thinking, I already have a hobby — it’s how I started my business in the first place! For many of us, what started as a hobby may now be your career. For example, I always loved art and design growing up — then, it became my full-time job as a graphic designer.
However, because hobbies should be activities we do simply for the enjoyment of it, I think it’s important that we choose hobbies that aren’t closely related to the work we do. This also applies to hobbies that feel a little like chores. This is different for everyone, but it all depends on the mindset you’re approaching the hobby in. If you’re deciding to pick up reading because you’re deeply excited about reading, that’s great! But if you’re deciding to read because you think it’s something you should be doing, it’s only going to feel like another task you need to cross off your to-do list.
Having a hobby relieves stress and prevents burnout
When we don’t allow ourselves any downtime, the best-case scenario is we end up physically and mentally drained. In the worst case, we might find ourselves utterly burned out. Our mental health affects our creativity, our ability to be present, our motivation, and even the quality of our work. To avoid these consequences, we must be proactive about our self-care.
Having a hobby is a great way to take care of ourselves. Hobbies that require a lot of focus, like gymnastics or learning a musical instrument, can help you avert your attention from stressing about work for a while. On the other hand, choosing a hobby that allows you to mentally check out, like watching movies or knitting, can help you unwind and release stress.
Having a hobby fuels creativity
When you’re constantly working, it’s hard to have perspective. Having a hobby allows you to switch into a new gear, allowing you to return to your work with fresh eyes. With an innovative way of looking at your old problems, you’ll find it’s easier to get un-stuck. You might even discover a new skill that you can apply to your work.
Hobbies that introduce you to new ways of living and doing things, like traveling to new places or learning a new language, can be refreshing and fuel your creativity.
Hobbies encourage you to stay persistent
Learning a new skill and being a beginner can be frustrating! Hobbies remind you of the value of persistence and effort. In business, it’s important to be willing to work through challenges without giving up. You may experience financial difficulties or make mistakes, and having a hobby that encourages you to stay persistent will help you power through obstacles at work.
Endurance hobbies, like marathon running, hiking, or cycling, help you to learn how to set goals — and, most importantly, to stick to them!
Hobbies get you out of your comfort zone
Challenging yourself to step outside of your comfort zone and learn a new skill can be scary, but it’s a great way to become a more fearless entrepreneur. Running a business is scary! Blazing your own trail and working for yourself is a leap of faith.
That’s why exciting, adrenaline-inducing hobbies like scuba diving, whitewater kayaking, or even public speaking can help you become more comfortable being uncomfortable. It will make your fears about running your business or launching a new strategy seem much more manageable.
To find a hobby, go back in time
There are literally thousands of possibilities for nourishing, stress-relieving hobbies, so it can be hard to know where to start. My recommendation is to go back to the things you remember loving as a kid. Before we had so many goals, you probably had tons of things you did just for fun.
Maybe you loved painting with watercolors as a kid. Go to your local craft store and get a paint set and see how it feels to do that again as an adult. Just go with it, and move on when it’s no longer exciting or fun.
The big message:
When you’re a business owner, there are so many struggles that no one seems to prepare you for. Having a hobby and taking good care of your mental health can help make these challenges more manageable.
Connect with ME
If you’re still feeling stuck in your work, I’ve spent years cultivating practices that enable me to stay at the top of my game. Together, we can discuss the obstacles you’re facing and develop a plan to help you overcome them with ease. Connect with me on Instagram and let’s chat!