Trigger Question #58:
When I was young, eons ago, my father gave me important advice. But being a young know it all… Actually, I did heed his advice. I practiced and lived this advice. Until we moved to the USA, the land of work, work, and more work.
My father told me to always have a hobby. He said I could learn to tolerate almost any job if I had a hobby to come home to.
Now that I am without a hobby, I can compare hobby-me to hobby-less-me and evaluate my father’s advice. My father was right. Again.
Hobby-me was a better employee than hobby-less-me is today. And that even applies to self-employed-me.
My hobby helped me to switch off work-mode and enter play-mode so that I could rest and recharge.
Does the type of hobby matter? I don’t think so. But I know this. Staring at a computer screen is not a hobby; being creative on a computer, like writing, can be. Exercising is not a hobby; playing a sport comes close. Eating out is not a hobby; learning to cook well might be. Watching movies? Unlikely. Becoming a cinephile or movie buff, probably.
Anything that breaks the link with your job and dunks you into a creative flow is a hobby worth inhabiting. It will refresh you and make you more resilient. The bonus? You will be more effective and productive at work.
No doubt, my hobby boosted my job and my career. Will a hobby do the same for you? I don’t know. I suggest you make it your hobby to find out.
Welcome to my side of the nonsense divide.
. . .