Work-life balance is about more than just work, otherwise it would just be called work balance. So if we only focus on trying to integrate our work into our lives, we’re paradoxically taking an unbalanced approach to working towards balance.

One tool that can be used to achieve and maintain a balance is that of having a hobby. Whether it be scrap booking, a hockey league, playing video games, reading, or blogging, having a hobby can be a great way to improve balance.

Finding something you enjoy doing can be a great way to recharge yourself and keep a healthy balance. The thing is, some people worry that they’re aren’t good at any of the “traditional” hobbies. Or, they’re interested in something, but don’t feel they know enough about it. With the breadth of information now available for free online, you can learn a lot about almost anything you want. Jay White, from Dumb Little Man posted an article in July that’s been sitting in my RSS starred folder that I go back to every few weeks. Entitled “Become an Autodidact: 10 Ways to Become a Self Taught Master“, it highlights great places to learn for free, whether it be Wikipedia, MIT’s free online courses or perhaps a free instructional podcast from iTunes. There have been days where I’ve whiled away twenty or thirty minutes flipping through random articles on Wikipedia, or listened to several episodes of a language podcast with the goal of brushing up on my Japanese. These resources are plentiful, easy to access, and best of all, free! So provided you have access to a computer and the internet (which I can assume you do given that you’re reading this), cost isn’t an option. Take a few minutes a day and see what’s out there. Author and blogger Tim Ferriss also highlights The Top 5 Reasons to Be a Jack of All Trades, which highlights a few other great reasons to learn something new.

Now, others of us might have different hobbies, that are somewhat solitary in nature. Say you’re an avid reader, but you’d like to become a little more social in your hobby. Try something different. Participate in discussions, whether they be in person or online. If you think there might be other people around with similar taste in reading, start a book club or discussion group. This can be a great way to meet more people, as well as enjoy your hobby from a different perspective. Just check your local library or bookstore, or search Google for book clubs or discussion groups in your area and see what happens.

This is just an example of one hobby. With the internet providing a communications backbone, it’s easier every day to find people with similar interests.

So I’ve mentioned that having a hobby can be a great way to help with balance, but that’s somewhat vague. What can it really do, and how does that help? There are a few ways:

  • As I mentioned above, doing something you enjoy can be a great way to recharge yourself and gather some energy for the future.
  • This can give you an outlet for your creative energy or a place to relax. Especially if you’re frustrated in other areas, this can be a great benefit.
  • Related to the previous point, having something else that you can be good at can help prevent burnout at work. Being able to take satisfaction from something other than a job can help maintain balance even if things at work are tough.
  • Having something scheduled can be great for several reasons. As Gretchin Rubin of The Happiness Project writes, “Having something to look forward to makes you ‘feel good’ … because the future seems bright.” Additionally, having something scheduled at a certain time after work makes the argument of “I’ll just do one more thing” a lot harder to have, as you’ve got somewhere to be. Sometimes that deadline can be the exact motivator you need to get moving.

These are only a few benefits that having a hobby can bring to your work-life balance. What are some others you may have experienced? Share them in the comments!