At times, it’s easier to let personal hobbies fall by the wayside as we juggle demanding careers, family responsibilities, and countless other obligations. However, engaging in hobbies isn’t just a luxury—it’s a vital component of well-being. Studies show that regular participation in creative and recreational activities can significantly reduce stress, boost mental health, and enhance overall life satisfaction. Yet, finding time for hobbies amid a hectic schedule can seem nearly impossible.

To address this challenge, we’ve gathered insights from industry experts and thought leaders on how to integrate hobbies into our busy lives. In this article, they share personal experiences and practical strategies for making time for the activities you love, even when life gets overwhelming. Whether you’re looking to reignite a passion or cultivate a new interest, these expert tips offer a roadmap for incorporating hobbies into your routine, helping you achieve better balance and improved well-being.

Block Off Time for Hobbies

As CEO of an organic wellness company, my days are packed. However, I make sure to block off time for hobbies and recreation. Every Monday evening, for example, I enjoy gardening for a few hours. Treating it as an important part of my schedule ensures I don’t get too busy. 

When I have free time, I enjoy cooking, yoga, and reading. Growing my own vegetables provides a sense of calm and recharges me. Engaging in personally fulfilling hobbies helps renew my motivation and lower stress.

Though difficult, making self-care a priority by scheduling in recreation and having hobbies has improved my well-being and ability to fully show up for work and relationships. The benefits of lower stress and greater happiness make the effort worthwhile. 

My team knows that unless absolutely necessary, I don’t respond to emails or calls after 7 p.m. or on weekends. Staying constantly connected leads to burnout, so setting boundaries is key.

Jacob Dunn, CEO, Sow Eden Organics

Avoid Going Home After Work

I’ve changed one thing in my life which has allowed me to continue with my hobbies when I am not working. That one thing is not going home after work. I have found that if I go home, I more than likely don’t go back out for the night. So whether it is working out at the gym, meeting up with friends for trivia, or a round of golf, I make sure to prepare in the morning, and I do it right after work, from the office, without going home first.

Jeff Michael, Ecommerce Business Owner, Supplement Warehouse

Time-Block for Hobbies

One strategy I use to fit hobbies into my busy schedule is time-blocking. I set aside specific times in my calendar for activities I enjoy, just like I would for a business meeting. For example, every Tuesday and Thursday evening, I block off an hour for playing guitar. This way, I make time for my hobbies despite my busy work schedule. It helps me relax and recharge, ultimately making me more productive and happy in my personal and professional life. I maintain a good balance between work and relaxation by treating hobbies as important appointments.

Shane McEvoy, MD, Flycast Media

Incorporate Mindfulness During Commute

A unique approach is incorporating mindfulness and meditation into my daily commute. I turned my car into a mobile sanctuary by installing guided-meditation apps and calming audio playlists. During my drive to and from work, I practice mindfulness exercises, transforming what could be a stressful commute into a time for mental clarity and relaxation. This practice helps me start and end each day with a sense of calm and focus, significantly improving my overall well-being and productivity.

Dinesh Agarwal, Founder, CEO, RecurPost

Use a Tally System for Self-Care

Early in my career, I used to struggle with logging off of work—mentally and physically—because I felt like I had to give my job everything in order to be successful. This is not a model that garners long-term success, but rather short-term gains at the expense of your health. 

I did some brainstorming and thought about what a good day looks like for me and what are the sorts of things that I do on a day where I feel like I’ve enjoyed and enriched myself. I wrote up a list of all of those things that feel productive or fulfilling outside of work, and I wrote them on a whiteboard in my office; they have changed and evolved over time. My goal is to try to do at least three of those things a day; it doesn’t matter which three. 

I keep track of my tallies in a journal, just on a very basic high level, and it helps me to visually see that I am prioritizing my development and well-being. Before having this tally system, doing things for myself felt like a necessary evil or a chore, but now it feels more like every day is a personal achievement.

Shannon Listopad, Owner and Founder, November Consulting

Set Non-Negotiable ‘Me Time’ Appointments

One effective strategy I use to incorporate hobbies and recreational activities into my busy schedule is setting non-negotiable “me time” appointments in my calendar. Just as I would for a critical business meeting, I block out time for activities I enjoy, like reading, hiking, or practicing yoga. For example, every Wednesday evening, I have a standing appointment for a yoga session. 

Treating these hobbies as essential appointments helps me stay committed and ensures I regularly take time to recharge. This approach not only enhances my well-being but also boosts my productivity and creativity in my professional life.

Shayna Hasson, Co-Founder & CEO, Yoga Beyond The Studio

Mix Work and Play

I’ve learned that mixing work and play is the secret to staying innovative. I’ve started a “Blockchain-and-Board-Games” night where we explore game theory while playing strategy games. It’s been a hit with both our team and tech partners! These sessions have increased our problem-solving skills by 35% and improved our understanding of complex systems. I’ve also taken up puzzle-solving, which has really enhanced our approach to security challenges. 

By finding joy in mental challenges, we’ve not only boosted our product development but also our overall job satisfaction. Remember, sometimes you need to play games to solve real-world puzzles!

Michael Sumner, Founder and CEO, ScoreDetect.com

Make Hobbies Social

One of the things that has really helped me to stay active and enjoy my hobby of golfing is to make it a social one. By making standing dates for golf outings, I find it much easier to motivate myself and to keep the appointment. It’s also helped me to maintain friendships and professional contacts, and it’s a great thing to work into my vacations as well. 

Nick Valentino, VP of Market Operations, Bellhop

Find Fun and Unique Activities

My business is selling fun to others to help them when it comes to de-stressing and incorporating light-hearted activities into their day. Therefore, my top strategy for breaking up your routine is to find something fun and out-of-the-box to do. 

It’s easy to get lost in your work and not take the necessary time for self-care when running a business, but making time for unique activities keeps me energized and motivated. Whether it’s trying out a new non-competitive sport, exploring a local escape room, or making up fun activities on the spot for an impromptu fun session with friends and family, these activities add a playful element to my life that helps me stay balanced.

For others looking to enhance their well-being through hobbies, I recommend thinking outside the box when choosing activities. Like if you’re typically drawn to quiet pastimes, why not shake things up with something more active, like joining a local dance class or taking a weekend road trip to explore a nearby town? If you enjoy being creative, try something new like pottery or DIY home projects. 

The key is to pick activities that are different from your daily routine, offering a fresh perspective and a break from the norm. By deliberately choosing fun and unconventional activities, you can boost your mood, reduce stress, and bring a sense of playfulness back into your life, which ultimately reflects positively in both your personal and professional spheres.

Joe Horan, Owner & CEO, Jumper Bee

Employ Habit Stacking

One strategy I employ is “habit stacking,” which means linking hobbies or recreational activities to already-established daily routines. For instance, as part of my morning ritual, after completing my primary work tasks, I dedicate 30 minutes to reading—a hobby that promotes relaxation and mental stimulation. By associating reading with my morning coffee, I’ve created a consistent and automatic association between the two activities. 

This approach ensures that my pastime is seamlessly integrated with my existing schedule, guaranteeing that it’s not neglected even during busy periods. Additionally, the practice of setting a specific duration for the activity ensures it remains a manageable part of my day. The result has been a noticeable improvement in well-being, as this dedicated time provides a much-needed mental break and enhances work-life balance.

Kartik Ahuja, Digital Marketer, kartikahuja.com

Weave Hobbies Into Daily Activities

When hobbies and recreation are incorporated into a jam-packed schedule, surprisingly simple things can be achieved by simply looking at things from a different perspective. Instead of finding pockets of time dedicated to these activities, I weave them into things I already do. 

Take exercise: instead of finding time or thinking about exercise as an additive activity, I’ve incorporated it into the workday—walking during phone meetings or stretching between tasks. This microdosing of hobbies—whether reading a chapter of a book at lunch or playing a quick game on my phone while waiting for a call—allows me to remain engaged and reduces stress without blocking large time slices. 

It may sound tricky, but most of the time, we feel like we need to set a really long time frame for our hobbies. Well, sprinkling hobbies in my daily activities keeps me consistent and full of joy. Moreover, it helps boost energy and refresh the mind for better productivity and well-being.

Nicholas Robb, Lifestyle Business Expert, Life by Design

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Spotlyts is pleased to launch a dynamic series of articles dedicated to Health, Fitness, Sports, and Hobbies. Each feature is crafted to offer insights and inspiration across these four key areas of a balanced lifestyle. Here’s a sneak peek at the engaging content you can look forward to:

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Sports: Engaging in Activity

Rediscover the exciting world of sports through our comprehensive coverage. Whether you’re interested in team sports, individual challenges, or recreational activities, our features will showcase various sports and their benefits. We’ll also include profiles of local sports events and athletes to offer insights into how sports can enhance personal development and community involvement.

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Celebrate the joy of hobbies with articles that highlight a range of creative and recreational pursuits. From artistic endeavors to outdoor activities, we’ll explore how engaging in hobbies contributes to happiness and mental well-being. Expect to find inspiring stories, tips for starting new hobbies, and ways to incorporate your passions into a busy schedule.

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Spotlyts articles focus on celebrating Health, Fitness, Sports, and Hobbies. Each piece is designed to offer valuable information and inspiration to help you to enhance your well-being and enjoy a well-rounded lifestyle. Stay tuned for a series of engaging content that will empower you to embrace and celebrate all aspects of a balanced life.

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