Once, someone asked me, “Why do you do so many things outside of your job?” My quick answer was, “I’m having fun. It gives me a break from the otherwise hectic daily routine of home and work.”
My long answer? Well, the hobbies and gigs I pursue outside of work give me the opportunity to keep growing.
Back in school, I wasn’t an honor student, contrary to what many assume. I never made it into the Top 3 academic honors every year. However, what I did get was at least one leadership award every year. Thanks to being very active in extracurricular activities. In fact, I was once called the “most active outside the classroom.”
But I wasn’t doing them for the award. Well, no one really cared about those leadership awards back then. I didn’t fully understand how important they were. Heck, I couldn’t even use them to secure college scholarships.
I was just enjoying doing them.
But it was only after I finished school that I realized how much those recognitions helped shape me into who I am today. I’ve come to appreciate how those extracurricular activities taught me invaluable soft skills that I couldn’t have learned within the four walls of the classroom alone.
So, it holds true until today. Doing other things outside of work gives me an outlet to pursue things that make me happy and avoid burnout. It allows me to strike a healthy work-life balance—the balance that lets me feel refreshed and productive at work while also staying creative and responsive in other aspects of life.
Do you also have hobbies or interests outside of work?
