Interests Outside of Work Can Make Us More Productive on the Job
Hobbies help people feel satisfied and resilient, experts say.
Having hobbies “provides dimensionality in our lives,” says Robert Cross, who’s studied the habits and social networks of high performers for 20 years. Dimensionality is good; it makes us feel like well-rounded humans who have more to live for than just a paycheck.
Engaging with outside interests can also make us feel in control, challenged, and relaxed—which lets us be focused, energetic, and better able to handle difficulties at work, says Kevin Eschleman, an associate psychology professor at San Francisco State University who studies creativity. “If you’ve been depleted or pissed off at work,” he says, a hobby can help you “forget about it. That can be helpful for people experiencing some burnout or high stress.”