Why you NEED Hobbies and How to Find Them

Summary

In this episode of the Balancer Podcast, the host explores the importance of hobbies and how they enhance productivity. The discussion covers how jobs often can't fulfill all of one's interests, making hobbies essential for a balanced life. Personal anecdotes, like starting a podcast while working as a finance lawyer, highlight how hobbies can bring joy and creativity to otherwise routine work lives. The episode provides practical advice on how to identify hobbies based on personal interests, childhood activities, and skills lacking in one's job. It's a motivating talk on balancing work, hobbies, and personal fulfillment.

Takeaways

• 🎙️ The episode focuses on hobbies and how they contribute to productivity, work-life balance, and personal fulfillment.
• 👍 The host encourages listeners to like and subscribe to the podcast to help reach a larger audience.
• 💍 The host shares a personal life update about their upcoming wedding in Bali, emphasizing a stress-free and enjoyable planning process.
• 🧠 Hobbies allow people to use skills and explore interests that their job may not fulfill, reducing pressure on work to satisfy all needs.
• 🎧 The podcast was born from the host's desire for meaningful conversations outside of their job as a finance lawyer.
• 🛠️ Humans are multi-talented, and it’s important to explore various interests rather than limiting oneself to one skill or profession.
• 🤐 The host used to feel hesitant about sharing personal interests at work, fearing it would make them seem less focused on their job.
• 🌱 Engaging in hobbies makes individuals more productive and fulfilled at work because they can explore skills they don’t use in their job.
• 🎨 Tips for finding hobbies include reflecting on childhood interests, identifying gaps in your current job, and experimenting with new activities.
• ⏳ Finding time for hobbies involves assessing priorities and balancing them with work, as hobbies can significantly enhance overall life satisfaction.

Q & A

What is the main topic of this podcast episode?

The main topic of this podcast episode is the importance of having hobbies, how they can make you more productive, and how to discover hobbies that you enjoy.

Why does the host believe that having hobbies is important?

The host believes that having hobbies is important because they provide fulfillment and allow people to explore different skills and interests that they may not be able to engage with in their job. This balance helps prevent resentment toward one's job and adds to overall life satisfaction.

How does the host's personal experience with hobbies influence her perspective?

The host shares that while working as a lawyer, she felt a lack of meaningful conversations in her job. This realization led her to start the podcast as a hobby to fulfill that need. Her experience showed her that having an outlet for interests outside of work can improve overall productivity and satisfaction.

What misconception about jobs and fulfillment does the host want to challenge?

The host wants to challenge the misconception that a job should be the sole source of fulfillment. She emphasizes that no job can satisfy all of a person's interests or skills, which is why it's important to have hobbies that complement one's career.

How did the host overcome the fear of sharing her hobbies with her colleagues?

The host initially felt hesitant to share her hobbies because she feared it might make her seem less dedicated to her job. However, over time, she realized that her hobbies added value to her life and didn't diminish her productivity at work. This realization helped her become more open about her interests.

What advice does the host offer for discovering a new hobby?

The host suggests reflecting on aspects of your job that feel lacking or unfulfilled, revisiting interests from childhood, or considering topics that naturally capture your attention. She also encourages experimentation, as trying new activities can help you discover what you truly enjoy.

How does the host suggest balancing hobbies with a busy work schedule?

The host recommends prioritizing hobbies by identifying them as a key part of your balanced life. By making hobbies a priority, you can better schedule your time around them. She suggests using tools like a balance assessment to identify what matters most to you and plan accordingly.

What is the 'balance assessment' that the host mentions?

The 'balance assessment' is a 20-minute workshop that the host offers to help people understand their current life balance and how to time-block for different priorities. This tool helps individuals identify how they can fit hobbies into their schedule alongside other responsibilities.

What does the host believe about being multi-talented?

The host believes that humans are naturally multi-talented and not meant to focus on just one skill or interest throughout their lives. She encourages embracing multiple talents and exploring a range of interests to lead a more fulfilling life.

How does the host view the impact of hobbies on personal growth and productivity?

The host views hobbies as a crucial part of personal growth, allowing individuals to explore skills that their jobs may not offer. She believes that having hobbies makes a person more productive and satisfied in their work because it provides an outlet for creativity, interests, and skills outside their professional role.

Outlines

00:00

🎉 Welcome to the Balancer Podcast

The host welcomes listeners to another episode of the Balancer Podcast. They express excitement about today's topic, which is personal and potentially controversial, aiming to challenge how people think about hobbies and spare time. They also request listeners to like and subscribe to the podcast. The host shares a personal update about their upcoming wedding in Bali, expressing their excitement and lack of stress, attributing it to using a planner. They promise to share wedding photos on their personal and podcast pages.

05:02

🛠️ The Importance of Hobbies

The host delves into the main topic, discussing why hobbies are crucial for productivity and fulfillment. They reflect on a realization that jobs or businesses cannot satisfy all interests and skills, emphasizing the importance of hobbies as complementary activities. The host shares their personal experience as a financial lawyer, feeling the lack of meaningful conversations and authenticity in their job, which led to the creation of the podcast to fulfill that need. They highlight the multifaceted nature of humans and the importance of exploring various interests beyond work.

10:03

🤫 Embracing and Sharing Personal Interests

The host discusses the challenge of sharing personal interests at work due to fear of appearing less dedicated to the job. They share an anecdote about a partner at their firm encouraging them to share their podcast, leading to a realization that personal interests add value to one's character. The host emphasizes the importance of recognizing and honoring personal interests, stating that having hobbies can enhance job satisfaction and productivity. They reflect on their journey of balancing work with personal projects, ultimately finding that hobbies enrich their life and work.

15:03

🔍 Finding and Prioritizing Hobbies

The host provides practical steps for finding and prioritizing hobbies. They suggest identifying gaps in one's job or reflecting on childhood interests as potential hobbies. The host shares their experience of discovering ceramics as a hobby, linking it to their interest in home decor. They emphasize the importance of experimentation and trial and error in finding enjoyable activities. The host advises listeners to reassess their priorities and make time for hobbies, offering a link to a workshop on life balance and time management. They encourage curiosity about others' interests to inspire new hobbies.

🔄 Conclusion and Call to Action

The host wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to share the episode with others who might benefit from it. They reiterate the value of hobbies in enhancing life satisfaction and work productivity, urging listeners to explore and prioritize their interests. The host highlights the importance of discussing and sharing personal interests with colleagues to foster a well-rounded work environment. They remind listeners to like and subscribe to stay updated with new content and announce the next episode's release. The episode concludes with a message to stay balanced.

Keywords

💡Hobbies

Hobbies are personal activities done for enjoyment during one’s free time. In the video, the speaker emphasizes that hobbies are essential for a balanced life, complementing one's career. The speaker mentions her own hobbies, like ceramics, as a way to explore skills that her job doesn't allow her to use.

💡Productivity

Productivity refers to the efficiency in which tasks or work is completed. The video suggests that engaging in hobbies can increase productivity in one’s job by providing an outlet for creative or personal skills not used at work. The speaker explains that hobbies prevent job resentment and lead to more satisfaction in the workplace.

💡Balance

Balance, in the context of the video, is the ability to manage different aspects of life, such as work and personal interests, without sacrificing well-being. The speaker stresses that hobbies are key to achieving balance, allowing people to not rely solely on their job for fulfillment. She encourages listeners to prioritize hobbies alongside their careers.

💡Career Fulfillment

Career fulfillment is the sense of satisfaction one derives from their job. The speaker challenges the notion that a job alone can fulfill all personal and professional needs. She argues that hobbies play a crucial role in providing fulfillment where the job may fall short, thus creating a healthier relationship with work.

💡Personal Growth

Personal growth refers to the development of individual skills, interests, and self-awareness. The speaker describes how engaging in hobbies helps foster personal growth by encouraging people to explore their talents beyond the limitations of their job roles. Her example of podcasting and ceramics showcases how hobbies lead to new opportunities and self-discovery.

💡Trial and Error

Trial and error is the process of experimenting to find what works best. The speaker uses this concept to encourage listeners to try different hobbies without the fear of failure. She highlights how experimenting with activities like podcasting or painting can help people discover new interests they might not have considered before.

💡Work-Life Culture

Work-life culture refers to the norms and expectations around how people balance work responsibilities with personal interests. The speaker reflects on how corporate environments often discourage the discussion of personal hobbies. She notes that this culture can make people feel like they should focus only on work, whereas embracing hobbies outside of work can enrich one’s overall life experience.

💡Self-Expression

Self-expression is the process of sharing one’s thoughts, feelings, or creativity through activities. The speaker uses podcasting as an example of how she found a way to express herself in meaningful conversations, which she felt were lacking in her job. This allowed her to fulfill a personal need for deeper connections and creative expression.

💡Time Management

Time management is the ability to plan and control how one spends their time to maximize productivity and personal satisfaction. The speaker discusses how she schedules time for her hobbies, like ceramics and podcasting, around her job. She encourages listeners to make time for hobbies by prioritizing them in their daily lives.

💡Corporate Expectations

Corporate expectations refer to the perceived pressures and norms in the workplace that influence behavior. The speaker shares her experience of feeling hesitant to discuss her hobbies at work, fearing it would make her appear less committed. She highlights how breaking away from these corporate expectations can lead to a more fulfilling life both inside and outside of work.

Highlights

The podcast discusses how hobbies make you more productive by balancing the skills you don't use in your job.

The host shares a personal life update about their upcoming wedding in Bali, highlighting their stress-free approach to wedding planning.

A realization is shared: we often put pressure on our jobs to fulfill all our interests, but hobbies can complement our work.

The podcast was born from the host's desire for meaningful conversations, which they felt were missing in their job as a financial lawyer.

A guest on the show, Sheen GB, discusses how humans are multi-talented and encourages exploring multiple interests.

The host reflects on the struggle of feeling judged for pursuing personal interests outside of work, emphasizing the importance of hobbies.

Having hobbies doesn't make you less productive at work; instead, it enhances overall satisfaction and performance.

The host emphasizes that free time is personal, and pursuing hobbies during that time doesn't affect job performance.

Practical tips are offered for finding hobbies, including identifying what skills are missing in your current job and reflecting on childhood interests.

The host shares their own journey of discovering ceramics as a hobby, which complements their love for homeware.

An element of trial and error is necessary when exploring new hobbies—experimenting is key to finding what resonates.

The podcast provides advice on balancing work and hobbies by prioritizing time management and scheduling around personal interests.

Listeners are encouraged to engage with their hobbies, as they can lead to unexpected and rewarding opportunities.

The host highlights how hobbies can reduce job resentment by offering a creative outlet for unutilized skills.

Ending the podcast, the host encourages listeners to explore their hobbies and get curious about others' interests outside of work, fostering a more balanced and fulfilling life.

Transcripts

hey balancers welcome to another episode

of the balancer podcast we are in for a

treat today we're talking about

something that is very very close to my

heart and something that might even be a

little bit controversial might challenge

you in some of the ways you've been

thinking about your hobbies and your

spare time so I'm excited for today's

chat but just before we dive in I do

want to ask you guys for a little favor

I want you guys to make sure you hit

that like And subscribe button it really

helps us reach more people who would

love to hear conversations like the one

we're going to have today and it means

the absolute world to me you know what I

just realized and something I'm getting

so excited for I'm getting married soon

so I'm getting married in June in barley

I'm so excited um I realized I haven't

spoken much about it on the show at all

but I have not been stressed out at all

I'm kind of like waiting for you know

when's that going to kick in not that

I'm expecting it but I feel like bride's

always so stressed out but I'm just like

very chill very go with the flow

um so I've really been enjoying the

experience of like planning stuff

choosing things I am using a planner

maybe that's why I'm not as stressed out

um but really excited for that and yeah

if you follow me on my personal uh I

guess you'll see all the fun photos on

the day I'll try to post some stuff on

the podcast page as well but that is

coming up which is super exciting

thought I'd just share that I always

forget to like share a bit of my

personal life on here I just get

straight into the content because I'm so

passionate about the topic sometimes but

that's a little like Life update from me

okay but the reason why we're all

actually here today is we're going to

talk about Hobbies why they actually

make you more productive why you

actually need them and how you can find

them if you feel like you don't have any

I want to start off with a realization I

had a few years ago so I think a lot of

us put so much pressure on our job or

our business to be the thing that

satisfies us or fulfills us I think

especially if you're like doing your own

business or you've gone into a career

and really chosen it like you've studied

it and then you've gone into it right

there was an active selection process in

that there's almost like a feeling of

you want to like it and you want it to

be it because you've put so much time

and effort into it but I think

irrespective whether you're like

actively doing something you enjoy

whether you're just falling into a job

because it just happened the way it

happened I think we do put pressure

sometimes on our job being the thing

that fulfills us and I want to be the

one to crack that in half and say that

is not the case because I don't think

any job in the world could possibly

satisfy or fulfill the the range of

interests or skills that you have and

that's why I think hobbies are the

perfect complement to whatever it is

you're doing as a 9-to-5 or a business

or a side hustle whatever it is you're

doing that takes up most your time in

the work kind of category you need

hobbies to balance it out for the things

that you don't get to do in your job and

this is exactly where the podcast was

born so I was working as a finan lawyer

was in a firm in Sydney and one thing I

was really feeling was like I was

lacking personal and meaningful kind of

conversations with people it was very

much like just me and my client work

like yes I'd work collabor

collaboratively with others but it was

very much like a oneman job you just

like do your own thing and there wasn't

really that like genuine level I was in

banking so it was super transactional

like I just felt like it was lacking

that authenticity and I was really just

craving having meaningful connections

with people I'm the kind of person that

if I was ever at a party growing up I

would be that person with a drink like

there's red cups in the corner having a

full-on DNM deep and meaningful for

those of you who don't know what that

means I was having a full-blown DNM with

someone in the corner all night long

right that was me I'd just be that

person that would dive deep into

conversations it's always something I've

really enjoyed doing and so I noticed

quite early on like that was something I

really actively felt like I was missing

I was lacking and so when I noticed that

about myself I was like how do I how do

I explore this how do I bring this how

do I do this more like how can I create

space for this and the podcast seemed

like a perfect place to do that to have

really deep conversations to explore

interesting authentic kind of

conversations that I wasn't getting in

my job and then I think where this

journey took me was realizing that we're

not meant to have one skill to have one

interest to be in one vertical not only

in this moment but for your whole life

right you're

multi-talented by nature of being a

human I had um a beautiful woman named

Sheen GB I had her on the podcast a few

weeks ago if you haven't had a chance to

check out that interview check it out

because she has had like every career or

job you could think of she's chopped and

changed quite a lot and one of the

things she loves talking about is how

multi-talented we are as humans and how

to explore all this and chop and change

and have the confidence to do that which

was a really enlightening chat so save

that one for later if you haven't

already but needless to say we're not

meant to have one skill you're not meant

to have one skill you can perfect one

and then start embracing other things

you're good at right you're not meant to

just be good at one thing you don't have

to be good at one thing you can do as

much or as little as you would like but

I want to talk about one probably

unspoken aspect of all of this and this

is something that I felt and that was

almost like I had to be Hush Hush about

my personal interests because I felt

like by talking about them at work it

would almost make me look like less

productive or less interested in my job

you know if I had all this time to be

doing stuff outside not that I was

really expected to work on weekends I

don't know it's like weird now that I

reflect on it but I just almost felt

like no one else was talking about their

interests and so if I was like sticking

my head out and saying well this is all

the stuff I'm doing it kind of made me

look less interested in my job which is

strange to me now but I can

wholeheartedly say that was something I

really struggled with I was Hush Hush I

wouldn't post much my personal I would

kind of hope people wouldn't find out

and I remember one of the uh partners of

a completely different team I mean my

boss kind of knew my partner at the time

knew about the podcast and you know it

was like whatever but someone else in

another team found out and asked me to

send a firmwide email like sharing the

podcast and I was like oh wow like do

you think people would be interested and

then I really grappled with like oh I

don't know like I don't want people to

think I'm that person that's like half

in work half not but where I have come

to is like complet completely full

circle I now am so like interested in

what people are interested in outside of

work because really we're all there

doing the same thing what makes us

different are our interests and those

things only add value to who you are as

a person they create your character and

I actually think if you can get to a

place where you have your job you

identify the things that are lacking or

the skills you're not able to use in

that job instead of putting pressure on

your job for trying to be that one thing

that ticks all the boxes and you have

these other Outlets that you can

actually leverage off to utilize those

skills or have like space for them it

makes you better and more satisfied in

the job you're doing it doesn't take

away from it and once I had this shift

it was so powerful I started to really

honor the things I was doing because I

knew it didn't make me less productive

at my job I did my job I am very like

proud of my quality of work and the

level of care and diligence I have in my

role and none of that changed just

because I had a podcast on the side you

know this isn't a five day a week thing

for me it's a weekend task it's a oneman

job I do everything myself you know I've

obviously become better at it as time

has gone on in terms of my productivity

with it and the way I've optimized

things but it had nothing to do with my

job like my free time is my free time so

I think once you realize that having

Hobbies can actually add so much value

to what you do because it holds space

and creates opportunities for you to do

things that you're lacking in your role

this changed everything and this is

really the flavor of today's chat and

why having Hobbies make you more

productive because I think the counter

is you end up getting a lot of

resentment because your work isn't

fulfilling you the way you want and

let's be honest like a lot of hobbies

are not that fruitful financially you

know they're more for your soul they're

more fulfilling to you and your interest

you know that doesn't mean they can't be

fruitful but really they should be there

to give you space and freedom to first

and foremost just explore skills or

interests that you can't do in your job

it takes the pressure off your job and

it really actually makes you better

because you're just there to embrace

those skills and then you're able to

have Avenues and outlets for other

skills and collectively on the whole

that gives a much better life experience

so that's kind of how I came to a point

where I realized okay my hobbies or my

interests are part of who I am and they

actually make me more productive because

of this Dynamic with an outlet or the

space they hold for skills I don't get

to use in my job so you might be

listening and thinking okay I get that I

understand that makes perfect sense to

me but how do I find what those things

are so of course like always I'm going

to give you some practical steps or or a

reflection that you can undertake to I

guess try and work this out step one is

really thinking about what those Hobbies

could be right so you might have an idea

maybe you've tried some stuff maybe you

have no idea and you're like I really

need some guidance in this so there's a

few ways you could think about this the

first way is like me was thinking about

what am I lacking in my role what do I

feel I don't get to do what's a skill or

an interest of mine or something I

really wish I could do in this job you

know that's a good indicator like an

aspect you wish you could have in your

role or maybe you wish you could be more

Hands-On on people's side or admin side

or whatever it is right like get curious

about what that Gap is what you feel

like you're missing and that may

identify an interest or a skill or

something that you want to be embracing

right that could be one way another way

is reflecting on your childhood what

things that you used to love doing as a

child you know before you had to worry

about making money and having

responsibilities like what things did

you naturally gravitate to or even like

what are you just interested in today

what kind of content do you like

consuming and what are the topic areas

or um interests that are associated with

that content for me for example I love

home wear I love going to little home

wear stores I love watching home wear

being put together and like styling a

house which is how I got on the path of

going to Ceramics that's now a hobby

that I've been doing for a few months

now I've learned how to do it because I

love spending my money on buying

Ceramics and if I could learn how to do

it and make pieces for my house I'm

getting two things there I'm getting the

Fulfillment and Joy from the time spent

doing something which is like a skill I

never get to use like Hands-On crafty

Arts don't get to do that while I'm

being a lawyer at all so I get that and

then I also get a piece to take home so

it's been this nice Synergy between

finding what I enjoy and something I'm

not getting in my current job and

something I am interested in which is

now converted into a hobby also there's

an element of experimentation right like

how could I have possibly known I would

have liked podcasting if I never tried

it so I don't think it's that useful to

be like hm would I like doing painting

probably not you know because of XY Z

like how much is it going to cost you to

just go to a Saturday class or get some

paint sent to your house and try it for

a few weeks and just see how you feel

you know like it's difficult to say

you're not going to like something

without trying it unless you've done

something remotely similar before so

there is an element of trial and error

and just putting yourself out there and

experimenting so those are my tips for

finding what that thing is but some of

you might be sitting here like okay

Erica great like I've got a full-time

job I've got a few things I want to try

where do I find a time to do them and

I'm glad you asked because step two is

all about balance which is you know my

bread and butter and this means you need

to go back to your priority list you

need to go back to your balance

assessment and work out what your

priorities are and if having an outlet

for different skills if having an outlet

that helps you enjoy your job more be

more productive in what you're doing or

just give you a little bit more of a

well-rounded experience of how you're

spending your time if that's something

that's important to you that you feel

would really add value then it needs to

be a priority and what we know about our

approach to balance is once it's a

priority you make time for it because

your time is scheduled around your

priorities so for those of you that are

newer to this that haven't heard the

terms of like balance areas as garden

beds or priority lists or anything like

that I'm going to link in the show notes

a free 20-minute Workshop I did on

YouTube I Did It On Stage last year and

it will basically take you through and

paint a picture of what your life

balance looks like right now and then

how to actually time block that how to

make time for everything how to plan

your schedule it's 20 minutes and it

will honestly change your life so check

out the link that will show you how to

start planning your time so you can fit

in all these things and maybe fit in

something that's now a new priority for

you as well and you guys never know what

Journey your hobbies will take you on

maybe it's going to be something you

enjoy for a little bit and you know you

get a few pieces for home like me maybe

I won't do it forever maybe it'll be

like a podcast something that you end up

enjoying and you know I I couldn't have

told you all the places the podcast has

taken me I've been able to do it from

all around the world I've been able to

speak on stage I've been able to

interview incredible people uh you know

you never know where these Hobbies will

take you so there's an element of trial

and error there's an element of getting

to know yourself a little bit more but

don't get stuck in that oh I just have

no idea what I'm going to do like there

are many ways you can find what those

things are and you have to just be a

little bit open and flexible to the fact

that it might be a bit of trial and

error but once you find something you

really enjoy and it adds out value to

your life and changes the way you view a

job and you no longer resent it or you

start enjoying it more or you just have

a little bit more of a well-rounded

experience of your life and the way

you're enjoying it is so invaluable in

my eyes so I hope you guys have loved

this episode this is your sign to

prioritize your hobbies find them or you

know prioritize them if you've already

identified what they are because they

are such a beautiful value ad and also

like a little reminder to just be

curious about what other people's

interests are outside of work too like

we don't need to perpetuate this culture

where we're at work and we just work you

know I think corporate can be a bit like

that sometimes and as I said you can

feel like you want to be a bit Hush Hush

about your interests but talk to people

get curious ask what their hobbies are

it really just paint a beautiful

well-rounded picture of who they are

helps you get to know them and who knows

maybe someone else's interests or

Hobbies will inspire you for something

you want to try too so that's today's

episode guys if anyone's come to mind in

this 15 or so minutes that we've been

together share this episode with them

knowledge is great when we hear it but

it's even better when we share it if you

haven't already give us a thumbs up and

subscribe to to our Channel it really

helps us reach listeners who struggle

with things just like me and you and

would benefit from hearing today's chat

and it keeps you in the loop with any

new content we've got coming out too

that's it from me guys I hope you

enjoyed today's chat I will see you all

on Monday for another interview and

until then stay balanced