Rediscover Your Passion: 6 Tips for Full-Time Workers to Reclaim Their Lives
I work for the world’s largest Asset Management Firm which manages over 1 trillion dollars.
I also train dogs, coach tennis, DJ, write articles, and love my girlfriend.
And I still have plenty of free time in the day.
In fact, we all do. The world has become increasingly stressful and sometimes it seems that we never have time for ourselves. We just feel drained and don’t have a plan. Sometimes we feel guilty for having free time, and feel the need to work.
Even with our full-time occupations, we can still enjoy our lives. Here's how.
Schedule your free time
To ensure we have time for ourselves, we must dedicate time to our schedule. A comprehensive look at our calendar allows us to examine the available time throughout the month, week, day, or even hour. We can then plan our self-care accordingly.
For instance, I make it a point to read for at least 30 minutes every day during lunch. Making a scheduled commitment to myself makes me feel productive. I trick my brain into believing I’m working.
Scheduling makes our lives easier.
It saves us from the mental exhaustion of decision-making. It's a simple strategy that frees up more time in our day. No longer do we have to squeeze in our hobbies; they already have a reserved spot on our calendars.
This leaves us with more time to love and enjoy ourselves.
Find ways to work from home
Working from home can enhance your life outside of work.
It often allows for an easier transition into a 'flow state', where you become fully immersed and can enjoy your day more.
However, it's crucial to maintain a clear boundary between work and personal time. Effective scheduling is key to avoiding any conflict between your hobby and work responsibilities.
To dedicate more time to your personal life, consider completing your work early. This strategy is particularly useful for hobbies like sculpting, painting, or writing. Unless you have a really cool boss…
You might find it beneficial to start work early and negotiate an early departure with your boss. For example, a teammate of mine starts work at 7 a.m. This early start allows her to squeeze in a workout at 3 before she has to pick up her kids from school.
Adjusting your work schedule like this can create a healthy balance between your professional obligations and your life.
Turn your hobbies into a business
If there's something you love and you're good at it, why not give it a shot?
Love driving? Uber might be your calling. Are you a carpentry whizz? Task Rabbit could use your skills. Neat Freak? you could help people tidy up their homes. I’ll hire you:)
Speaking from my own experience, I work on Wag because I love dogs and training them right in my apartment. In addition to that, I'm a DJ. Sometimes, I can rake in up to $100 for a gig. It feels pretty great to get paid for doing what you love.
So, if you're passionate about something and can make it valuable in today's world, go for it.
You've got nothing to lose.
Build a Social Media Presence
Social media is a great tool for finding and nurturing hobbies. Platforms like Podcasts, writing sites, affiliate programs, Instagram Reels, and YouTube offer a vast array of resources and communities.
These platforms enable connection with like-minded individuals, making the creation process fun and time seems to fly. Creating content allows you to discover your unique strengths and quirks. So, dive in, explore, and let your individuality shine.
Your life becomes meaningful when you create good in this world.
Find a hobby
Work matters, but so do hobbies.
They're our break from high demands, bringing us back to the simple joy of childhood.
To find a hobby, join others who share your interests on platforms like meetup.com. You'll likely find people with shared hobbies, making your experience more social and fun. So, remember to play.
Life isn't just about work; it's also about enjoying our hobbies which keep us feeling lively and young at heart.
Reignite your old talents
If you have a passion, you can share it with others. Consider coaching a sport you loved playing or teaching a course on a topic you're an expert in. Platforms like Udemy allow you to become a paid teacher. When you love something, you'll make time for it.
Immerse yourself in that book or play your weird music. Reignite your passion as if experiencing it for the first time, all while earning your livelihood.
The joy of doing what you love isn't a luxury, it's a way of life
Enjoy each moment
Much Love and Gratitude,
-Jack