As professionals around the world feel
increasingly pressed for time, they’re giving up on things that matter to them.
A recent HBR article
noted that in surveys, most people “could name several activities, such as
pursuing a hobby, that they’d like to have time for.”
This is more significant than it may sound,
because it isn’t just individuals who are missing out. When people don’t have
time for hobbies, businesses pay a price. Hobbies can make workers
substantially better at their jobs. I know this from personal experience. I’ve
always loved playing the guitar and
composing. But just like workers everywhere, I can fall into the trap of
feeling that I have no time to engage in it. As head of demand generation for Nextiva, I have enough on my plate to keep
me busy around the clock. I can easily fall into the trap of the “72-hour workweek,”
which takes into account time people spend connected to work on our phones
outside of official work hours.
When I crash, there’s always the temptation to do
something sedentary and mindless. It’s little surprise that watching TV is by
far the most popular use of leisure time in
the U.S. and tops the list elsewhere as well, including Germany
and England.
But by spending time on music, I boost some of my
most important workplace skills.
Creativity. To stand out and
compete in today’s crowded and constantly changing business environment,
organizations need new, innovative ideas that will rise above the noise. I’m
tasked with constantly looking for new ways to attract attention from potential
buyers. But coming up with a fully original idea can be difficult when your
mind is filled with targets, metrics, and deadlines.
A creative hobby pulls you out of all that.
Whether you’re a musician, artist, writer, or cook, you often start with a
blank canvas in your mind. You simply think: What will I create that will evoke
the emotion I’m going for?
It’s no surprise that by giving yourself this
mental space, and focusing on feelings, you can reawaken your
creativity. Neuroscientists have found
that rational thought and emotions involve different parts of the brain. For
the floodgates of creativity to open, both must be in play.
Perspective. One of the
trickiest tasks in the creative process is thinking through how someone else
would experience your idea. But in doing creative hobbies, people think that
way all the time. A potter imagines how the recipient of a vase would respond
to it. A mystery novelist considers whether an unsuspecting reader will be
surprised by a plot twist.
When I take a break from work to go make music, I
reconnect with that perspective. I keep thinking about how someone hearing my
song for the first time might respond. I do all I can to see (or hear) the
world through
someone else’s eyes (or ears). Then, when I resume the work project, I take
that mentality with me.
Confidence. When I face a tough
challenge at work and feel stymied, I can start to question whether I’ll ever
figure out a successful solution. It’s easy to lose creative
confidence. But after an hour of shredding on the guitar, hitting notes
perfectly, I’m feeling good. I can tell that my brain was craving that kind of
satisfaction. And when I face that work project again, I bring the confidence
with me.
It turns out people like me have been studied. In
one study, researchers found
that “creative activity was positively associated with recovery experiences
(i.e., mastery, control, and relaxation) and performance‐related outcomes (i.e., job creativity and
extra‐role behaviors).”
In fact, they wrote, “Creative activity while away from work may be a leisure
activity that provides employees essential resources to perform at a high
level.”
So to my fellow professionals, I highly recommend
taking some time to keep up your creative hobby. It doesn’t have to be long. A study
found that spending 45 minutes making art helps boost someone’s confidence and
ability to complete tasks.
I also suggest you encourage your business to
celebrate employees’ hobbies. Zappos puts
employee artwork up on its walls and encourages people to decorate their
desks in whatever ways they wish. Some businesses hold
talent shows. Even employees who may not have these kinds of talents should
be encouraged to do something that feels creative and fun. Some CEOs
spend time on
their own hobbies, setting the right example.
And when you find a little time for a creative
hobby break, make it guilt free. After all, when you do this, everyone stands
to gain.
Source: HBR 07 Feb, 2019
