Clear your head and recharge your batteries
People have hobbies because they enjoy them. During the activity, the problems of everyday life, but also of the job, can be forgotten for a moment and the stress can be reduced. In this case, hobbies are an important way to clear your head and recharge your batteries. According to the findings of Dr. Kelly’s study, it is precisely these qualities that lead to success in a career. According to the researchers, however, in order for leisure activities to have such an effect, they must either differ from work activities or be carried out in a playful and carefree manner. Only in this way can they serve as a buffer between work and personal life. This is particularly important in order to maintain a healthy distance from professional challenges and to generate “psychological resources”.
As an example, the psychologist gives a scientist who is an avid climber in his spare time. Even if the person always shows full commitment in both areas, the activities are so different that they don’t get in each other’s way. The scientist can pursue the occupations with the greatest possible passion, since they do not have the same requirements and therefore do not consume the same physical resources. Rather, the interaction of the two interests of the person creates a good change. While the job of a scientist demands a lot of mental abilities, the sport of climbing helps to clear your head and improve your fitness. Due to their differences, both activities recharge the batteries of the other and thus complement each other perfectly.
Hobbies can also limit work performance
As we can imagine, there must also be a negative example for this exemplary balance between hobby and job. The study illustrates this with an outdoor tour guide who trains intensively as a triathlete in his spare time. At first glance, one might think that the hobby goes well with the job. The person could even have signaled to the employer when they were hired that their personal interests matched the job requirements well. But exactly this similarity and seriousness are, according to the results of the researchers around Dr. Kelly a problem. Because the same physical and mental abilities are constantly being exercised, the person may feel drained in both areas, slowing down progress in each. It is very difficult for the athlete to escape from the same routine. A particular determination when pursuing the hobby can also lead to a constant pressure to perform. As a result, the person concerned can neither switch off at work nor in their free time. Accordingly, there is a lack of opportunities to fully recover from the high demands.
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