It can be a great idea to choose a job that can help you pursue your passions but work life doesn’t always work out that conveniently. The career you desired whilst pursuing your dreams may now not hold so much appeal.
Steve Jobs once said,
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” Pursuing your passion is important but doing this through your hobbies and interests is just as valid as doing it through work.
Making time for hobbies isn’t always easy but it can help improve your work-life balance.
8 benefits of pursuing a passion outside of work
- It is good for your well-being
- It can be educational.
- Interests outside work balance your life.
- Hobbies and interests can help you develop transferable skills.
- It can prepare you for your future.
- It can be good for you and your community.
- Your passions may not line up with your career needs.
- It makes you more interesting.
1. It is good for your well-being.
Research suggests that pursuing a passion is beneficial for your overall well-being as long as it doesn’t become obsessive. When you pursue hobbies and interests, you’re actively choosing to spend time on your passion.
This element of choice is not always available at work but is really important when it comes to psychological well-being. There is more good news here because what you can gain from pursuing your dreams outside work can have a
positive effect on your career, your home life and even your physical health.
2. It can be educational.
When you’re really passionate about something, it’s natural to want to learn more about it. This is one of the reasons that
online courses are so popular as part of a hobby or interest. An online course
gives you the opportunity to learn in a timeframe that suits the rest of your lifestyle.
When we learn, we encourage our brains to develop new pathways at the same time,
boosting our self-confidence and broadening our minds. Even unexpected hobbies can have interesting learning pathways. For example, you might be surprised to hear that the number of trained Australians working in the beauty industry is growing.
3. Interests outside work balance your life.
![resilience concept]()
It makes sense when you think about it. If you put all of your energy, passion and happiness into your job, you’re leaving yourself open to problems if things go wrong. Resilience is an important factor when it comes to dealing with everyday life.
It allows us to adapt to changes and handle difficult situations. By pursuing hobbies and interests outside work, you give yourself more opportunity to switch off from career worries and issues in the workplace.
4. Hobbies and interests can help you develop transferable skills.
Once you make the decision to pursue your dream outside the workplace, you might be surprised how many unexpected skills you develop.
Transferable skills can be utilised in a variety of situations, including your workplace.
Many hobbies and interests involve you meeting new people, experiencing new environments and even changing your attitudes.
Keep an open mind and you’ll soon find yourself with a whole new, useful toolkit for life.
5. It can prepare you for your future.
The nature of Australian employment is changing and many Australians in traditional manufacturing jobs are making the move to service industries. By pursuing a passion outside of work, you can “future proof” yourself and
ensure your learning, relationships and experience is broad and flexible. For example, jobs in ICT predict strong future growth and offer a wide variety of opportunities for those with related
nationally recognised qualifications.
6. It can be good for you and your community.
![volunteering concept]()
Some passions can lead to rewarding volunteering opportunities. In 2010, 36.2% of all Australians over 18
took part in some form of volunteering. This included work with the community (22%), the environment (7%) and sport and recreation (37%). Volunteering can help
build your self-esteem and deal with stress.
Volunteering opportunities are available in a number of organisations including animal welfare, conservation and community care. As well as being good for you and your community, volunteering looks great on your resume and can sometimes lead to
alternative work opportunities.
Health Care and Social Assistance is one of Australia’s growing industries. A voluntary hobby can lead to related careers in community services and counselling, especially for those who enjoy learning.
7. Your passions might not line up with your career needs.
Even if you love your job, it won’t necessarily evolve the way you want it to. Today’s job marketplace is fast-changing and, if you value your career, you’ll be expected to move in directions that won’t necessarily match your interests. Keeping a healthy
balance between work and leisure activity is a great idea because it allows you to
explore alternative avenues and make important life decisions.
8. It makes you more interesting.
People who pursue interests outside work have more entertaining stories to tell and interesting topics to discuss. By limiting your sphere of experience to work and home,
you’re limiting the opportunity to expand your mind and knowledge.
One of the things employers look for in a
resume is whether or not a candidate has extra-curricular interests. This demonstrates all kinds of positive personal attributes including the zest and motivation required to make things happen.
There can be no doubt that pursuing your passion is important to your self development and general well-being. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to do this through your job. However, it’s also a great idea to make sure you have hobbies and interests that’ll keep you motivated outside work.
People who pursue their dreams
open themselves up to all kinds of positive opportunities. By following your passions, you can prepare yourself for what comes next.
Pursue your passion and see where it takes you
Pursuing your passions can lead to all kinds of rewarding experiences and perhaps even training for a new career. Most of Upskilled’s
nationally recognised online courses take around 12 months to complete and provides you with the opportunity to gain great career-boosting skills.
Get in touch today to find out more on how a course can help you pursue your passion by contacting Upskilled on
1300 009 924.
Fi Darby
Fi is a professional copywriter based in Devon, England. She specialises in education, careers, travel and outdoor writing and is the co-author of the popular daily outdoor blog 'Two Blondes Walking'. Fi has written three children's books and, when she isn't writing, Fi loves to gather inspiration from long walks, early morning sea swims and winter wild camps.