Hobbies Help Your Career

Lots of people are content to just sit around watching television in the evening and on weekends when they have free time. But being a couch potato does nothing for you, mentally or physically. If you invest some of that leisure time in a hobby–even things like writing poetry or crocheting that require no exercise or activity–it might boost your creativity. And new research shows that enjoying a pastime on a regular basis may actually enhance your performance at work as well.

The study, which took place at San Francisco State University in California, found that any type of hobby an individual participates in during free time can have a positive effect on problem solving and working well with others while on the job.¹ Singh, Maanvi. “Got A Hobby? Might Be A Smart Professional Move.” NPR. 17 April 2014. Accessed 23 April 2014. http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/04/17/303769531/could-those-weekend-pottery-classes-help-you-get-promoted-at-work The first portion of the experiment focused on approximately 350 adult subjects who were working in wide-ranging industries. Each of them answered questions about how they generally spent their leisure hours and how well they performed in the workplace. Even though their interests varied tremendously, the participants who took part in a hobby frequently–no matter what that hobby was–achieved a 15 to 30 percent better score on performance evaluations than did those who rarely engaged in a hobby.

The second portion of the research involved a similar test, but the subjects all had the same job. They were 90 captains in the United States Air Force. This background meant that they knew how to find effective solutions to problems in the field and provide help whenever necessary. But the study’s findings showed that it was more than their military training that influenced their abilities. Once again, those volunteers who had a hobby with which they were very involved not only perceived themselves as doing better on the job, but also received higher performance reviews from their colleagues and superiors than did their less hobby-oriented peers.

The researchers did attempt to control for certain factors that might produce a more positive assessment of performance, such as having a particularly creative personality. The subjects were questioned about such topics as their openness to trying new things and to what extent they consider art important in order to gauge just how creative each participant might be. Of course, this runs the risk of being a sort of chicken-or-egg conundrum, as in: does a person spend time pursuing a hobby and perform better at work because they are naturally more creative? Or does the hobby get the creative juices flowing, causing the individual to be more imaginative and improve work performance? This study only determined an association between hobbies and job execution, rather than prove cause and effect.

But whether the creativity or the hobby comes first, there really is no downside to having a pastime. It can help you increase your skills in a particular area, bolster your attitude and revitalize you, and offer some much needed stress relief. A 1995 study at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale found after 15 years of research on the subject that hobbies provide us with a greater overall satisfaction in life.² Tinsley, Howard E.A. and Eldredge, Barbara D. “Psychological benefits of leisure participation: A taxonomy of leisure activities based on their need-gratifying properties.” Journal of Counseling Psychology. April 1995. Accessed 25 April 2014. http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/cou/42/2/123 If you choose an art-based hobby such as playing music, sculpting, drawing, writing poetry, photography, or the like, you are benefiting your mental health by increasing confidence through newly improved skills and exploring emotions, not to mention improving your intelligence. If instead, your interest lies in needlepoint, knitting, or putting together model airplanes, you may well be enhancing your fine motor skills and gaining new problem-solving abilities. Crossword puzzles, word games, or learning a new language can keep your brain stimulated and reduce the risk of developing dementia as you age.

The important thing is to find an activity to truly enjoy–whether you are doing it with others or it’s a solitary pursuit–and allowing yourself some time to spend on your hobby on a regular basis. Everyone deserves to be able to take a few hours out of their busy week to do something they love.