The Multifaceted Approach: Nurturing Your Hobbies Outside of Work in Healthcare
Leapfrog the hurdles that keep you from
Hobbies that make you happy.
What do you do for fun these days? When was the last time you tried something new and exciting?
If you're staring at the screen right now with that deer-in-the-headlights look, we need to talk.
I've spoken to far too many healthcare professionals who have forgotten they're multifaceted beings.
When you ask them what's new, they talk about work.
Work is important, but when it becomes the only thing you derive satisfaction from, that's a setup for burnout.
Life requires a more multidimensional approach.
How do you decide if you're living in 3D or falling flat?
The Warning Signs: Have You Lost Yourself in Your Work?
Sometimes you're so busy, you don't see the writing on the wall. Or everyone else around you is living the same way, so you forget there's an alternative.
Start paying attention. Do you notice that you have….
An unexplained increase in physical symptoms, like decreased get-up-and-go, insomnia, headaches, or digestive issues?
A vague indifference to your experiences or increased irritability?
Difficulty relaxing or not thinking about work?
If you've answered yes to any of the above, read on. You may be a victim of the "I Used to Have Fun, But Not Anymore" syndrome.
Multifaceted and Multi-passionate: Why You Should Nurture All Aspects of Your Life
In the coaching world, the word "should" is generally frowned upon, but I'm here to say you most certainly should give airtime to every aspect of your being.
The typical construct of work-life balance gives way too much clout to work.
Why does work get one piece of the pie, and every other aspect of your life gets smooshed into the other half? Instead, consider all the pieces of your life.
With intention and effort, you can honor every facet of you and create a beautiful mosaic rather than a boring old pie chart.
When you pay attention to your personal interests, you don't just positively impact your own well-being. You influence your relationships and work life, too.
Having hobbies isn't frivolous. When you take up something for pure enjoyment, the benefits are many.
The Benefits of Hobbies: Your Shields Against Burnout
There's an interesting back-and-forth between play and work. They need each other.
At their best, play and work have a beneficial symbiosis. A playful take on life reduces stress, improves mood, and enhances resilience, while a work-like approach provides structure, expands your comfort zone, and contributes to increased financial resources.
Play fosters creativity and amplifies problem-solving skills. Success at work boosts confidence and motivates you to explore. Play boosts curiosity and wonder, and so it goes.
Like a strand of DNA, play and work have the potential to intertwine and create an upward spiral in your life.
When things get out of kilter, your hobbies can help pull you back to center.
Varied hobbies can support different needs in your life, whether you require calm and relaxation or a boost of energy and stamina.
At a point in my career when I was feeling particularly stuck, intentionally pursuing and scheduling time for hobbies gave me the feeling of more: more space, more time, more energy, and more motivation.
But first, I had to get started.
Overcome Obstacles and Find Your Joy Again
It takes force to overcome inertia. That's just physics. Lucky for us, unlike the laws of physics, we can generate the force from within.
The first step to getting back into your favorite hobbies is to identify barriers.
Check your internal barriers, such as feeling guilty for taking time for yourself, thinking it's too late to return to a hobby or learn something new, or feeling like you should be doing something "better" with your free time. Notice, too, if you need more energy or motivation.
Next, identify external barriers, like an already overly full schedule, physical exhaustion, or financial constraints. Lack of access to your favorite things or support can also discourage you from pursuing your interest.
Once you've created awareness, you can devise specific strategies to leapfrog the hurdles standing between you and your well-deserved pleasure and delight.
Here are a few strategies to get you started:
Challenge negative self-talk. You'll almost always believe the story you're telling yourself, so make it a good one. Use positive affirmations to remind yourself why you deserve to have fun in your life and how it's possible to make it happen. If you think, "I'll try to start……", you've already set yourself up to not follow through. Change that thought to, "I will…."
Set flexible and realistic goals for yourself: Slowly reintroduce your favorite hobbies into your schedule (yes, you have to schedule it), start small, and be willing to get creative. Love to paint, but can't find any local classes? Join an online class or community. Or go to your favorite hobby store and grab a paint-by-number. Don't make it difficult. The lower the barrier, the easier it is to just get started.
Express your needs to generate support. If you feel unsupported, consider whether you've given anyone a legitimate opportunity to support you. You might be surprised that family, friends, and co-workers are willing to help with specific tasks so you can free up time - if only you'd ask!
Schedule it. Yes, I've already mentioned this, but too many healthcare professionals leave self-care and hobbies in the "I'll-get-to-it-when-everything-else-is-taken-care-of” pile. And you and I know you rarely have leftover time. Put. Yourself. On. The. Schedule.
If necessary, budget for it. Are the hobbies that light you up on the expensive side? If so, start including them in your budget and plan ahead.
Explore! If it's been so long that you've forgotten what brings you joy, make it your mission to discover new pastimes that inspire and invigorate you.
And that leads me to the last bit….
Find Joy in Your Journey
I cannot stress enough how important it is for you to recognize that every minute of your day does not have to be productive. It does not require achievement. It simply requires a willingness to BE.
Mindfulness is an excellent tool for loosening the grip of racing thoughts and endless distractions that keep you from enjoying the present moment. Intentionally eliminating distractions and tuning into your senses can increase the enjoyment factor when you're engaging in your favorite hobbies.
Not only that, but you're much more likely to enter the coveted "flow" state when you release distractions and give yourself permission to fully immerse yourself in a hobby or playful activity. Improved mood and increased creativity are just some of the benefits of flow.
Need more reasons to prioritize your recreational time?
Your hobbies can help you find your tribe and create a community. You may even find they give life a new-found purpose and meaning.
Last but not least, having an outlet to play without performance expectations reminds you that perfection isn't the goal. Though some hobbies can be intense, their overarching purpose is to allow you let your guard down and have a bit of fun.
One more time.
Be honest. Is work taking up an over-sized portion of your life? If so, use the tips and strategies above to overcome the internal and external barriers standing in your way and make a plan to bring more play back into your life.
Let the festivities begin!
Charity is a physician and burnout coach helping introverts in healthcare escape feelings of apathy, irritability, and resentment brought on by the increasing demands and decreasing rewards of medicine.
She uses her 20 years of experience in clinical medicine combined with coaching to help introverts discover ways to be diligent, thoughtful clinicians while prioritizing their needs and protecting their energy. She wants you to know you don’t have to feel guilty for wanting a thriving life inside and outside of medicine.