What hobbies or offline activities help you balance work?
Do you have any habits or hobbies that keep you from being constantly immersed in work?
Ideally, something that helps you unplug from the internet.
Here’s what works for me:
At least one hour of exercise per day
Walking everywhere instead of driving or taking public transport
Habit: Mobile data is turned off when I’m outside, so I have no internet access or distractions
Attending pub quizzes, where phones are banned (it's a great way to meet new people and learn something without going online)
Travelling, which for me is mainly a source of inspiration and a way to solve "different problems" outside of work.
What helps you disconnect and recharge?
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I'm starting to realize only now how helpful it can be to have a dog lol
Seems silly, but if you have a dog, you need to take care of him, which involves taking him out at least two/three times per day. I'm lucky enough to live very close to a big park where every day I meet other dog owners in the afternoon and I spend some time with them while our dogs play.
Thanks to my little cutie, I take some time away from work every day and simply forget about deadlines and all that stuff.
Didn't know having a dog could have so many benefits when I got him ahah
Atlas
@pamela_arienti LOL - i said the same thing before I saw your post.
@pamela_arienti @laura_cruickshanks 😂
@laura_cruickshanks Glad to know that I'm not the only one saying it ahah
@pamela_arienti :DDDD unfortunately, I do not have any pets for walking, so I need to rely on myself to get brisk walks :D But this is so true. :D
Dope Notes
@busmark_w_nika Great Question. I simrace (Iracing, Dirt 2.0, or ACC), windsurf, run, and play tennis — they’re all ways for me to disconnect and reset. If I don’t step away, I tend to get stuck in the loop of endlessly trying to push through something new. Taking a break, especially doing something physical or fun, really helps me come back with a fresh perspective. It’s often when I’m off the screen that the solution clicks.
@tim_holmgren1 Yeah, I wanted to know especially about those offline activities to inspire a little bit cause most of time I stare at the screen. :D
Atlas
I walk my dogs! 🐶 If I can, I walk them both morning and at night. I multitask during my walk with either a catch up call or listening to an audiobook. If I didn't have my dogs, I probably wouldn't prioritize my health.
@laura_cruickshanks Note for myself: To have a dog! :D Tho I like cats because they do everything on their own :D
Atlas
@busmark_w_nika If I didn't have a dog, I would probably never exercise!!! If you're good at keeping yourself accountable, you won't need a pet.
@laura_cruickshanks True, tbh, I wouldn't be able to manage time like that (I mean to incorporate another family member into the process) because I am barely able to handle my own life :D
Atlas
@busmark_w_nika Story of my life. 😂😭
Quicko Pro
I’ve been cooking lately! Earlier I was always ordering in. It got boring real fast and honestly started feeling like a waste of money too 🥲
But recently I’ve started cooking a little and it feels really nice! I’m not at it every day yet but it’s a start 🤍
@charuchaturvedi I know what you mean, and it is good you found pleasure in making meals. To be honest, I also cook/prepare dishes on my own, but not because I enjoy it... just the economical side of the thing :D
Quicko Pro
@busmark_w_nika totally makes sense lol. For me, it feels good when I WANT to cook 😂
@charuchaturvedi I have struggle with that "WANT" :D
There was this one time I was working on a project that stressed me out like nothing else before. I’d wrap up work and then switch straight into family mode — taking care of the kids, cooking, doing all the usual stuff my wife handles every day. Surprisingly, that everyday routine really helped me reset.
I also think kids just have this way of creating their own little world — completely separate from all the usual adult worries. Just being around them shifts your perspective.
Another thing I love is long drives. Yesterday we went out into nature, and watching trees and fields roll by is way better than staring at endless city blocks.
Oh, and camping with friends — when you’ve got no time to check your phone — that’s the best kind of detox. Everything that gets us offline and talking face-to-face has basically become our hobby now
@kirill_golubovskiy
2 learnings from the comment:
1) Doing more offline activities outside.
2) I should start a family :DDD LOL
But you are right – you need to handle different "problems" so you do not have time to reconsider work stuff.
@busmark_w_nika I'm convinced that a person can't just do nothing — the brain is a form of energy that needs to be used one way or another. And if the brain doesn’t find something to focus on, frustration kicks in — like walking around the house aimlessly, trying to figure out what to do.
The real problems start when there’s no shift, no change — and everything turns into one never-ending obligation.
@kirill_golubovskiy you would be surprised, but many (majority) of people are okay doing nothing, just aimlessly scroll, consume and sit. 😅 We live in our bubbles.