6 Relaxing Hobbies for Small Business Owners
Running a small business can eat up most of your time, especially when the business is new and you’re the only person working, but maintaining a balance between work and the rest of your life is crucial for long-term success. It’s tempting to indulge in hobbies that can also earn money, but monetizing everything you enjoy doing can suck all of the joy out of those activities quickly. It’s more important to remember that the right hobby can actually make you a better entrepreneur when you take time to relax and recharge. If you need a break from work, here are some hobbies that can enrich your life and even help improve your business.
1. Puzzle Solving
Solving puzzles can be a diverse and satisfying hobby that keeps your mind sharp, allowing you to accomplish goals like becoming a better problem solver and discovering business trends faster. If one type of puzzle doesn’t appeal to you, there’s a whole list to try. There are crosswords, riddles, and physical puzzles. You can use an app and solve them on the go, or you can invest in fun, three-dimensional projects like puzzle boxes to keep you entertained for hours.
2. Gardening
Gardening helps you stay active while soaking up the sun. There’s also something to show for all your hard work at the end of the season. It can take some research and experimentation to learn what will grow well in your region, but there’s no need to sink all your free time. Chaos gardening involves gathering some hardy seeds and scattering them over a patch of dirt. What grows is anyone’s guess and can be a fun surprise!
3. Reading
Reading can be a rich, well-rounded hobby depending on your goals. If you want to improve somewhere in your personal life, self-help is a good place to start. If you want to learn something new, there’s a book for just about everything. There are also countless commercial fiction options for escapism and fun. Libraries often use apps that offer audiobooks and ebooks, so you don’t even have to stop by or return physical copies if you don’t want to. On the other hand, libraries have far more than just books. Many offer community events that are either free or inexpensive to attend. Your local branch might have movie nights, craft clubs, wine tasting, and more!
4. Journaling
Journaling can be whatever you want it to be. You can record dreams, write poems, jot down a stream-of-consciousness exercise, scrapbook, or try your hand at creative writing. Writing things down can help you process and retain information easier, and you’re not limited to a notebook. You can use your notes app to capture little thoughts here and there as well.
5. Hiking
While some hikers enjoy the challenge of more difficult hikes, there are plenty of trails and paths that follow easy hikes for all fitness levels. You can get out, enjoy the fresh air, and discover hidden gems like waterfalls and rock formations. This is also a perfect opportunity to learn more about the local flora and fauna. Foraging is another potential hobby, but can be dangerous if you don’t follow proper identification procedures.
6. Gaming
Gaming is another hobby that can boost your brain power and be fun at the same time. There are so many genres of games that you probably aren’t even aware of all of them. While some require plenty of skill and can get the adrenaline pumping, others are made specifically to be relaxing to play. You can build a village, plant crops, and go on quests. Have fun creating wacky characters and getting invested in the storylines!
It’s easy to justify spending all of your free time on work, but unless you consistently carve out time for yourself, you’re more likely to face burnout and all the consequences that come with it. Take care of your needs and you’ll see how much more energy and enjoyment you get from all of your passions.
