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How can you focus on building your career while also finding time for your hobbies and passions outside of it?

How can you focus on building your career while also finding time for your hobbies and passions outside of it?

career spring25 work-life-balance hobbies
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Srikanth’s Answer

When I was just starting my career, I felt like I had to dive in completely, working non-stop, or else I’d fall behind. For a while, I did just that. I skipped hobbies, stopped doing things I enjoyed, and promised myself I’d return to them later.

It’s okay to have hobbies, creative outlets, and personal time—these actually improve your work performance. When I began dedicating even a couple of hours a week to photography and taking walks to clear my mind, I found myself more energetic and productive when I returned to work or study.

I also started setting small boundaries, like keeping Sunday afternoons just for myself. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it gave me room to breathe. The most important lesson I’ve learned? You don’t have to give up your passions to succeed in your career. In fact, they remind you why you’re on this journey. You’re creating a life, not just building a resume.
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Andrea’s Answer

Choose a job at a company that truly values work-life balance, not just claims to. During job interviews, ask questions to understand the company's culture. Look for places where managers respect personal time and don't expect long work hours. If a company expects 80-hour weeks, it might not be right for you if you want time for hobbies.

Remember, work-life balance can change. Sometimes, work will need more of your time, like during big projects. Other times, you can focus more on personal needs. This is normal, as long as the extra work doesn't become a regular thing.
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Sasha’s Answer

It's so important to remember that you are in control. It's easy to get swept up in the idea that pouring your heart and soul into your job is the only way to prove you're capable and worthy of growth. But your job doesn’t define you. Set boundaries early. When you're at work, give it your full focus and energy. If your role offers flexible scheduling, be intentional—set a clear start and end time for your workday. And once you shut down your computer, let that be the end of your workday. Don’t carry it with you. Instead, use the off hours to reconnect with yourself: dive into hobbies, call a friend or family member, take a walk—whatever fills your cup. There will always be more work than time to do it. If you start your career working around the clock, burnout will catch up. Some say balance isn’t realistic—but I truly believe you have the power to design your days and weeks in a way that allows you to deliver at work, show up productively, and still feel fulfilled outside of your job. You don’t have to sell your soul to succeed. You just have to be intentional. Some days will be easier than others - keep trying things and making adjustments as you go and avoid comparing yourself to others. What works for you may not work for someone else.
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Mona’s Answer

Great question! Managing your time is one of the most important skills you need to develop throughout life but especially when you are in college, as your academic workload takes a big chunk of your time. To answer your question, I would recommend that you create a table to write on paper (or if you prefer on you online calendar) and dedicate sometime for fun, leisure and hoobies and have sometime dedicated to career development. Diving completely into career development can lead to burn out so it is essential to squeeze in sometime for recreation and relaxing (that includes enjoying your hoobies).

Another thing I would recommend is that your professional work is something that you enjoy! We have been hearing that a lot and should not underestimate how important we should do something we love. For instance, if your hobby is to paint or play the piano, then a good idea would to teach painting or working with students (regardless of their age, they can be young children, senior citizens or your fellow college students) to learn your hobby.

I hope this helps! and good luck with both your college work and career

Mona recommends the following next steps:

Identify crossing points between your career and your hobbies
Think of ways you can professionally develop those crossing points. Write them down as a game plan
Execute!
Figure out what is working and what is not. Tweak accordingly
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Michelle’s Answer

I've faced challenges balancing work and my love for the arts, especially music. In consulting, client demands often clashed with my practice schedule. Joining a virtual choir helped me fit music into my life by allowing flexible rehearsal and recording times. If you have a job involving travel and a hobby needing regular practice, think creatively to manage both.

Finding the right balance between work and hobbies in your first job can be tough, but it's a valuable learning experience. Some high-paying jobs demand long hours, especially at the start of your career. Consider if you’d prefer a bit less salary for more personal time.

Michelle recommends the following next steps:

Research your career choices to see which offer the most time for your life outside of work
What are your non-negotiables? What outside passion would you find life altering if you could not pursue
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C’s Answer

Time management skills are essential for success. By following the steps below, you can achieve a wonderful balance between your career and your hobbies:

Embrace the Power of "NO":
Many people find it challenging to say NO to friends, colleagues, and others. Before agreeing to any new activity or task, review your current schedule. While it might seem difficult at first, people will come to admire your boundaries, and you’ll feel more in control. This approach will help you avoid disappointment and frustration when unexpected commitments clash with your plans.

You've got this!

C recommends the following next steps:

1. List all your activities for a week & note how long these are taking you. Include time spent on your phone, TV etc. as well.
2. Prioritize the activities based on what is important to you. Review the time spent for your top 5 priorities - are you making these your focus or are you spending time on the activities that are lower on your list of priorities?
3. Each week, adjust to increase the time you spend on your top 5 priorities. Do not forget to prioritize sleep and well-being!
4. Find a buddy or group that has similar hobbies & interests to keep you motivated & focused.
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