Finding Balance: Why Hobbies, Fun and Purpose Matter

When life gets busy, what are the first things to disappear from our schedules?

For many of us, it’s the things we do simply because we enjoy them.

Hobbies get postponed, social catch-ups become less frequent, exercise becomes another task to squeeze in and the activities that once brought us pleasure gradually make way for work, family responsibilities and everyday commitments.

We tell ourselves we’ll get back to those things when life settles down.

But what if making room for enjoyment is actually part of what helps us manage life in the first place?

Wellbeing isn’t just about getting enough sleep, managing stress or keeping up with responsibilities. It’s also about having things to look forward to, experiences that make us feel alive and activities that remind us who we are beyond our daily obligations.

Sometimes, the things we do for no particular reason other than enjoyment are among the most valuable things we can do.

Why Enjoyment Matters

There is a tendency to view our time through the lens of productivity. We often measure a good day by what we have achieved, completed or managed to get through.

But a meaningful life isn’t built entirely around achievement.

Enjoyable activities provide opportunities to relax, recharge, experience positive emotions and temporarily step away from the demands of everyday life.

They can also help us reconnect with parts of ourselves that may receive less attention when work and responsibilities take priority.

Whether it’s gardening, fishing, playing music, cooking, surfing, reading, building something, spending time outdoors or catching up with friends, enjoyable activities can contribute to our overall wellbeing in several ways.

They can:

• Provide a healthy break from work-related pressures.
• Support recovery and help reduce accumulated stress.
• Encourage creativity, curiosity and learning.
• Strengthen social connections and a sense of belonging.
• Provide a sense of achievement and personal satisfaction.
• Create anticipation and something positive to look forward to.
• Help us maintain an identity beyond our professional or family roles.

Importantly, enjoyment doesn’t need to be productive, impressive or particularly meaningful to anyone else. Sometimes doing something simply because it makes us happy is enough.

Having an Identity Beyond Work

Work can provide many positive things. It can give us structure, purpose, financial security, relationships and a sense of achievement.

For some people, their profession is an important part of how they see themselves.

However, when work becomes the dominant focus of our identity, it can be difficult to switch off or maintain a sense of balance when things become challenging.

This can be particularly relevant for people working in high-responsibility roles, those with irregular schedules or people whose work involves significant personal commitment.

When our sense of worth becomes closely tied to our performance, productivity or ability to meet expectations, taking time away from work can sometimes feel uncomfortable.

Having interests outside work provides another important dimension to our lives.

It reminds us that we are more than our job title, our responsibilities or the tasks we complete each day.

We can be professionals, parents, partners, friends, teammates, creators, explorers and learners. These different parts of our identity can provide balance and perspective, particularly when one area of life becomes difficult.

Rediscovering the Things We Enjoy

Sometimes we know exactly what we enjoy but struggle to find the time.

Other times, we have become so caught up in everyday routines that we have genuinely forgotten what we like doing.

It can be helpful to think back to earlier stages of life.

What did you enjoy before work and other responsibilities became so demanding? Was there a sport you loved, a hobby you abandoned, an interest you always wanted to explore or an activity you used to make time for?

You don’t necessarily need to return to it in exactly the same way.

Perhaps you used to enjoy running but now prefer walking. Maybe you loved camping but find a weekend outdoors more manageable than a longer trip. Perhaps you once played a musical instrument but would enjoy picking it up again without worrying about how good you are.

The aim isn’t to recreate your past. It’s to rediscover the enjoyment that comes from doing something for yourself.

Making Room for Enjoyment in Busy Lives

One of the biggest barriers to hobbies and enjoyable activities is the belief that we need large amounts of uninterrupted free time.

In reality, small opportunities can be surprisingly valuable.

1. Start smaller than you think.

You don’t need to commit to a new hobby or schedule several hours every week. Ten or fifteen minutes spent doing something you enjoy can be a good starting point.

2. Make enjoyment part of your routine.

Rather than waiting until you have spare time, look for small opportunities to include enjoyable activities in your existing schedule. This might be listening to music while cooking, getting outside during a break or reading before bed.

3. Try something new.

Learning something unfamiliar can introduce variety and provide a sense of curiosity and achievement. It could be a new recipe, a creative activity, a local class or simply exploring somewhere you haven’t visited before.

4. Reconnect with other people.

Many enjoyable activities can also strengthen relationships. Arrange a casual catch-up, join a sporting group, go fishing with a friend or find an activity you can enjoy with family.

5. Give yourself permission to be a beginner.

You don’t need to be particularly good at something to enjoy it. Hobbies aren’t another performance measure. They are an opportunity to experiment, learn and have fun.

6. Protect some time that doesn’t need to achieve anything.

Not every spare moment needs to be filled with chores, errands or productive activities. Allow yourself some unstructured time to do whatever feels enjoyable or restorative.

What About Shift Work and Unpredictable Schedules?

For people working rotating rosters, nights, weekends or travelling regularly, maintaining hobbies and social activities can be more challenging.

Traditional routines don’t always fit when your working hours change from week to week.

Rather than trying to follow someone else’s idea of balance, consider what works within your own circumstances.

This might mean:

• Choosing activities that can be enjoyed in shorter periods.
• Finding hobbies that don’t rely on fixed schedules.
• Keeping a few enjoyable activities available for time between shifts.
• Maintaining social connections through flexible catch-ups.
• Making the most of days off without filling every available hour.
• Protecting recovery time rather than feeling obliged to be constantly active.

For some people, this might be an early morning walk before a shift. For others, it could be spending time with family after a block of work, getting outdoors on a day off or enjoying a hobby that can be picked up and put down whenever time allows.

Balance doesn’t have to look the same for everyone.

Purpose Doesn’t Always Have to Be Something Big

Alongside enjoyment, having a sense of purpose can contribute to our wellbeing.

Purpose is sometimes associated with major life goals, career achievements or significant personal accomplishments. But it doesn’t have to be that complicated.

Purpose can be found in everyday experiences: caring for family, helping someone, learning a new skill, contributing to a community, creating something or working towards a personal goal.

It can also change throughout our lives.

What gave us a sense of purpose five years ago might not be what matters most today. Different stages of life bring different priorities, opportunities and responsibilities.

Taking a little time to consider what feels meaningful now can help us make choices that better reflect what matters to us.

A Little Something to Try

Think of one activity you used to enjoy but haven’t made time for recently.

It doesn’t need to be anything particularly ambitious. Perhaps it’s listening to an album, going for a swim, gardening, taking photographs, reading a book or getting out for a walk somewhere different.

Set aside just 20 minutes this week to do it.

Don’t worry about being good at it, finishing anything or achieving a particular outcome.

Simply enjoy the experience.

Three Things to Try This Week

1. Make a list of things you enjoy: Write down five activities that make you feel relaxed, energised, curious or happy. Include simple things as well as bigger interests.
2. Schedule something to look forward to: Choose one enjoyable activity and make a little space for it in your week. Treat it as something worthwhile, not something that only happens if everything else is finished.
3. Try something different: Explore a new activity, revisit an old interest or invite someone to join you in doing something enjoyable.

A Moment to Reflect

• How much of my time is currently spent on responsibilities compared with things I genuinely enjoy?
• Do I have interests and activities that are separate from my work and family roles?
• What have I stopped doing because life became too busy?
• When was the last time I did something simply because it made me happy?
• What would a more enjoyable and balanced week look like for me?

When a Little Extra Support Helps

Sometimes losing interest in activities we once enjoyed can be a sign that we are carrying more stress than we realise. It can also be associated with low mood, burnout or other mental health concerns.

If you have noticed that very little feels enjoyable anymore, or that work and personal demands are leaving you with little energy for the things that matter, it may be worth talking things through.

Kite Consulting’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and counselling services provide confidential professional support for personal and workplace challenges. This can include exploring stress, work-life balance, motivation, changing priorities and ways to reconnect with the things that contribute to your wellbeing.

A fulfilling life isn’t measured only by what we achieve or how much we get done. It is also shaped by the experiences we enjoy, the people we connect with and the things that give our everyday lives meaning.

Sometimes, making a little more room for fun is one of the most valuable investments we can make in ourselves.

Click here to link to Part 11.