Downtime is essential when you are trying to curb the stress of running a business. You might feel that there is no such thing as downtime, but you have to find a sustainable balance when you are running any type of company. You are going to be feeling pressures from every angle. You need the opportunity to switch off from this pressure, and sometimes, family time, or being physically away from the office isn’t going to cut it. Hobbies are great in this respect because it diverts your attention completely. So, are there any hobbies that entrepreneurs indulge in to take their mind away from the business processes, but also helps them to run their business better when they come back?
Meditation
Some people don’t like the idea of sitting quietly in a corner going “ommmm,” but meditation isn’t just about that. Some people get into the same soft focus by going for a long drive. Some people talk about the Zen-like feelings of being on a motorcycle and hitting the open road, but be careful with this type of practice; SalinasTrialLaw.com states that 88,000 bikers received injuries in one year in the USA. That clarity of hitting the road on your bike or in your car can help you to switch off from your everyday stresses but as long as you find the right stretch of road. It’s much more beneficial for you to go on a quiet country road and drive rather than hitting a busy freeway.
Reading
Not entrepreneurial books or self-help ones, but instead, fiction. Literary fiction has a surprising benefit for entrepreneurs, in that they can help you develop empathy, and get into the mindset of how other people think. If you are managing people, it can to be all too easy to think in one narrow mindset. But fiction is a great way for you to get into the minds of other people. If you don’t know where to begin, Esquire.com has a list of the best fiction so far this year. But, when it comes to literature, because there is so much to choose from, it’s a great way for you to switch off from the outside world.
Exercise
Whether it’s going for a run or doing some burpees at home, exercise is great, not just for the muscle, but for the mind. The big problem many entrepreneurs have with regards to exercises that they feel they don’t have the time to do it. The best way to get around this is to do however little you can when you can. It’s a common misconception that you need to “go hard or go home” in the gym. In actual fact, any little exercise will have a profound impact. There are simple ways for you to do this, you could have some resistance bands in the office, or just do press ups now and again. If you did 10 press-ups every time you had a spare minute, and you were able to do this a few times throughout the day, it all adds up!
These are simple hobbies, but they are profound for any entrepreneur. Remember, you need adequate time away, but if you can’t, think about hobbies that take your mind off the task of running a business.