So… What Do You Do?

Socializing is very important for our well-being in many different ways. In order to mingle with others and to break the ice we have to start with some very basic questions like: ‘What do you do?. Unfortunately, a lot of people these days don’t have hobbies. So when you ask them this simple question, they will stare at you blankly and say “Nothing much! Watching TV and eating” or they will say “My children are my only hobbies. I have no time for anything else”. I can’t believe anyone can just waste away their life like that. You are missing out on so much which could contribute to enriching you and fulfilling your life’s purpose. Hobbies play a major role in your contentment.

The reason for writing this particular blog post is to remind you of the endless possibilities in your spare time. Sky is the limit! Free time in life is the only precious time when we have the liberty to do what we love. Do you really want to be that sad person who really doesn’t love anything apart from family and TV? At work, you are stuck working 45 hours a week helping others achieve their dreams. What about your dreams? No one else is responsible for your happiness. Not only do our hobbies pass our time well, they enrich us, complete us, make us happy, banish our frustrations, help us in socializing and help us become a better person and the person we want to be. Passion makes us attractive.

I have a special place in my heart for enthusiasts. Who have hobbies, interests and things that excite them. They don’t just waste precious moments in life or sit miserably. They know exactly where to find contentment. They go out there and do what they love. They don’t blame time. I can’t believe how most people blame time for not doing anything apart from work. Honestly, its a lame excuse. A day has 24 hours. If you manage time wisely, everything is possible. Instead they make time for things that matter to them and for things they love. And I think its their inner happiness that makes them look so beautiful.  I love their glow.

Hobbies are vital for everyone’s well-being whether you are an employee, entrepreneur, businessman or housewife. Supposing you are passionate about your work and you enjoy it, you still need a break from that. There should be other things that excite you apart from your work. We shouldn’t be so money minded that we only do things that pay. Hobbies give us inner joy which money can’t. For me, there has never been a connection between hobbies and work. I have hobbies to keep me happy and a job to pay my bills. Both of them combined fulfill me. Its not that I don’t like my job. I love it. I love digital marketing and being its manager feels great but once work hours are over, I want to do other things that I am passionate about. They make me feel active and alive.

I think its also important to know the difference between what we have to do (chores) and what we love doing (hobby). As a housewife, we may have to cook everyday but that can’t be our hobby unless we are passionate about it. After my counselling sessions with some girls, almost all of them needed hobbies to get them out of their misery and to move on in life. As you know I already have too many hobbies. However, you need to find yours yourself. The best way is to try different things and you will realize yourself what you love and want to continue. My favorite pastimes are:

• Tennis – I play approx 2 hours of tennis everyday
• Genealogy – I am a genealogist and have discovered my family up to 1560s
• Stamp collection – I have inherited this hobby from my ancestors
• Blogging – I write about anything that I feel could be of value to the readers
• Painting – I use acrylics in most of my artwork. I’m inspired by truck art
• Pakistani dramas – I enjoy watching dramas and following episodes
• Namaz, Quran – I try to say 5 prayers everyday and read Quran whenever I can
• Table tennis – I also like that game whenever I get a chance to play
• Traveling – I am a travel enthusiast and love exploring new places
• Trekking – I love trekking on mountains and hills for exotic view from the top
• Journals – I love travel journals of exciting tours or of important discoveries
• Poetry – I have been writing poems most of my life and have won competitions
• Decor – I am interested in keeping an exotic home with quality wall hangings
• Pets – I have a persian cat Muffin who I love more than anything and a lab Magic

Following are some ideas of hobbies you could incorporate:

The reason I call watching TV nonconstructive is because many of us have an office job in which we are in front of computer screens from 9-6 every day. If our hobby is watching TV after office hours, we are not being fair to our bodies esp our eyes.