We graphic designers, web developers, writers and other creatives can’t work all the time (contrary to popular belief). Whether we work in a cubicle of in our home office, sometimes we need a break. Hobbies create an escape from our day to day work activities and allow us to recharge our creative minds. I recently asked what hobbies creatives enjoy, and I received a few interesting answers!

PixieGirl Designs enjoys yoga and says, “I recently started doing yoga to bring a little balance to my life. I love reading and watching movies! Also love to cook!” I agree with PixieGirl that yoga is a great way to bring balance back into our lives. Graphic designers (and other creatives) are often immersed in their careers 24/7, especially if they freelance on the side or full-time. I love my work and talking shop but doing an activity not design related, like yoga or cooking is a perfect way to center yourself and create a healthy work-life balance.

Michelle Kunk (@jetetaquine) likes to craft in her spare time and says half jokingly, “I hot glue fridge magnets to beer caps!” While Michelle is not a creative professional, she has always enjoyed being creative in her spare time and her unique crafting hobby show this. I know Michelle personally, and I have seen the fruits of her beer caps crafting labor. I’ve often helped her collect the materials for this project.

Personally, I love to play guitar in my free time. This activity gets me away from my computer and helps to clear my mind when it is cluttered with my to-do list and work related activities for the day. It also helps me to stay creative. When I take a break from working to noodle on my guitar, I find that I’m 10 times more productive when I begin working again or revisit a project I may had been struggling with before I took a guitar break.

Conclusion

I find it interesting that PixieGirl Design and I enjoy hobbies that take us away from out creative careers and elements, and Michelle, who is not a creative professional, loves to immerse herself into a creative activity by crafting. No matter what hobby you enjoy, it is important to make time for yourself away from your work. This will help your creative mind stay fresh and will help keep you sane.