How creative hobbies and side projects make us better at everything

Every time I have time I start some side project

It could be a new blog, a Tumblr microblog, a new book, or a brochure. Sometimes I try to create WordPress themes. Other times I learn to photograph. I love doing side projects that allow me to get better.

Let me give you an example of Gmail - a million dollar project that millions of people use now, and it started, by the way, just as a side project.

The great news is that you don't have to have a million dollars in your pocket to start your own side project.

Spending time this way will make you happier and pleasantly surprised at your work results.

Psychology of side projects

When Google introduced its famous 20% rule (every employee in the company could spend 20% of their time on the side projects they like), the result was more productive and creative work for the rest of the time. Third-party projects have increased labor productivity.

Here is a study on this phenomenon.

San Francisco psychology professor Kevin Eshelman and colleagues have investigated the impact of creative pursuits. More than 400 employees took part in the experiment, who were divided into two groups: the first group had to evaluate the influence of creative hobbies on their own, the second group was evaluated by colleagues. As a result, creative projects had a positive effect on the workflow, employees approached the tasks set with a greater share of creativity.

In addition, the positive influence of creativity affected not only work, but also the daily life of people: they felt more relaxed and satisfied with what was happening around them.

Research shows that companies can benefit by giving their employees creative freedom. Passions provide invaluable experience, employees learn to cope with emerging challenges, which leads to increased productivity and better results.

Kevin Eshelman

With his research, Eshelman proves the need for creativity in the workflow. Also, in one of the European journals devoted to work and organizational psychology, some factors of the influence of creative hobbies (or lack thereof) on employees are listed:

Psychologically speaking, people are better off engaging in activities in which they can solve problems and put their skills into practice. Obviously, this also applies to work: experience is positively correlated with the human psyche. Nevertheless, in our society, rest is perceived as a kind of escape from work. In this sense, “escape” means that people in their free time do not seek to engage in any meaningful activity, but simply want to take a break from routine and work problems. Such a pastime is often equated with a passive and boring lifestyle, which, in turn, leads to apathy and depression.

Boston College professor Juliet Shore describes the interdependence of work and costs. We work in order to spend, and in order to spend we need to work. And the more we spend, the harder we have to work.

Hobbies and side projects can break this endlessly repetitive cycle, allowing people to better spend their time.

Small risks, no pressure and love - three rules for side projects

It goes without saying that projects that a person does on their own are different from work projects. But what exactly? Website development can be a job for you and just a hobby for me. Playing the piano can also be a way for someone to make a living, but for someone it can just be a pleasant and favorite hobby.

In one of the Medium blog posts, employees at Hiut Denim Co describe how side projects have influenced them. They are convinced that third-party projects must satisfy three basic rules:

You don't have to rely on side projects to make your living. You will need to buy food for something if your projects fail.
These projects have no deadlines. The absence of deadlines allows you to experiment and not be afraid of not being in time.
This is your favorite thing. That is, you love what you do. You are wasting your time on this because you really enjoy doing it. It is because of this that you constantly return to the project, trying to improve it.

Small risks, lack of pressure and love - these concepts can not always be applied to the projects that we do at work. Many working projects are missing two (if not all three) of these components. High risks and deadlines are what work projects usually carry with them. Working in this mode, employees quickly lose interest in their work. Third party projects can help avoid this.

In addition, they are able to motivate people to develop in different directions. The Busy Building Things blog describes it this way:

Sometimes it's important to be in your client's shoes and participate in side projects that will allow you to develop new skills, give you room to be creative, and let your ideas come true.

What to choose: a side project, a creative hobby, or both

When we talk about side projects and creative hobbies, do we mean the same thing? Not really. Here are some of the differences between the two:

A side project always has an end result (in the end, it may be a finished product).
A creative hobby is a long-term pursuit that does not require immediate results.

Here's an example: musicians are often involved in side projects. These projects can be the result of experimenting with creative hobbies - mastering new instruments and the latest musical technology. Thus, a hobby is the first step towards a project.

I like to write. Someday I'll turn my favorite hobby into a project - I'll start writing a book.

You can do side projects and at the same time not forget about your hobbies. You can choose absolutely everything that you like, everything that interests you, or everything that you would like to study.

You do not need to know everything about your hobby or completely and completely understand the area in which you want to create a project. Go beyond "I can": choose what delights and amazes you, what you dream of learning. Here are some options to get you started:

learn to draw;
learn to code;
gain experience in online sales;
write a book;
start your own blog;
sign up for courses;
try yourself in volunteering.

What can you add to this list?

How not to let side projects and creative hobbies take their course

You've learned about the benefits that side projects and creative hobbies can bring you. Starting a project is the first and important step, but, as you know, there are obstacles along the way. Here are some tips to help you avoid common mistakes and keep your project or hobby out of the way:

Set yourself a meaningful goal. It should be so important that it will help you find time for a project or hobby.
Focus on what needs to be done now, not the final result. You do it because you enjoy doing it, not because you have to achieve fantastic results in no time.
Break the project into pieces. This rule, which is usually applied to working projects, also applies to third-party projects. Move towards your goal gradually - ultimately it will allow you to achieve better results.
Combine your interests. Sometimes we find it difficult to start a project, because we feel that we do not have the necessary skills, or our area of interest lies in another, albeit related, area. But this is not at all a reason to abandon the project. Try to develop your skills in breadth. For example, if you love writing, try writing in new genres, it will be much easier for you than, say, learning programming and design from scratch.

If you start doing side projects or have creative hobbies, it will have a positive impact on all areas of your life, and especially on your work. Try to find something that will bring you pleasure, something that you will do with love. And then be sure: this is really your project or your favorite hobby that will help you become better at everything.