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How to balance work and hobbies: The answer isn’t balance at all

Let’s explore how passion and profession can work together to take you further than you imagined.

When you’re juggling academic deadlines or climbing the career ladder, hobbies can seem like an afterthought. Something to squeeze into your schedule when all the “serious” work is done. But what if your hobbies are actually the key to your academic and professional success?

Sure, it can be hard to fit in a piano lesson when you’re working, studying or both. But the time and effort you invest in your hobbies are worth it. It’s not about balancing work and hobbies; they’re not opposing forces. Instead, hobbies can complement and even help your studies or career.

While we’re not implying that they built entire careers on their hobbies per se, many well-known figures have leveraged their personal passions in their career. Steve Jobs, for instance, studied calligraphy in college, a pursuit that influenced Apple’s signature typography and sleek design. Similarly, Michelle Obama turned her love of gardening into a national movement promoting healthy eating habits. Even Serena Williams has channeled her passion for fashion into a thriving design career.

Take Berta Rubio, for example, one of our Dual Degree in Business Administration and Humanities students, who has a story that illustrates this beautifully.

Turning passions into opportunities

Berta Rubio IE University

Berta has been dancing since she was three years old and describes it as a way of life. Now a hip-hop teacher for IE University’s Dance Club, she uses her lifelong passion to connect with other students while she hones her leadership skills. “Teaching is something I’ve done for years, and I’m thrilled to continue doing it in college,” she explains. But her connection to dance doesn’t end there.

As an event officer for the IE Entrepreneurship Club, Berta sees how dance has shaped her professional aspirations.

This blend of creativity and professionalism underscores a powerful message: hobbies don’t detract from your career; they enrich it.

Hobbies that can help your career

Let’s break down how common hobbies can help your career or studies:

Dancing

Skills gained: Teamwork, discipline, adaptability.

Career benefits: Leadership and creative problem-solving. Berta’s experience exemplifies how dance builds confidence and the ability to connect with diverse groups—invaluable skills for an aspiring entrepreneur.

Writing

Skills gained: Communication, storytelling and empathy.

Career benefits: Journalism, marketing or crafting persuasive business proposals. Berta’s role as a content creator for The Stork, IE University’s student newspaper, shows how writing can amplify voices and engage communities.

Gaming

Skills gained: Strategic thinking, decision-making and collaboration.

Career benefits: Careers in tech, entrepreneurship or any field requiring innovation. Gamers often excel in problem-solving under pressure.

Photography

Skills gained: Creativity, technical expertise and networking.

Career benefits: Branding, marketing or creating impactful presentations. A good photo can tell a story as effectively as a well-crafted pitch.

Cooking

Skills gained: Attention to detail, time management and patience.

Career benefits: Event planning, hospitality or project management. The ability to work methodically under pressure is definitely a transferable skill.

Hobbies as a path to innovation

Not every job or degree makes room for hobbies, which is why it’s crucial to find one that does. Berta’s Dual Degree in Business Administration & Humanities program at IE University encourages a balance between professional development and creative exploration. Her favorite courses, such as “Digital Humanities” and “Management Tools & Principles,” blend seamlessly with her extracurricular passions, giving her both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. “The program has opened up a whole world for me, opening my mind to topics I never thought about before.”

Her experience points out a very important lesson: the skills you develop through hobbies tend to complement academic and professional pursuits. They teach resilience, problem-solving and adaptability—qualities every employer values.

Making work and hobbies work together

It is so easy to dismiss hobbies as low-priority or something to do later in life. But the truth is, they’re vital for personal and professional growth. Whether it’s painting, gaming or dancing, your hobbies will provide you with skills that might just enhance your career and maybe even set you apart in the most competitive of fields. You never know—you might even develop a thriving career based on your passion.

As Berta puts it, “These are some of the best years of your life. Pursue what you’re passionate about and stay open to new experiences. You never know where they might lead.”

It’s not about balancing work and hobbies but integrating the skills they bring—and perhaps finding a degree or job that allows you to do just that.

So, what’s your hobby? And where might it take you?

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Annie Beasley is a Spanish-American journalist specialized in political journalism and feminist issues. Raised in Galicia, she spent her summers in the US, becoming fluent in English, Spanish, and Galician.

Her academic journey took her all over Spain. She started at Universidad de Valladolid, where she was a member of a student activist group, then went on to Universidad de València, and finally Universidad Carlos III in Madrid, where she’s currently working and pursuing postgraduate studies in voice acting. Each university offered a unique academic approach, giving her fresh insights into journalistic writing and access to an array of learning opportunities.

During college, she interned as a copywriter at a marketing firm in Madrid and went on to work as a communications specialist at Fractalia, a prestigious cybersecurity company.
Annie currently works at IE University as the editor of Driving Innovation, bringing a fresh, journalistic voice to the blog and focused on delivering insightful, informative content.

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