4 Reasons Why Having a Life Outside the Office Is So Important

Having a life outside of work suggests a couple of things: You care about finding work-life balance, you know how to turn off or tune out work and focus on yourself, your friends, or your family, and you’re probably fairly interesting.

A recent Harvard Business Review article explained that having a life outside of work actually makes people happy. But if that sounds too obvious, then it’s worth trying to understand why this is true.

  1. You Avoid Burnout

If you’re all-work all the time, you’re bound to burn out at some point. And coming back from that isn’t always easy. Taking time to focus on personal interests and activities can actually lead you to be more creative in your day-to-day.

It’s not always possible to leave work in the office—not when we’re connected 24/7, but it is possible to insist on carving out time for yourself.

  1. You Expand Your Knowledge Base

Doing more can make you a more multi-dimensional person, capable of adding to the conversation or bringing a lightbulb epiphany to the drawing board.

You truly never know what’ll spark genius—maybe it’s something your colleague says in a meeting, but maybe it’s something you come across when you’re biking on a Saturday afternoon?

  1. You Have a Reason to Power Through Hard Days

When we have something to look forward to outside of the job, it can be powerful enough to get through a tough period on the official clock. In fact, it’s not a bad idea to come up with an activity when you’re going through a hard time so you do have something to look forward to at the end of a long week.

  1. You’re More Interesting

If you only leave the office to go home, answer more emails, and read a book on how you can be a successful leader, you’re missing out. That’s not a rich, fulfilling life.

It’s one that’s completely focused around your job. Have you ever asked a friend how his day went, only to regret it 30 minutes later when he’s just droning on and on about his latest project? Don’t be that person.

Doing something—anything!—outside the office instantly makes you more interesting.

The next time you feel guilty for leaving the office before your boss or earlier than you usually do, just remember these four worthy reasons for why it’s actually a good thing.