Hobbies: Gone, Gone, Gone.

Australia is home to some wonderful leisure time activities and hobbies, including fishing, boating, diving, surfing, bushwalking, rugby, and gardening. Unfortunately, many Australians are simply too busy to do any of them.

Australians spend an average of 1,855 hours a year at work, making Australia home to the longest work week in the developed world according to a study done by The Australia Institute. Many Australians work 50-hour workweeks on a regular basis, leaving little time for necessary rest and relaxation. Are they working to live or living to work?

Of course, Sydney is an area with a moderately high cost of living, and Australians are working hard to maintain their economic edge. However, all work and no play can lead to health problems, depression, and even obesity. More than one in four Australians admits to skipping doctor’s appointments when sick due to work responsibilities, and almost half of them are getting no exercise at all.

Overwork can strain a person’s health, social relationships, family life, and hobbies. A life that is imbalanced can lead a person to be less productive and more frustrated at work. Overworked Australians begin to define themselves by their roles at work and often neglect their needs as individuals.

Hobbies are one way to break this unhealthy cycle. Hobbies allow Sydneysiders to delve more deeply into a subject in which they’re interested, break away from the monotony of everyday life, fire up their creativity, burn excess stress, boost concentration, and make new friends. Some hobbies can even turn into a nice little profitable venture. Most importantly, though, hobbies can bring Australians both personal and professional satisfaction.

Hobbies may just be the answer to a happier, less-stressed, more satisfying work week. It’s time for Australians to get back to the basics and start enjoying life again.