Creating balance off the field: Athletes’ surprising hobbies

Hobby or career?

There are far too many sports that are simply hobbies, something done to pass the time away from work, stay fit, or blow off some steam. For professional athletes, however, sports is their career, one that looks dreamy but is also all-encompassing and demanding. One wonders, then, what do athletes do to take a break from their work?

It is not surprising that for most professional athletes, sport becomes a part of their identity and understandably so, as whatever they do can affect performance. Athletes’ sleep patterns, diets, or mental wellness can have a negative or positive impact on their performance.

Professional sports make what athletes do look exciting and easy, but it is important that athletes think of what they do as exactly what it is – work. And we all know that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Maintaining a work-life balance does not only help with reducing stress but can also be the secret to preventing burnout in the long run, which is not uncommon in the industry.

Athletes and their surprising hobbies

Some of our favourite athletes seem to have cracked the code for work-life balance by investing in hobbies. While some athletes have made headlines for always chasing the thrill and going for high-risk and competitive hobbies, some have found somewhat surprising and unusual hobbies. 

Image Courtesy of @tigerwoods on Instagram

Tiger Woods is one of the most successful golfers worldwide. While his impressive career makes it hard to believe he has interest or time for anything other than golf, he is reportedly a master at spearfishing. Interestingly, it has been reported that spearfishing might actually have helped this sportsman develop mental discipline, patience, and precision—traits that have set him apart as an exceptional golfer.

Herschel Walker, an American football superstar, was considered one of the greatest to ever play the sport. There is no doubt that during his career, he had a tight schedule with training sessions and games, and yet he is known to have also starred as a ballet performer. We bet the last person you are expecting to see gracefully dancing in a ballet performance is an athlete of such an aggressive sport as football. But this is a beautiful example of how athletes can completely give themselves a break from not only the work but also the image that comes with being a professional athlete.

Another football player, David Givens, who is famous for playing for the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, also has a very unlikely skill-turned-hobby in graphite art. After an injury that unfortunately ended his career, he leaned on art and eventually became good enough to exhibit at the South Shore Gala Center. Graphic art helped David cope and lead a good life outside of sport, highlighting the importance for athletes of always creating a balance off the field and not letting their trade be all and end all of their lives.

Photo by Tetiana SHYSHKINA on Unsplash

Get cracking!

Clearly, there is no reason to hesitate any longer if you are looking for a hobby yourself! There are a crazy number of hobbies to choose from. If you are overwhelmed, art is always a good place to start. It is a fairly affordable hobby with such a wide array of media to choose from that it accommodates all levels of skill sets. To get you started, check out the sales in the Hobby Lobby weekly ad for the best quality, low-priced arts and crafts supplies.

Take a leaf out of these athletes’ books and do whatever you need to do to achieve a work-life balance. You will only have yourself to thank.