Hello, fellow professionals and enthusiasts! I am Supriya Rastogi, your friendly colleague and a passionate advocate for balancing work and personal interests. In this blog, I’m going to share my journey of maintaining equilibrium between those long-hours working marathons and my love for public speaking and stage activities and offer some practical insights for all you tech wizards out there who, like me, occasionally find themselves immersed in tons of work to the point where they forget they have a life outside their company provided laptop.
A Byte-sized Introduction
As a TechBee at HCLTech, the fast-paced world of IT demands dedication and focus. Early on, I realized that striking a balance between my professional responsibilities and personal hobbies was not just desirable but necessary for a fulfilling career and a well-rounded life.
The Challenge of Disappearing into the IT-Abyss
We’ve all been there, haven’t we? The allure of solving complex problems, meeting tight deadlines, and pushing out innovative solutions can sometimes lead us down a rabbit hole where work becomes an all-encompassing universe, and personal interests take a backseat.
My Personal Experience
In the early days of my career, I feared that my passion for public speaking and stage activities might fade away amidst the algorithms and frameworks. However, to my surprise, HCLTech allowed me to maintain my interests and provided opportunities to flourish in those areas.
The Power of Planning
One of the essential techniques I adopted early on is effective planning. As we meticulously plan our coding sprints, allocating time for personal interests is crucial. Block off specific time slots in your calendar for hobbies, just as you would for meetings. That would ensure you keep track of time and signal to your brain that personal activities are non-negotiable.
Merging Interests
Look for ways to merge your professional skills with your hobbies. As a tech enthusiast, I often found ways to incorporate my tech skills into my passion for speaking & communicating. Whether creating visually appealing presentations or finding ways to be the face of customer calls, finding these intersections has been intellectually stimulating and professionally rewarding.
Embrace the Agile Lifestyle
The Agile methodology is not just for project management; it can also be applied to personal life. Break down your personal goals into smaller, manageable tasks. Whether dedicating 30 minutes daily to practice a musical instrument or setting aside a couple of hours on the weekend for a photography expedition, adopting an Agile mindset helps you achieve a balance without feeling overwhelmed.
The Art of Saying No
In the dynamic world of tech, we will face opportunities and challenges. While taking on every project and responsibility is tempting, it’s essential to assess your bandwidth realistically. Learn the art of saying no graciously. It doesn’t mean shutting the door on opportunities but prioritizing and managing your commitments wisely.
Humor as a Stress Buster
A little humor can go a long way in maintaining your sanity in the corporate jungle. Use intelligent puns and light-hearted banter to bring a smile to your colleagues’ faces. Creating a positive and enjoyable work environment fosters creativity and makes the work-life balance journey more enjoyable.
Community Engagement
Join clubs and committees within your workplace that align with your interests. Whether it is a dancing, singing or speaking forum, being part of a community with shared interests provides a sense of belonging and opens up avenues for collaboration and learning.
Thus, balancing hobbies and work in the IT world is indeed a challenging feat. Still, it is entirely achievable with thoughtful planning, a touch of humour, and a commitment to personal well-being. As young professionals, let us not forget that the code we write is just one aspect of our lives; a whole world of personal interests is waiting to be explored. So, let us embrace the challenge, juggle those bytes and passions, and create a harmonious symphony of work and play in our professional journey! After all, a well-balanced life is the ultimate debugged code!
Author: Supriya Bhumika Rastogi, Senior Software Engineer, HCLTech
Writer’s Spark is a platform for TechBees to express their thoughts, ideas and experiences and share their stories with the world.
