A new study from the University of East Anglia (UEA) and Erasmus University Rotterdam suggests that intentionally shaping leisure time through hobbies can have positive effects on creativity, engagement, and a sense of meaning at work. The research, published in Human Relations, examined how "leisure crafting"—setting goals, learning new skills, and connecting with others during free time—can benefit employees, particularly older workers.
Lead author Dr. Paraskevas Petrou from Erasmus School of Social & Behavioural Sciences said: "It's already known that hobbies are good for your well-being. But our study shows that hobbies don't just make you happier, they can also help you feel more fulfilled and creative at work. This goes beyond just relaxing or having fun - like binge-watching Netflix - and turns the hobby into something that helps people grow."
The study involved nearly 200 working adults with an average age of 46. Participants were shown a short video encouraging them to approach their hobbies in a more meaningful way by setting personal goals, learning new things, or engaging socially around their interests. Over five weeks, researchers surveyed participants about their progress and its impact on both work and personal life.
Co-author Prof George Michaelides from UEA's Norwich Business School noted: "We were surprised to see that leisure crafting had a stronger effect at work than in people's personal lives. We had expected equal benefits in both areas. One possible reason is that people who took part in our study were already fairly satisfied with their lives outside work, but their work life had more room for improvement. If what people do outside work can also have this positive impact on them in the workplace, organizations should support staff not just in their jobs, but in all areas of their lives."
Compared to a control group who did not participate in the intervention, those who practiced leisure crafting reported greater feelings of purpose at work and displayed more creative behaviors on the job. Notably, participants over 61 years old experienced an increase in positive emotions overall.
Prof Laura Den Dulk from Erasmus University Rotterdam explained: "What makes this study different is that we didn't just ask people how they feel. We asked them to take a small, specific action - to approach their hobby in a new way - and then we saw how it actually affected their lives week by week. This is a reminder that people aren't just employees - they're whole individuals, and supporting their personal growth outside of work can have a positive impact inside the workplace too."
Dr Petrou added: "The results show that our hobbies and personal growth outside of work aren't separate from who we are at work. What we learn and experience in our free time can make us better, more fulfilled employees."
This research is among the first to demonstrate these effects among mature working populations. The authors suggest employers could recognize hobbies as important aspects of employee development—for example by allowing development funds for non-work activities or acknowledging leisure-time commitments alongside family responsibilities.
They recommend organizations consider offering similar interventions through masterclasses or development modules aimed at holistic employee growth rather than focusing solely on job-related training.
'The leisure crafting intervention: Effects on work and non-work outcomes and the moderating role of age', by Paraskevas Petrou, Laura Den Dulk and George Michaelides was published January 9.
