Some people think that their life has to revolve around their work in order to be successful. But if you don’t have anything outside of work to rejuvenate and excite you, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. Then, you’ll become bored and depressed, which will impact your career and promotion options negatively. To avoid this, become intentional about the way you spend your days and live your life. Consider the following four ways to have a life outside of work.

Hobbies

It’s really helpful to find activities that you can do just because you enjoy them. It’s also okay to maintain a few hobbies. Consider working on a new puzzle each month. Depending on the size, one puzzle might take a full month to figure out. If you love musical instruments and have always wanted to learn how to play the guitar, take private guitar lessons. Music always makes the world a brighter and happier place. Adults can still learn and gain new skills, even if you don’t have as quick a learning curve as children do. So don’t be afraid to take a chance to learn something new!

Community

Friendship is essential to life. If you don’t have people you can share good times with, it can get pretty lonely. You don’t need a lot of friends to have a good time. Start to cultivate positive friendships where you’re inspired to be a better person. Co-workers are a good resource for this, but make sure to have friends outside of work as well. Spend time with family members you love on a regular basis. Whether you visit them once a week or once every two weeks, make sure to cultivate regular contact (in-person) with people you love.

Adventures

Regularly go on adventures. Consider having a weekly adventure on your own or with a friend. You can visit a local museum one week. On another week, you can take the train to another city to explore for a day. Plan to travel by taking a nice vacation. Visit a tropical island or a bed-and-breakfast in another country to make memories. Once you start traveling, it’ll become a mandatory part of your lifestyle that refreshes and excites you about the world.

Volunteerism

A wise person once stated that “service is the rent you pay for living.” This is so meaningful because so many people are in need. If more people took time out of their schedules to help others, the world would be a better place. Find a charity or non-profit organization where you can dedicate a certain portion of your time. You can volunteer once a week with your local food pantry or volunteer in the children’s ministry at your local church. Serving others helps us feel better and also makes the world a better place.

Though it might feel like a stretch at first, challenge yourself to improve and work toward expanding your world. There’s so much more to life than just working and sleeping. You’ll have to take the plunge to do some things that are outside of your comfort zone, but by expanding your life outside of work, you’ll become a happier, healthier person and a more effective professional.

Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan