Question

Find out persuasive techniques from the passage.

Recently I asked a businessman, ‘What hobbies do you have?’ He paused, looked at me
blankly, and then replied, ‘Actually, I don’t really have any,’ followed by another long
pause. As he reflected on this, it seemed to suddenly strike him that his life was way
out of balance. He was living and breathing his work, which was his own company.
The little free time he had, outside of his business, was spent driving his kids to their
various activities and watching them play sports and take music lessons. While he
loved spending time with his kids, he felt that something was missing in his life. He
also reported that he often felt tense, stressed and was increasingly having difficulty
controlling his temper.
Many of us can relate to this lifestyle. We have long given up on having any personal time
in order to devote our energies to our work or families. But rarely do we give ourselves
time for our own activities. Yet finding time for ourselves is key to our own sanity. It can
actually improve all the other aspects of our lives. Having a hobby may be even more
important to people who lead very full and busy lives.
Defining a hobby
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a hobby as a pursuit outside of one’s regular
occupation, engaged in especially for relaxation. It’s not something you ‘have to do’, but
rather something you ‘want to do’ because you love to do it. As a result, a hobby can take
many forms, be it stamp collecting, gardening, woodworking, playing tennis or even
travelling.
Michael Brickey, author and psychologist, says that an ideal hobby would be one
that serves three purposes: a diversion (escape from daily life), a passion (engage in
something you love) and a creation of a sense of purpose.

Benefits
Research has shown that people who have hobbies are generally healthier, and have a
lower risk of depression and mental health problems. Many people say a sport or physical
fitness routine as a hobby keeps their blood pressure down, enables them to manage
their anger and daily frustrations, and puts them in a much better frame of mind.
Consequently, this has an impact on their quality of life, work and family time. Many
hobbies also provide a social outlet for us if we join teams or interact with others (five-aside
football, a choir). These social interactions can provide a degree of social support we
may need. Hobbies can also bring pleasure to our lives.
I have talked to many people who reported the sheer joy they got from travelling to new
places or taking a cooking class. Hobbies provide an outlet from daily stress that can
keep us from getting burned out in our jobs. They also provide numerous health benefits
from lower blood pressure, to better physical function and higher positive psychological
states. Further, hobbies may actually improve our work performance if they improve our
decision-making skills, creativity and confidence.
Finding time
Setting aside time for a hobby in our lives (tennis every Monday night or a weekend
chess tournament) enables us to take a break with ‘permission’. Since we have signed
up, we feel we should show up and we are ‘forced’ to take a break. Some people need to
structure their hobbies into their daily lives, otherwise they would feel too guilty to take
a break from work. Setting a routine to carve out time is important initially. You may have
to give up watching TV every night, or you may have to force yourself to leave the office
a little earlier each day. Make your hobby a priority. Set goals for yourself and get a friend
to support you and to help you stay with a hobby.
‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’ is a famous proverb. There may be some
truth to this so make sure you find some time for yourself to relax, enjoy some fun and
pick up a hobby – especially if you are stressed or going through a tough time. You will
thank yourself for it, and so will your family and colleagues.​

Answer 1

Answer:

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