TikTok's After-Work Fun Trend Explained
If you're feeling more than just a little drained, not to mention unfocused, irritated, and unmotivated, then there's a chance you're burned out. Granted, you wouldn't be alone. When Microsoft surveyed 20,000 individuals from various countries, it found that 48% of workers experienced burnout. That number goes up to 53% when it comes to managers. Although there is a wide range of factors that can lead to this unfortunate state, one key aspect that can cause you to burn out is failing to establish the oh-so-important work-life balance. While it can be tricky to figure out how to achieve that, there's no doubt that it needs to be a priority, or it simply may never happen.
"If you do not firmly plan for personal time, you will never have time to do other things outside of work," Chris Chancey, career expert and CEO of Amplio Recruiting, told Business News Daily. "No matter how hectic your schedule might be, you ultimately have control of your time and life. ... Whether you work away from home or at home, it is important to determine when you will work and when you will stop working; otherwise, you might find yourself answering work-related emails late at night, during vacations, or on weekends off."
With that in mind, you definitely need to check out TikTok's after-work trend, which might be just what you need to ensure you're taking time to do the things you love.
It's all about that tricky but necessary work-life balance
The idea of making sure that you don't overwork yourself and leave enough "me-time" in your schedule isn't anything new. However, TikTok user @daniellevizcarra22 has turned the idea into an important trend that you might want to jump on.
"Whenever I start to feel sad or depressed and just stressed about life like I'm living the same day, I always like to make a list of something fun to do every single day just to break up my days and make them more enjoyable," she said in a video while explaining what inspired her to add uplifting sparks of fun to her life in a specific way that embraces plenty of exciting options. Pointing out that you simply need to choose to do something that makes you smile, the social media influencer offered a few examples, saying, "I've gone rollerblading, and even painted some pants that I really love and wear every single day, and I've also had some hot chocolate, which I also painted the cup for. It just makes me more excited for my days and I'm going to do this for as long as I can."
Although you can certainly follow @daniellevizcarra22 to get a wide range of fun-loving ideas, you might not be too keen on the thought of putting on a pair of rollerblades. That's perfectly fine, of course. You just need to choose the right kind of after-work fun for you.
How to choose pastimes that bring you joy
You may now be excited and eager to add your daily after-work activities to your schedule. On the other hand, you might be a little lost when it comes to what pastimes you should spend your precious time on. Although you could pick up a hobby that you used to adore, dive into an artistic endeavor that you've always been interested in but were intimidated by, or ask a few friends for some sporty suggestions, there's another factor that you might want to keep in mind.
"When you're engaging in hobbies for mental health purposes, you want to pick activities that are stimulating but not overly challenging," therapist Caroline Given, LCSW, explained to Bustle. At the same time, make sure to opt for activities that won't end up boring you and will truly capture your attention. Given says, "The brain loves novelty and engaging in true 'play,' so anything you're curious about or takes you away from daily life is a good place to put your energy."
Given also points out that engaging in activities that you find fun can give you a boost of confidence. On top of that, every hobby that you end up falling in love with will become another way to give you a bump of happiness, along with offering you a much-needed break from work and the potential stress and responsibilities of everyday life.