Diversifying Your Commitments for a Happier Life

Article #110 of Life Unlocked - A weekly newsletter by Dr Yath

Jun 23, 2024

Hey friends,

Been a while but I’m back with a new focus on writing about maximising time freedom, careers, and lifestyle design. Today’s article is an idea I’m very passionate about and I’m coining it as: hedging your existential investment.

In our high-stakes, all-or-nothing world, it's easy to become overly fixated on one aspect of our lives, often our careers. While dedication and focus are commendable, placing all your self-worth and satisfaction in a single area can be precarious. When things go awry in that one sphere, it can lead to feelings of derailment and depression. This is where the concept of hedging your existential investment comes into play. By diversifying your commitments and investing time and energy into multiple pursuits, I think you can create a more resilient foundation for your overall happiness and sense of accomplishment.

The Importance of Diversification

Diversification is a well-known strategy in financial investing. By spreading investments across various assets, you reduce the risk of losing everything if one investment performs poorly. The same principle can be applied to our personal and professional lives. When we diversify our commitments beyond just one main focus and include at least one side hobby, mission, or side hustle, we are more likely to experience an overall sense of accomplishment and satisfaction more consistently.

Imagine this scenario: You have a demanding job that takes up most of your weekdays. However, on weekends, you indulge in your passion for tennis. One week, work is particularly stressful, and you feel unappreciated and overwhelmed. But on Saturday, you play a fantastic tennis match and win. Despite the rough week at work, you end the week feeling accomplished and happy because of your success on the tennis court. This secondary source of satisfaction acts as a buffer against the negativity from your primary focus.

Real-Life Examples of Diversification

To illustrate the benefits of diversification further, let's consider another example. Suppose you have a job where, despite your best efforts, an unreasonable client ruins your day. Instead of letting this negative experience dominate your entire day, you have other pursuits that bring you joy and a sense of achievement. Maybe you hit the gym in the evening and set a new personal record in your workout. Or perhaps you finally finish reading a book you've been engrossed in. These small victories in other areas of your life can significantly mitigate the impact of a bad day at work.

Without these additional interests or hobbies, you might spend the evening ruminating on the incident with the client, leading to a discouraged and upset mindset before bed. This not only affects your mood but can also influence your productivity and well-being the following day. By having diverse sources of fulfilment, you can brush off the negativity and end your day on a positive note, ready to tackle new challenges with a fresh perspective.

Creating a Balanced Life

Diversifying your commitments doesn’t mean overloading yourself with numerous activities. It’s about finding a few key interests that genuinely bring you joy and fulfilment. Here are some steps to start diversifying your existential investment:

Identify Your Passions: Reflect on activities or hobbies that you love and feel passionate about. These could be sports, arts, volunteer work, or learning new skills.
Allocate Time: Dedicate specific times in your week for these activities. Ensure that you give them as much importance as your primary job. For example, I’ve recently got into golf and allocate one evening a week to hit the driving range and practice my swing.
Set Achievable Goals: In your secondary pursuits, set small, achievable goals. These can provide a sense of accomplishment and motivation.
Stay Flexible: Be open to trying new things. If an activity no longer brings you joy, don’t hesitate to explore new interests. For example, I got bored of reading non-fiction books and found reading was becoming a chore. So, I got a fiction recommendation from my wife (btw, I rarely used to read fiction) and now I have a new found love for reading time.
Prioritise Balance: Remember that the goal is to create balance, not to add stress. Ensure that your commitments enhance your life rather than overwhelm you.

Take Home Advice

Hedging your existential investment by diversifying your commitments is a powerful strategy for maintaining a balanced and fulfilling life. By not putting all your eggs in one basket, you can better weather the ups and downs of any single aspect of your life. This approach not only helps in fostering a more positive outlook but also builds resilience against the uncontrollable factors that can disrupt your primary focus. Embrace the idea of multiple sources of joy and accomplishment, and watch as your overall sense of well-being and satisfaction grows.

Recommendation 👀

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Quote 🧠

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man. — George Bernard Shaw

As always be safe, and be happy.

Take care - Yath 🤟🏾

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