“High-Roi” Activities I Squeezed Into My 5–9 Rather than Blaming the 9–5 Worklife

Here’s how off-the-clock activities helped me recharge my mental batteries

I had the longest phone conversation with my cousin the other day.

Here’s its crux:

Cousin: “I’m sooo busy with work lately. I barely feel alive.”

Me: “Why don’t you engage in any self-care activity.”

Cousin: “I don’t have time for a hobby! I already spend enough time working. And it’s easy for you because you don’t work 9–5.”

Me: “But it’s important to have a self-care activity. It can improve your work performance, mental health, and productivity.”

Cousin: “Fine. What would it be if you weren’t a writer or worked a 9–5?”

This got me thinking. What are some high-ROI activities that can easily fit into a busy 5-to-9 schedule?

I instantly wanted to jump on the bandwagon and preach. But I knew that wouldn’t work. We can hardly focus on the bright side when we blame an external situation.

So, I shared with him my experiences before becoming an entrepreneur and how I squeezed some self-care activities that yielded huge returns with time.

And that’s what I’m going to do here.

I will show you six high-ROI after-work hobbies that will easily fit into your busy schedule without monopolizing all your time.

But before we dive in, let me explain what I mean by “high-ROI.”

When I talk about ROI, I’m referring to the benefits you’ll experience, divided by the time and effort you put in.

In other words, it’s the “bang for your buck.” And these six activities have a high return on investment because they offer immense benefits with relatively little time and effort.

Now that we got that out of the way, let’s jump in!

Activity #1: Bridge The Gap Between Who You Are And What You Want To Be

We all have an ideal version of ourselves. It’s the person we want to be.

But there’s often a gap between who we are and who we want to be. This is what I like to call the “dreamer’s dilemma.”

The dreamer’s dilemma is when you have a big dream or goal that you want to achieve but don’t know how to get there.

For example, let’s say you want to be a writer but don’t know how to start.

Or you want to be in better shape but haven’t worked out in years. Plus, the hefty goals paralyze you in overwhelm.

The key to bridging the gap between who you are and who you want to be is to take action, no matter how small.

Before becoming a writer, I would write 1500 words every day, even if it was just stream-of-consciousness writing.

You don’t have to freeze yourself to make a perfect move. Just start. The compound effect takes care of the rest.

Activity #2: Exploit The Commute Time

If you have a long commute, that’s prime time to rejuvenate yourself after an exhausting workday.

I had a 45-minute daily commute. I used that time to make phone calls, listen to audiobooks and podcasts. It was an excellent way to make productive use of my time while stuck in traffic.

Before starting these activities, I churned an internal conversation complaining about work, life, traffic, political affairs, blah..blah..blah. And it was draining.

If you’ve experienced the same, shift your focus and engage in activities that recharge your mental battery.

If you want to learn about a new topic, I recommend TED Talks Daily.

To be more productive at work, tune into The Tim Ferriss Show.

And if you want to get smarter, try Freakonomics Radio.

But if podcasts aren’t your thing, you can also use that time to read books or articles. I often did this because it allowed me to keep up with my reading without feeling like I was sacrificing valuable leisure time.

And if you want to make things even easier, switch to Audiobooks.

Activity #3: Gamify Your Boring Tasks

We all have tasks that we have to do, whether it’s cooking meals, laundry, doing dishes, or cleaning the house.

But there’s a way to make these mundane tasks fun by turning them into a game. It saves time and energy.

Plus, it kills procrastination.

I like to do this by setting a timer and seeing how fast I can complete the task.

For example, every weekday, I make dinner every day in 40 minutes. Or if I have to do the dishes, I’ll set a timer for 10 minutes and see how many I can get done in that time frame.

Not only does this make the task more bearable, but it also allows me to get a little competitive with myself.

And as a bonus, it makes that the task gets done faster and more efficiently.

Activity #4: Unwind With A Relaxing Hobby

After a long work day, it’s important to unwind and relax. And one of the best ways to do this is with a hobby you enjoy.

For me, that hobby is self-reflecting meditation. I find it to be incredibly therapeutic and relaxing. It’s a great way to clear your mind and address your troubles. It also gives you an insight into your thought process, emotions, feelings, and aspirations.

But it doesn’t always have to be meditation. It could be anything that you enjoy and allows you to relax.

Some other examples include reading, writing, drawing, painting, hiking, biking, or even walking around the block.

More time spent in leisure activities is correlated with higher levels of happiness, satisfaction with life, and well-being, according to numerous studies.

The key is to find something that you enjoy, and that helps you relax.

Activity #5: Get A Head Start On Tomorrow

Tomorrow starts the night before.

That’s the best productivity tip I’ve worked on. I still do it every day.

I like to do this by making a list of the things I need to do tomorrow and then prioritizing them to avoid the next day’s overwhelm.

You can get the blueprint of my process here:

This process makes me feel more prepared for the next day and gives me a sense of accomplishment.

And that’s how I control my time, focus, and resources.

Activity #6: Play a Boardgame/VideoGame

Video games aren’t my thing. But I love playing board games.

Now, in the digital age, there are many online board games you can play with friends.

My favorite ones are Codenames, Drawasaurus, Carcassonne, and Catan.

It’s a great way to socialize and have fun with friends. And it’s also a great way to exercise your brain.

And studies have shown that playing board games can have some benefits for your productivity.

For example, one study found that playing certain games can improve your problem-solving skills.

It can improve your memory and cognitive skills.

So, if you’re looking for a fun way to unwind after work, play a board game with friends. Not only is it enjoyable, but it can help improve your productivity.

Wrapping Up

There you have it! Six high-ROI after-work activities that will easily fit into your busy 5-to-9 routine.

So, what are you waiting for? Pick one and experiment with it.

Your work performance, mental health, and productivity will thank you.

And the best part is, they don’t have to monopolize all your time.

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