The Pros and Cons of a “Portfolio Life”

Few people are lucky enough to make a living from their hobbies or big passions in life. Instead, many of us continue to work in jobs that we dislike to make ends meet, and try to fit more fulfilling activities in around our work schedule. What are the pros and cons of filling every moment of every day with either work or play?

Portfolio Careers

In healthcare in the UK, many professionals have “portfolio careers.” It is widely acknowledged that the clinical aspects of a career in medicine are relentless, demanding and highly stressful. To ward off burnout, clinical hours can be dispersed through the working week, broken up with other activities such as providing clinical education or carrying out research projects.

A few years ago, I found myself becoming increasingly disillusioned with my career. So I diversified my working week, which helped to reinvigorate my interest. But resulted in me working far more than full-time hours across three different roles, whilst also doing another postgraduate qualification.

It quickly became apparent that other areas of my life were being neglected as I was working all these extra hours. I found myself taking the car for most journeys instead of cycling as I was so short on time. I reached for more convenience foods as it required less time and effort than cooking from scratch. I had very little physical or mental energy for anything outside of work.

My animals and gardens did not receive enough of my attention. My marriage did not receive enough of my attention.

I had spread myself too thinly. I was trying to do too much, and was not doing anything very well at all.

I was forced to re-evaluate my priorities and critically consider what was most important to me. Where did I get the most enjoyment? Where should I spend the majority of my time and effort?

A Portfolio Life

The decision to escape to the countryside, work fewer hours and live more sustainably on a smallholding was very intentional. The life that I had built allowed me to spend the majority of my time outside on my land, with my animals, working side-by-side with my husband.

My career in healthcare was just a small facet of my working week; I worked for myself and my family at home on the other days. I realised that I already had a portfolio life; I did not need a portfolio career as well!

So I returned to my core values of simple living, doing the least harm to the environment, animals and other humans. I reduced my working hours and poured that extra time, energy and enthusiasm into my marriage and our home. It was a very wise choice. The rewards we have reaped as a family are many times greater than any personal fulfillment I derived from my career.

Pros

1) Retirement age is rising rapidly. There is no guarantee of a meaningful retirement. It is wise to make time for hobbies and other interests while still young and well enough to enjoy them.

2) Striking a balance is very important. Working long hours in stressful roles can have negative consequences for physical and mental health.

3) “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Cultivating a range of interests makes us more relatable to others and helps to grow a network of people with similar passions.

4) Having a diverse schedule with a range of interesting engagements to look forward to can increase productivity and fulfillment in all areas of your life.

5) Getting outdoors and moving your body have so many health benefits. There are all sorts of hobbies and interests that allow you to do this – walking, golf, cycling, and many more.

Cons

1) Spreading ourselves too thinly can lead to overwhelm and exhaustion, the exact opposite of what we are trying to achieve. It is difficult to have multiple facets to your career and also maintain diverse interests outside of work. You may have to decide which area of your life you wish to expand.

2) Can having other interests really compensate for a job that is too stressful? If you are unhappy in your choice of career, then building a range of outside interests may only be papering over the cracks of this deeper seated issue.

3) In the midst of a cost of living crisis, working fewer hours is simply not an option for many people. Financial outlay associated with trying new hobbies may also deter those who are struggling.

My Advice

Life does not have to be all about work or money. If you are able to cut back on a few expenses, and this enables you to reduce your working hours, I would say that it is well worth it. Having more free time to spend any way you choose is priceless. Just be sure to make the most of it!

Take the opportunity to reflect on what is most important to you. Do you want to learn a new language, start a new hobby or spend more quality time with your family or friends? Or would you prefer to explore new avenues within your career? Establish your goals and get started!