Road to balance
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Different paths, the same goal - regaining balance
Passions can play an important role along the way. They take our minds off everyday tasks, open us up to new experiences, encourage us to take on challenges and discover our own potential.
We asked Continental employees about their own journeys from “Work” to “Paradise”. They told us what they do after hours, what their passions give them, where they relax best and why it is sometimes worth leaving the familiar path to discover something new. Their answers became a story about many different ways of restoring balance, because there is no single path that works for everyone.
It turned out that many of our employees enter completely different worlds after work, sometimes becoming fully immersed in them. And, paradoxically, it is this immersion in their passions that allows them to truly be themselves.
From Work to Paradise - everyone has their own route
On the map of Poland, you can trace a route from Praca (which means “Work” in Polish), a village near Piotrków Trybunalski, to Raj (“Paradise”), located not far from Morąg. It’s a geographical curiosity, but also an apt metaphor for the everyday transition from working life to time for ourselves.
After an intense day, we all need a moment to leave our responsibilities behind. For some, it might be a walk, a bike ride or a workout; for others, spending time with loved ones, doing something creative, connecting with nature or enjoying a quiet evening with board games. Finding balance doesn’t mean splitting our time perfectly between work and life outside it. It’s more about knowing when to slow down and what helps us switch off.
Here is the percentage of “Definitely yes” responses to various questions about the positive aspects of having a passion among the 34 respondents:
Our survey also included open-ended questions, which revealed a fascinating picture of the interests and hobbies pursued by Continental employees.
Sports, travel and books are just the beginning of a long list. The responses also included playing the trombone in a brass band, historical reenactment and model making, drone photography, ballet, herb gathering, crocheting and night hikes through mountains and forests.
There are also enthusiasts of aviation, vintage motorcycles, airsoft and Track Days, accompanied by the dream of one day visiting the legendary Nürburgring. One thing is certain: after hours, our employees have plenty of ways to pursue their passions.
In the “map” below, we have gathered all the activities mentioned in the survey.
See if any of them match your interests too!
The survey also revealed that passions have a remarkable ability to change our perception of time. The responses show that a half-hour Nordic walking session can unexpectedly turn into a two-hour outing, a short motorcycle ride can last for several hours, and gardening can continue well into the evening, with parsley being sown by flashlight.
But what does having a passion actually give us? Similar words came up remarkably often in the responses: a reset, an escape, relaxation, “clearing your head” and taking a break from everyday life. But hobbies also bring the satisfaction of creating and developing new skills, meeting interesting people and pushing your own limits. Like ballet, described by one respondent as a way to “overcome every barrier in the mind and body”.
Sometimes a passion gives us a solid dose of adrenaline; at other times, it brings the kind of physical tiredness that allows the mind to rest. And perhaps that is exactly the point: finding something that makes the daily to-do list stop mattering, even if only for a while.
Wiktoria Truszkowska - Concerts
My passion gives me, above all, the opportunity to express myself and celebrate live music. It is also a unique chance to see my favourite artists and experience their work. Most importantly, though, I can truly be myself at concerts – I stop worrying about what other people think and simply enjoy the moment.
I would recommend that everyone try going to see their favourite artist live at least once. Even if you are not a particularly outgoing person, the energy of the crowd, singing together and all the emotions can make you forget about everyday life for a while and experience the true joy of being in the here and now.
Włodzimierz Skierkowski – Sailing
Sailing is like flying. I never thought I’d see the Atlantic beyond the horizon. Quite an unusual experience for me 🙂
Mariusz Tyrc – Model making and historical reenactment
An escape from the monotony of everyday life, a chance to clear my head,
meet and relax with like-minded enthusiasts, and above all, an opportunity to share my passion with others.
Iwona Przybysz – An allotment with a vegetable garden, herb gathering and learning more about these subjects
Besides the immense enjoyment and the wealth of knowledge you could never gain at school, meeting fascinating people simply gives you great topics to talk about with friends – so you don’t end up talking about the weather when you run out of things to say. But above all, we get the chance to create something, which is always a great way to build self-esteem and feel good, even while at work. After all, those exciting ideas and events related to the hobby are always somewhere in the back of your mind.
Łukasz Puchała – Cycling
I clear my head and focus entirely on the “goal of the day”, which can be very different things… covering a certain distance, reaching my maximum heart rate, achieving a target elevation gain, or simply “riding for a set amount of time”… Just get on your bike, pick a destination and off you go!
Klaudia Lewandowska – Paint by numbers
Paint by numbers is very much an autumn and winter hobby for me. It’s easy to lose track of time: I start at 5 p.m. and suddenly it’s 10 p.m., with The Big Bang Theory playing in the background. The result? Pain in my shoulder, wrist and neck, dry eyes from staring at one spot, and progress that looks pretty modest from up close. But all it takes is stepping back a few paces and looking at the whole picture.
That’s when the satisfaction kicks in!
Aneta Cabaj – Mountain climbing
I can hike in the mountains from morning until night without counting the kilometres or feeling tired. Each new peak and view motivates me to keep going. My passion gives me new energy, helps me switch off from everyday responsibilities and clear my head.
Adam Zając – Playing the trombone in a brass band
Preparing for performances and concerts takes a lot of time, but it brings great satisfaction both to me and to the audience. It complements what I want to do in life, gives me a tremendous amount of energy and the satisfaction of giving others a “musical feast” that takes us into all kinds of different worlds – from sacred music to the latest entertainment.
This is how Continental employees pursue their passions!
Finally, it’s worth remembering that you don’t have to travel all the way from near Piotrków to near Morąg to find your own Paradise.
All it takes is an activity that truly draws you in, lets you change your perspective and forget about the clock for a while. It’s great to have something to look forward to after work – and we hope you get to experience that feeling as often as possible!
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