text: Psychologists and wellness experts have long-known that we're at our happiest when we're doing the things we love. But, according to one new study, a third of Australian women are not finding time for their hobbies and passions. The survey of 1,025 Australian parents, conducted by Officeworks, found that more women had foregone personal interests for work commitments or to finance 'more important' things in the last week, than had men. The cost, says clinical psychologist and Happiness Institute wellness expert Dr Paula Watkins, will be our happiness - and potentially that of our children. According to a recent study of more than 1,000 Australian parents, a third of Australian women are not finding time for their hobbies, choosing work and 'more important things' over their passions . 'We know that we tend to gravitate towards hobbies and interests that use our best strengths but a lot of the other things we do in our lives, including work, do not,' Dr Watkins told Daily Mail Australia. 'This is why it's so important for us to consciously do more of the things that bring us joy.' Dr Watkins says changing work spaces and technology do contribute to stress and brain overload. 'We know that we’re filling life with more info, we know that technology has so many pros - but the information we’re exposed to grows exponentially,' she says. 'We have to look at how we can break up a day at work  because its abnormal for a brain to focus on a screen for 8 plus hours a day.' 'Remember the brain is wired to pay attention, the brains will just keep processing information to the point of exhaustion, so we actually have to take more care of ourselves. Otherwise, we run the risk of over-stressing our brains, by actually not doing very much.' Clinical psychologist and Happiness Institute Wellness Expert Dr Paula Watkins says its important to create space for the things we love to be happy . One interesting finding to come out of the recent survey, Dr Watkins says, is that twenty per cent of women are inspired to start new hobbies through social media. 'Being inspired is a great thing, so long as that translates into our real lives,' she says. 'If it doesn't, it can actually add another layer of stress.' 'What we're seeing is that women could actually be more inspired than ever before, right at the time that we're also more time poor.' So how can we create more space in our lives for the things we love? Dr Watkins says its important to be pragmatic. 'We have to look at our lives and ask: "what can go?"' she says. 'It's not about loading more onto our lives, we've all done that, if we're going to add something in, something else has to go, or we're just going to feel overloaded.' Spending time doing things you love with friends has the advantage of the 'accountability' factor, Dr Watkins says. Dr Watkins also emphasises the importance of being organised. 'Get prepared,' she says. 'Whatever your hobby or interest is, recognise that you're actually going to need the gear to do it. 'Next time an unexpected pocket of free time opens up, you can take advantage of it if you've got the craft stuff you need at hand, for example, or your runners under your desk at work.' Other tips include spending more time sharing your passions with friends - this has the added 'accountability factor' -  and giving to others, perhaps by volunteering your time to others. 'Make a list, then pick one or pick two things you love– you can shelve the other stuff  for another time - it’s there, the seed has been planted,' Dr Watkins says . Finally, Dr Watkins says women should include their 'little people' in the things they love because hobbies and passions are created in childhood. Another worrying statistic that was revealed in the Officeworks survey is that 85 per cent of younger Australians, specifically GenY respondents, said they have also stopped pursing interests that they are passionate about because they feel they should be spending money on 'more important things' or using their time to complete work or home duties. According to Dr Watkins, the current situation of parents failing to pursue the things they love is concerning for generations to come because it sets a dangerous cultural norm in Australia. Pursuing past-times and creative outlets has a positive impact on children, she says and promotes healthy lifestyle choices for teenagers and young adults. 1. Lighten your load . Prioritising your commitments and saying ‘no’ occasionally can free up your time. 2. Use your breaks . Lunch breaks, coffee runs or public transport commutes provide you with opportunities to take time out. 3. Be prepared . Being prepared can help you take advantage of opportunities. Carry your camera with you, store a journal in your bag, leave a pair of running shoes at work. 4. Commute creatively . Create a Pinterest board on your tablet (like an iPad), discover new artists on Spotify or read a magazine about your hobby. 5. Include friends . Combining your social commitments with your passion is a great way to go. It help enhance your feeling of connectedness with your peers while providing you a creative or physical outlet. 6. Prioritise passions . Focus your efforts on one or two interests at a time. Remember, you can revisit other projects later when you have more free time. 7. Pledge a commitment . Joining a club or engaging a coach to mentor you will do two things: continually motivate you and challenge you to further develop your skills. 8. Involve your little people . Many of our hobbies begin in childhood, so share yours with the little people in your life. Childhood is all about learning and exposing your children to new activities. It helps their brain strengthen old connections and make new ones. 9. Make it work . With only 9% of Aussies admitting they’re very happy at work, it’s time to get creative and find ways to enhance your workplace. Instead of attending another office meeting, suggest a walking meeting or build staff members’ hobbies into team-building activities. 10. Gifts that give . Try volunteering or coaching to stay connected to your passion. When you commit your time to others, you’re more likely to leave work on time and prioritise your hobbies.
target: A third of Australian women are not making time for hobbies and passions .
  More women than men chose to forego their personal interests for work commitments or 'more important things' in the last week, study finds .
  85 per cent of GenY survey respondents said they have also stopped pursuing interests that they are passionate about for work .