When Work Can't Give You What You Need

Key points

When you can't adjust your job to meet your psychological needs, leisure crafting can help.

Competence, volition, and relatedness all matter—each must be fulfilled for your well-being.

Volunteering, hobbies, and community ties help build mastery, choice, and connection.

Previously I discussed how to meet your needs at work through job crafting . That is, finding ways to shape your tasks or mindset so your role fits your work style and helps you thrive.

But not everyone is so lucky to be able to adjust their role. Some jobs are tightly structured, highly standardized, or leave little room for personal approaches. When changing your role isn't possible, there is another way to meet your needs: leisure crafting. Leisure crafting means intentionally shaping your life outsid