Want to Be More Productive at Work? You Need Better Hobbies. Here's how engaging in complex hobbies can offer mental rest and spur productivity.

If you stroll over to the Louvre's largest room, the Salle des États, you'll come across one of Da Vinci's most famous works of art: the Mona Lisa — an emblematic portrait in the history of art.

Considered a mastery of human anatomy and natural realism, the painting has gained widespread cultural appeal. And with good reason. Who hasn't seen the iconic image?

It's true that we marvel at an artist's ability to create these awe-striking works of art. But what's always impressed me most about Da Vinci was how he chose to spend his time away from the paintbrush.

He wasn't just an incredible artist, he was an accomplished musician, sculptor, architect and engineer. He was also fascinated by the human body. In fact, his interests and appetite for life went beyond his innate talents.

It's something I like to share with fellow mentees. There's a lot we can learn from Da Vinci's example.

He taught me, for instance, that non-work activities inspire us to see things in new ways.

When I first founded my company, Jotform, over 17 years ago, I was told that keeping momentum meant tireless dedication and focus. Yes, it did. But I quickly learned that giving my full attention to my business was also a rapid road to burnout.

I've since understood that balancing the intensity of our work with rejuvenating hobbies can help us reach new heights in our careers and personal lives.

Related: Every Entrepreneur Needs a Hobby Separate From the Company — Here's Why

The hidden productivity of "deep play"

The core message I relay in my newly-released book, Automate Your Busywork, is that we need to save our brains for the big stuff. One of the greatest ways we can achieve this, in my opinion, is by participating in activities we genuinely enjoy outside of our work functions.

"Men of lofty genius when they are doing the least work are most active." — Leonardo da Vinci

It's a concept that's helped me weather the ups and downs of my own entrepreneurial journey and one I'd like to share with you as well. Here's how engaging in complex, immersive hobbies can offer us mental rest and spur our productivity.

Related: Why Cultivating Hobbies Can Improve Mental Health and the Workplace

Leisure time impacts our mental health

Our society is obsessed with being "busy."

We've been taught to worship at the altar of work, no matter the costs. And those are some staggering costs. Burnout from workplace stress is at an all-time high. One survey by Deloitte found that 77% of workers have experienced employee burnout at their current job.

Making leisure time a priority is crucial for staving off these effects. Not only does it provide more meaning, but people who take up hobbies are less likely to experience stress, low mood and depression. According to researchers, this comes from having something regular to do, connecting and working with others, and feeling good about contributing.

"The reason that finding time for hobbies can work has to do with how they affect the reward system in the brain," explains Ciara McCabe for The Conversation. "When we take part in a hobby that we enjoy, chemical messengers in the brain (known as neurotransmitters) are released — such as dopamine, a chemical which helps us feel pleasure."

Related: Why Personal Goals and Hobbies Are Essential For A Fulfilling Career

"Deep play" boosts our creativity

Finding a hobby we love doesn't just provide relief from the daily grind, it also gives us deeper creativity.

In writing for The New York Times, Diane Ackerman offers the perfect description: "For humans, play is a refuge from ordinary life, a sanctuary of the mind, where one is exempt from life's customs, methods and decrees. Play always has a sacred place — some version of a playground — in which it happens."

Immersive hobbies allow us to lose ourselves in the present moment and reach a state of meditative flow where we can restore our minds and energy. Dancing, cooking, music, theater and sports all help us make fresh connections. It also facilitates a kind of learning and thinking we can't acquire from our daily tasks.

Da Vinci understood this well. More than an amazing artist, he was a deeply philosophical thinker — one who believed in participating in life fully. "Da Vinci's approach to life was not just about achieving success or fame," writes Thomas Oppong for Medium, "but rather about doing meaningful work and finding fulfillment in all aspects of life."

That's ultimately how we save our brains for the big stuff — by providing unstructured activities where we're free to play and explore.

Related: How Finding a Hobby Will Make You A Better Entrepreneur

Hobbies make us more productive

Building a successful company could have easily been my sole focus from the beginning. I could have adopted a "busyness" mindset and worked from dusk to dawn, letting other interests fall by the wayside. But that's not what I chose to do.

Instead, I reserved time for olive-picking in Turkey during the summers, cooking elaborate meals for my friends and family, teaching my kids different skills that I loved as a child and allowing my creativity to roam free from work obligations.

In doing so, my business hasn't just grown, it's flourished. I think that's in large part because I prioritized leisure time. Jotform has now amassed more than 20 million users and I can safely say that it's because I didn't give in to the hustle mentality so prevalent in my industry.

So, whenever you come across an image of the Mona Lisa, know that creating such a masterful piece of art didn't come from obsessive focus — but as a result of a free and unfettered mind. I believe we can all strive to take Da Vinci's philosophy to heart. By holding closely to all of our interests, curiosities, and deep passions — and letting them bring out the best in us.