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Going the distance:  Actor Aamir Khan with nephew Imran. Pic/Anil Bhartiya

Investing your time in non-work related activities can actually benefit your career. Hanging out with colleagues, having a lunch or dinner or a few drinks with them, playing golf with clients are just some of the ways by which working professionals make sure that they are noticed by seniors and colleagues.

The key is to get noticed but to do it subtly. If you are still clueless about how to go about it, read on for tips, as we get five working professionals and a corporate trainer to teach you how to mix work and play to rise to the top.

What gave your career a facelift?

Capoeira
Aparna Roy Brand Manager for an FMCG company
My interest in Capoeira boosted my energy levels, and has upped my confidence, since I am one of the fittest employees in office. Travelling is my passion. I have become an unofficial consultant for colleagues looking to plan a trip. So, my hobbies have indirectly become talking points.

Meditation
Piyush Kulshreshta Director, Infinite Canvas Realtors Pvt. Ltd.
An annual trip to the Vipassana Centre at Igatpuri has transformed my personality. Meditation has improved my people skills two-folds; I don't feel stressed while solving problems or while communicating with difficult people, anymore. Meditation makes your life holistic.

Wildlife
Vinod Kunj CEO, Thought Blurb ad agency
I am a nature and wild life enthusiast, and a member of the BNHS (Bombay Natural History Society). This interest has lent me an edge at work. While creating ad campaigns for organic food clients, for instance, I rarely require a brief. It feels like an extension of my hobby.

Travelling
Renuka Rane Assistant Editor with a custom publishing firm
Travelling gives me a chance to meet and interact with various people, apart from giving me a much needed break. Since my job involves editing travel pieces, I can give the write-up an edge by adding an interesting first-hand account of a particular destination, if I happened to have visited it.

Trekking
Swapnil Mule Design Manager with a crane manufacturing company
A weekend hiking trip helps me escape from monotonous work life. It's an enjoyable way to stay fit, something that is mandatory in my job, and it guarantees a total body workout while testing my stamina. Trekking teaches me to push my limits and give each task my 100%.

Extra-curriculars enhance quality of work
Komal Bhanver
Director of People First Learning and Training Services Pvt. Ltd.
Leisure activities influence competency levels for any job. For instance, a Capoeira class will increase focus, make you patient, better your skills at assessing a situation, and teach you to use a sword as the last resort.
Take travelling for instance. Learning and interacting with people from varied cultures improves communication skills. This can be of advantage to someone who's applying for a marketing or sales job. An employee's competency for a particular job is judged at three levels knowledge, skills and attitude, and most after-work activities will have a direct impact on work.
Tip: When you choose an activity, be aware of how it will affect your profession or career.

How belly dancing and Capoeira helped these celebs
Actor Hansika Motwani started learning belly dancing as a hobby. Now, she finally gets a chance to showcase her skills in a song sequence to be shot for her forthcoming film, Money Hai Toh Honey Hai.

Training in Capoeira, a Brazilian art form comprising dance, martial arts and games, has made actor Riteish Deshmukh's body more flexible, and action-oriented.