My top 10 passions away from work - Sabeena Syed

“I LOVE my profession and feel blessed to be an actor, but have always believed in having a healthy work-life balance. Life is a precious gift and gives us so many opportunities, so I try to make full use of them when I can. Here is a rundown of the things I like to do when there is time and ones that give me great joy.”

Travelling: Luckily, what I did not know is that being an actor means I would be getting to travel a lot and explore new destinations, which is something that I enjoy a lot. Either way, if I am not travelling for work, I try to travel with my friends for fun, and I want to see as much of the world as possible.

Painting: Whenever I have spare time, I love to spend it on drawing or creating a piece of art using paints. Earlier, whenever I could, I would buy art materials to experiment and recently shifted to digital painting, which is also pretty exciting. Like acting, art offers up endless creative possibilities and is something that helps me relax.

Reading: Whenever I have free time, I like to pick up a good book that I’ve wanted to read or one that my friends or family have recommended, so we can discuss it later. Great literature opens up brand new worlds and really lets you use your imagination. The most beautiful thing about books is that they are timeless and connect with people in different ways.

Eating: I love trying out food at new restaurants. As I am a big foodie, my best friend and I have a tradition of choosing some new place every week to dine at and try out some new cuisine.

Bicycle rides: Anyone who has ever ridden a bicycle will know how much fun it is. Perhaps not so often in Karachi, but I definitely do like hopping on a bike when abroad. Whenever I would feel slightly bored, I would pick up my bicycle and go travelling all over a city, even if I am visiting it for the first time.

Volunteering: I believe everyone should give back in some way and it is the most fulfilling thing you can do in your spare time. I love volunteering with (the animal charity) ACF and find it the most wholesome way to spend one’s time. Hanging out with the animals at the shelter and helping out is the best way to spend my time.

Acting: For an actor the craft never leaves you, so yes, sometimes when I watch Netflix I try to act out scenes of my favourite characters. The actor in me kicks in at the most unexpected times and that’s how I love spending my time. I believe that learning should never stop.

Scrapbook: I am a very nostalgic person, so I love to collect memories and one way is to maintain a scrapbook. I have multiple diaries with various cutouts from magazines and newspapers because I love spending time with my ideas and thoughts. I am documenting visuals for my future artworks.

Walking my own dogs: Going on walks with my brother and both my dogs also has a vibe of its own. I love going on long walks and talking about random things as my dogs enjoy their surrounding. Animals are honestly the best.

Friends and family: Spending time with my friends and family is a must. I have a small circle of very close friends and love having our hangouts where we can just listen to good music, and talk about random things. In fact, my friends are what makes a lot of things in my life more exciting.

Sabeena Syed is a Pakistan based actress, who starred in projects, including the films Parwaaz Hai Junoon and the TV serials Yaqeen Ka Safar, Mujhay Jeenay Do and Badbakht. Her upcoming projects include the film Babylicious.

Visit Instagram: @sabeena.s.official