--- description: Bill Gates shares how he learned how to balance his time and his favorite ways to relax, including bridge with Warren Buffett and reading. title: Bill Gates’ 5 Favorite Ways to Relax image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8d91d0e4e437e0af/6988f5394ee26283e73102fd/bill-gates-hobbies-relaxing.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Living](/tag/time-section-living/) ## Living Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Bill Gates’ 5 Favorite Ways to Relax  by [Bill Gates](/author/bill-gates/)  ## Bill Gates Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jan 4, 2018 12:00 PM CUT  Roger Federer of Switzerland and Bill Gates shake hands at the Match For Africa 4 exhibition match at KeyArena on April 29, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. Roger Federer of Switzerland and Bill Gates shake hands at the Match For Africa 4 exhibition match at KeyArena on April 29, 2017 in Seattle, Washington.Suzi Pratt—Getty Images  by [Bill Gates](/author/bill-gates/)  ## Bill Gates Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jan 4, 2018 12:00 PM CUT When I was in my 20s and early 30s, my whole life was focused on work. I didn’t [take vacations](http://time.com/4950062/how-to-take-perfect-vacation/ "undefined") or weekends off. I was always the first in the office and the last to leave. These days, I’m better at balancing the work that I love to do with [my foundation](https://www.gatesfoundation.org/ "undefined") and taking time off to spend with family and friends. ## **Bridge** My parents first taught me bridge, but I really started to enjoy it after playing with [Warren Buffett](http://time.com/money/5006186/warren-buffetts-unconventional-marriage/ "undefined"). It takes a mix of strategy and teamwork to do well. We always find time to play a few games when we’re together. ## **Settlers of Catan** This civilization-building board game is a favorite in my family. Melinda,[ our kids](http://motto.time.com/4781066/melinda-gates-feminist-son-rory-gates/ "undefined"), and I have spent many hours sitting around the table trading resources, building roads, and strategizing to be the first to reach 10 victory points. ## **Tennis** I have played tennis my whole life. This year, I got to[ play a match with Roger Federer](https://www.gatesnotes.com/About-Bill-Gates/Match-for-Africa "undefined") to help raise money for his foundation. I wouldn’t say it was the most relaxing tennis game I’ve ever played, but it was a whole lot of fun. ## **Reading Books** It may not be too surprising that one of my favorite ways to relax is to [keep learning](http://time.com/money/5047687/bill-gates-best-books-2017-recommendations/ "undefined"). On average, I try to[ read a book](https://www.gatesnotes.com/Books "undefined") a week, and I always bring a whole tote bag of them on vacation. ## **Travel** In 1993, Melinda and I visited Tanzania, Kenya, and Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). That trip changed our lives and inspired us to start our foundation and get [involved in philanthropy](http://time.com/5021339/bill-gates-alzheimers-research-dementia/ "undefined") sooner than we planned. I know it’s not possible for everyone to travel halfway around the world, so I’ve started sharing VR videos on my[ Gates Notes](https://www.gatesnotes.com/ "undefined") blog of what I’m seeing and learning. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5066309/bill-gates-favorite-hobbies-relaxing/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5066309/bill-gates-favorite-hobbies-relaxing/"},"headline":"Bill Gates’ 5 Favorite Ways to Relax","datePublished":"2018-01-04T12:00:02.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T08:57:59.829Z","description":"From playing bridge with Warren Buffett to reading books","url":"https://time.com/5066309/bill-gates-favorite-hobbies-relaxing/","keywords":["Living","Optimist"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8d91d0e4e437e0af/6988f5394ee26283e73102fd/bill-gates-hobbies-relaxing.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Bill Gates","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/bill-gates/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8d91d0e4e437e0af/6988f5394ee26283e73102fd/bill-gates-hobbies-relaxing.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Match For Africa 4 - Seattle","caption":"Match For Africa 4 - Seattle","creditText":"Suzi Pratt—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-living/","name":"Living"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/5066309/bill-gates-favorite-hobbies-relaxing/","name":"Bill Gates’ 5 Favorite Ways to Relax"}}]}] ```