A hobby could make you a better teacher or leader

Feb 1

2 min read

Research shows that people are better able to cope with workplace stress when they

have a hobby. Emeljanovas et al. (2023) found that "effective coping strategies such as problem solving, exercise, and hobbies improve emotional well-being." Mindfulness and the flow state (read more here) are effective methods for recharging energy and lowering stress levels as shown by various researchers.

So, whether you are a teacher or academic leader (or any other profession that involves stress), having a hobby can help you perform better.

I get bored with my same old suite of hobbies so I did some online research. Plus, with a bit of a break over the summer holidays, it can be a great time to try something new.

Hopefully, you can find some ideas that resonate from the list below to try:

Something in nature, maybe foraging, ikebana (flower arranging) or herping (looking for reptiles and amphibians)
Something with your hands like model building, speedcubing, magic tricks/sleight of hand or seed/crop art
Something ancient such as pickling or preserving, origami or the toad game
Something macabre like ghost hunting, taxidermy, collecting or breeding creepy crawlies

In addition to better mental health and bringing fun into your leisure time, your hobbies could give you ideas to implement with your students or colleagues. One of my weekend activities, theatre sports and improv, has given me ice-breakers and teaching strategies to use in class. The knitting I do means I always have a scarf (or six) for yard duty and winter excursions. My most delicious hobby is baking and it's lovely to share the successful creations with my team to help us get through Mondays.

Hobbies and leisure activities are also a great way to add something memorable to your resume and build less conventional skills, especially if you're considering a career change. Book a time to talk about how this can benefit you.

Find more hobbies: