Prioritize Your Hobby Mentally And Make It An Important Part Of Your Life

Let’s start on this note……

Did you know that adults who engaged in leisure activities were 34% less stressed and 18% less sad during activities/ hobbies they love to do? Besides feeling happier, heart rates were lower and the calming effect lasted for many hours. (Annals of Behavioral Medicine)

Often times we joke that teaching is a hobby as well as a profession because having a hobby as a teacher is highly elusive. This is true. Teaching is hectic. All the same, it is important for everyone (including teachers of course) to have a hobby.

Being a teacher comes with a long to – do list even during weekends. Lesson plans and notes should be done, tests should be marked, projects should be planned, meetings need to be set up to meet some parents and the list is endless. With time, personal targets including hobbies are fore-grounded.

Regardless of this hectic schedule, a hobby should be slipped in somewhere. Among the many benefits of hobbies is the following: Hobbies encourage breaks, promote positive stress – eustress, provide outlets for stress relief (which teachers need), helps you stay present and in the zone, promote physical health benefits and provides an avenue to meet and unite with others.

No matter how difficult and impossible this may seem, it is highly possible. It is a new academic year and it will come with its own ups and downs. Get a hobby to serve as a channel for de- stressing and rejuvenating.

This will mean reducing the time accorded to some of the things on your to-do list but it will be worth it. In the end, you will be better at your set targets.

Here are some things you need to put in place to have the great life that comes with having a hobby.

Prioritize your hobby mentally and make it an important part of your life, Set realistic boundaries between work and your personal life, Set aside a feasible time for your hobby and then decide on a hobby(one you will love to engage in) then do it and do it well. You may suck at it but who cares, so far as you enjoy it and derive the benefits.

Chronic stress( which can be reduced by engaging in hobbies) has been linked in multiple research studies to a higher risk of heart disease, depression, poorer performance at  work, weight gain, memory loss, a lower immune system, and even early death.  So pull out those paintbrushes, crotchet pins, dust off your camera or just make time to chill out—doctors advice.

 

Let us know if you enjoyed reading this article by leaving us a comment .But more importantly, share this piece.