Everyone would likely agree that it's important to take
up a hobby or two. They offer a wonderful opportunity to escape from the
pressures of work and even those at home.
What are you doing with that "me" time? Is it
something that is providing you with additional benefits outside of the hobby
itself? Take spectator sports. They are awesome to watch and I do take the time
like millions of others to sit on the couch and watch football, basketball,
baseball and golf. It's relaxing, fun and a fabulous diversion for me. I will
continue to do it, but this is not a hobby that will deliver benefits beyond
the time I have spent watching these sports.
Consider picking up a hobby that will provide added
benefits to your work and personal life. There are so many of these hobbies to
choose from; let's take a look at a handful of them:
Exercise
We all know that exercise is great for us physically. If
you're not a "gym" person, try a brisk two-mile walk several days a
week. This not only supports cardiovascular health, but it is also a great way
to exercise your mind. Research in neuroscience has shown that cardiovascular
exercise improves cognition and mental performance. It will contribute to a
sharper brain that will benefit you personally and professionally in your career.
Read
Reading is a phenomenal brain exercise. Even if you are
reading a novel, you are providing a great deal more benefit to your brain than
watching television. Now think about reading something that will make you a
worldlier person. I always tell my business school students that they should
read the Wall Street Journal or the Financial Times, in addition to The
Washington Post (or their local newspaper). The more you know about current
events in the country and world we live in, the smarter you will be. This
includes business, government, politics, etc. Another great genre to read is
history. Understanding history makes you smarter and it is a fascinating
pastime that is great for feeding your brain.
Embrace
mindfulness and meditation
More and more companies are embracing the practice of
mindfulness to make their people better. Just over a year ago, Aetna appointed
a chief mindfulness officer. UCLA has a Mindfulness Awareness Research Center.
At the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, we
teach mindfulness in our Executive MBA program. The idea is that a healthy mind
is a better mind. It keeps you fresh and at the same time, enables you to be a
better performer. Mindfulness is about learning to staying present and in the
moment without all of the internal chatter that interferes with your thought
process. It actually helps you see new things and enhance your engagement.
There is a great deal of information on mindfulness.
Learn a new
language
There are great programs for learning a new language. Two
that come to mind are Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone. Becoming multilingual not
only stimulates your brain, but it can also make you more valuable to your
company, particularly if it is a multinational organization. It's a great
feeling to visit a foreign country and try to speak the local language. What is
your family's heritage? You may want to learn a language spoken by your
ancestors. Maybe you are friendly with or live near people who speak a foreign
language. Make an effort to learn that language and practice with them.
Learn to play a
musical instrument
In a sense, learning to play a musical instrument is much
like learning a new language. Just like learning a foreign language, learning
how to play a musical instrument is also about practicing to acquire new skills
you can enjoy for years to come. Music is a fantastic form of expression and
release, while stimulating your brain and making you smarter. There are great
online programs where you can learn to play the guitar, piano, harmonica and
other instruments.
Take a class
Taking courses of interest to you from your own home is
easy and free. Check out a Massive Open Online Course, known as a MOOC. There
are several platforms that offer MOOCs; Coursera (coursera.org) and edX
(edx.org) are good places to start. You can take a course from top universities
from around the world at no cost to you, or pay a minimal fee and receive a
certificate upon completion. You may want to choose something you find
interesting outside of your line of work. For example, you may be an
accountant, but have an interest in psychology or criminology. The key is to
never stop learning to keep your mind in great shape.
Read also: Skills-based portfolio vital to your career
These are just a few options, but there are certainly
many more. Just choose a hobby that will help you exercise your mind and
increase your knowledge base while offering enjoyment.
Cohen is associate
dean of the Office of Executive Programs at the University of Maryland's Robert
H. Smith School of Business. He is a certified executive coach and prior to
joining the faculty at Smith, he had a successful 30-year corporate career,
with the last 15 as a senior executive. He can be reached at
[email protected], @gary_a_cohen, and on LinkedIn.