According to Solomon Ortiz, Education is the key to success in life, and teachers make a lasting impact on the lives of their students. Teachers work hard at educating and developing the minds of their students. That’s hard stuff. Due to this stress settles in and often leads to boredom and discouragement. However, research shows that engaging in meaningful pastimes can open teachers to new experiences, reduce stress and offer new ways of fostering student engagement.
The following 9 hobbies for teachers will provide you with the tools to becoming a more effective teacher.
Running
Running is one of the most popular and easiest forms of hobby you can ever pick. With just a pair of sneakers and the urge to exercise you can start right now.
Running is an excellent hobby for three main reasons. You will have reduced stress when you pick up running as a hobby. Research suggests that people who partake in a running regime three times a week have reduced stress levels. Your students will always have their teacher fully healthy and engaged to get the most out of their education as possible.
Running will also improve your cardiovascular health. You have probably noticed that running after your child during playtime your breath becomes a little bit uncontrollable. That is what running does. Your heart is strengthened and helps reduce your risk of heart diseases like stroke. In this way, you are always in a good mood for your students.
Another benefit of picking running as a hobby is that it boosts your confidence level. As you set goals for this hobby and as you keep up with it, it gives you a sense of accomplishment which boost your self-worth and keeps you going on.
Reading
Reading is another popular form of hobby that can improve your effectiveness as a teacher. Almost every person on this earth has read a book or two on a particular topic. Amazon bookshelves always have best sellers with hundreds and thousands of books sold every day.
When you pick up this hobby, you will have a wealth of knowledge you can share with your students. Other than your specific field o study having other views from other subject matters will make you a more interesting teacher.
So, the more you read, the more confident you become, and the more confident you are the more engaged you’re with your students. Your ability to educate them increases a hundredfold.
Related: Reading Quotes
Weight Lifting
Just like running, lifting weights has several benefits even if treated as a hobby. First, it helps to build muscle. Consistent weight lifting leads to your body producing a lot of growth cells which the body needs for muscle development. This muscle mass according to research is effective for everyday activities: Teaching included. Secondly, it burns body fat. As you build muscle, your body also improves its ability to burn excess body fat. This is because, the more muscle your body has, the more calories it tends to burn. Another benefit of lifting weights which can also improve teachers is that it improves your bones and joint strength. As a teacher, you stand a lot and the stronger your bones are, the more comfortable you are at standing and educating your students.
However, despite the benefits, take it easy if this is your first time. Lift weights as safely as possible.
Bike Riding
Taking a consistent stroll with your bike every day of the week will not afford you the benefits of exercise but it helps you explore more of your environment. And as a teacher, the more experiences you have to share the better a teacher you are. It will even give you ideas for assignments for your students.
For example, just by riding a bike, I managed to visit the local shops in my area which I wouldn’t have if I didn’t own a bike.
Sewing
Sewing is a simple crafty hobby you can get involved in after school sessions. You can make your own pillows, scarves, and many other things.
You can give these items to your kids as a form of inspiration and if possible, hold class sessions and invite them into this hobby.
With the right mindset and drive, you can also turn it into a side hustle and make some extra income on the side aside from your salary as a teacher.
Use these YouTube Channels to get started on your sewing journey:
Cooking
A healthy meal goes a long way toward keeping you from the hospital and away from your precious students. By cooking your own food, you avoid fatty foods which will cause complications that might cause you to miss class sessions with your students.
Start cooking now and enjoy your own meals.
For recipes, do a quick google search and you will have what you need.
Related: Cooking Quotes
Learn A New Language
A class is comprised of students from different backgrounds and even countries. So, having knowledge of other languages is a great skill for improving your effectiveness as an educator.
You can engage more with the kids by speaking their own language no matter the subject you are teaching.
Some of the best and most popular languages you can start with are Spanish, French, Chinese, Japanese, and Russian.
Use apps like Duolingo and Memrise to start your journey to becoming bilingual.
In addition, these YouTube Channels can also get you started on this journey.
Swimming
Next on the list is swimming. This is also another physical hobby that can improve both your body and mind. It can be done either in your own backyard pool, a local indoor pool, or the beach.
It will offer you the opportunity to have fun and explore the environment. These experiences, you can share these with your students to make class sessions fun and interesting.
And since it’s a good hobby, it might be a good inspiration for them as well.
To learn how to swim, use online tutorials or visit your local swimming pool and ask for lessons.
Related: Swimming Quotes
Digital Art
As a teacher, you will constantly be dealing with not only text but also visuals of many kinds. With a skill in digital art, you can develop your own clip art to make your class sessions more colorful and engaging.
Definitely, you can operate a computer. Find one that has enough memory and some basic computer graphics so you can use Graphic design software like Adobe Illustrator and Affinity Designer.
To learn more about this skill, check these YouTube Channels.
What’s Next
These hobbies will provide you with the medium to have fun, enjoy new experiences and become a more effective teacher.
Check out our other articles on hobbies to make new friends and secure new connections. In addition, if you are having trouble finding a hobby check the link provided then jump into the 5 Benefits Of Having A Hobby Or Enjoying A Leisure Activity.
References
- https://www.insider.com/guides/health/fitness/benefits-of-lifting-weights
- https://thesource.metro.net/2017/03/20/seven-ways-riding-a-bike-can-improve-your-life/
