Latest news with #hobbies
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
4 Ways To Maximize Summer Slowdown For Career Growth
It's that time of the year again: the sun's out, everyone's in vacation mode, and workloads seem a bit lighter. It is then natural for businesses and even employees to see the summer slowdown as a disadvantage. In fact, a survey by Dayforce showed that 41% of employees feel less productive during summer, and 35% of them end up slacking off while their boss is on vacation. But slower days don't mean lost opportunities. By spending the summer days more wisely, you can keep your momentum and stay productive. Here are four ways you can maximize the summer slowdown to help advance your career. While visibility is everything in your career, knowing when to take a pause matters just as much. If everyone is taking a break, your boss included, it doesn't hurt to take one, too. Give yourself some time to read that book you've been curious about, check out a newly opened café, go museum hopping, or take a weekend trip to the beach. You can also find a new hobby, slow down, or simply do nothing. A quick rest isn't a waste of time; it's an investment in yourself and your career. You'll go back reenergized with a clearer mind and a renewed sense of purpose. Of course, you can't just spend the whole summer on break. While others are still enjoying their revenge vacation, make the most of this quieter period by doing a mid-year self-audit. Take time to reflect on the goals you set at the beginning of the year and see where you stand now. What have you ticked off so far? What strategies worked, and which areas need more work? For example, if you wanted to focus on handling challenging clients better, have you tried developing your communication skills? Did you learn how to negotiate and manage expectations more clearly? Perhaps you took online courses, read about conflict resolution, or sought help from your superiors and colleagues. Recall that time you successfully dealt with a major client while applying what you learned. Celebrate your progress, and assess what goals or practices you want to change or continue. This way, you can achieve more things in the second half of the year. Lull days during summer mean more opportunities to get ahead and grow professionally. Take advantage of free online courses, attend webinars and workshops, or enroll in a summer class at a local community college. You can also find volunteer opportunities to develop new skills while trying to give back. Depending on your priorities for the rest of the year or your long-term goals, you can explore different skills that fill in the gaps. For example, if you're a creative, try learning coding, data analysis, or leveraging AI tools. If you're in a more technical field, practice writing, public speaking, or basic marketing. If you're aiming for a leadership role, focus on your problem-solving, communication, mentoring, and time-management skills. The goal is to continue reinventing yourself and be equipped with the skills necessary to move forward in your career. This doesn't mean you have to hunt actively. But it helps to keep an eye out for opportunities available, whether internal or external. Doing so lets you assess what you want next in your career. Are you satisfied with your pace right now? Do you see yourself growing? Or is it time to explore a new path? According to Indeed's 2025 US Jobs and Hiring Trends Report, job postings started to stabilize over the summer of 2024. So while the season may feel quieter, the job market is not completely cold. It then pays to stay well-informed and be ready to act when the right opportunities come. Summer is both an exciting time to rest a bit and a challenge to be strategic for your career growth. While it's tempting to become more complacent, the key is to strike the right balance between relaxation and self-improvement. Take your much-needed break, but make room for some mid-year review of yourself, acquire new skills, and stay aware of different opportunities out there. A slowdown can lead to your breakthrough, so keep going!
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Miss Manners: When ‘you make me sick' is meant as a compliment
Dear Miss Manners: I have skills and interests that are rather unusual in modern times. I enjoy these hobbies immensely, though I make a point of not bringing them up with new acquaintances, since they are not likely to make a two-way conversation flow. When I meet a friend of a friend, however, my interests are invariably a part of the introduction, usually followed by a comment like, 'She's so good at everything, it makes me sick!'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
20-Somethings Are Taking Up Grandma's Favorite Hobbies
In an effort to downshift and disconnect, young adults are going to old-timey extremes; knitting circles and scrapbooking
Wall Street Journal
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Wall Street Journal
20-Somethings Are Taking Up Grandma's Favorite Hobbies
Young Americans are skipping middle age entirely. Twenty- and 30-somethings are exchanging their doomscrolling for needlepoint, journaling and other hobbies that require more than just thumbs or a thumbs-up.
Health Line
12-06-2025
- Health
- Health Line
How to Preserve Your Sense of Self in a Relationship
If you are in a relationship, you may find that your sense of self is not as strong as it may have been when you were single. Here are four actions you can take to improve your sense of self. Your sense of self is your perception of the collection of characteristics that define you. If you are in a relationship, especially a long-term relationship, you may feel that you have lost some of your own identity. While this is natural and OK, there are a few things you can do to preserve or rebuild your sense of self. Maintain separate hobbies It's important to continue engaging in the hobbies and activities you like—or even pick up new ones that interest you—even if your partner does not like them. Moreover, hobbies can be beneficial for your overall health. A 2023 study of over 90,000 older adults found that those who engaged in hobbies experienced: fewer depressive symptoms increased levels of self-reported health higher levels of happiness greater life satisfaction If your personal health and happiness improve, it can also benefit your relationship. Doing what you love is also important for feeling a personal sense of fulfillment and contentment, and you should not give it up completely. Hobbies you can start (or pick up again!) If you are looking for something new to invest time into, you may consider some of the following: journaling or scrapbooking crocheting reading yoga or meditation walking or running creative writing painting or sketching cooking volunteering See your friends It can be easy to spend all of your time with your partner, especially if you live together. While spending time with each other is important, it is also equally important to maintain the other relationships in your life. A 2018 study found that strong friendships can help you cope with stress more effectively and decrease your risk of encountering stress in the first place. Another 2023 study found that friendships may improve your overall well-being and offer emotional security. Friendships can offer things that your relationship may lack. For example, your friends may enjoy doing different activities or talking about different topics with you than your partner. Overall, friendship is a different and needed kind of bond that is important to have in your life. Carve out your own spaces If feasible, having space to yourself in your living area can be beneficial. This area can be as large as an office or hobby room, or simply a designated chair in the corner of the living room that is viewed as your space. The idea is that when you are in this space, you can have time to yourself. It is ultimately your call on how much contact you want from your partner in this space—you may allow them to pop in if they knock, or tell them not to disturb you unless there is an emergency. Whether it is not feasible to have your own space in your home or you just want additional space for yourself, you can also carve out your own spaces outside of your home. This can mean going to cafes, stores, parks, or libraries by yourself. Communicate The key to all of the above recommendations is to communicate clearly with your partner. Be transparent about what you are thinking and feeling, and clear about what you need from them. The same should go for them. Establishing boundaries can be difficult at first if you have not established any boundaries with them previously. However, letting them know exactly what it is that you want can help them see your point of view and help you reach that goal. Your partner may also be able to offer insight into your own sense of self. They know you well, and they can share their perspective about what makes you, you.
