As a doctor, your job is one of the tougher options among many professions, as you deal with sick, injured or dying patients. Doctors often take the brunt of the stress as they’re responsible for heading an entire team of medical professionals, providing the best possible outcomes for patients in potentially precarious situations. That’s why, as a doctor, it’s all the more important to keep yourself active and entertained in your freetime by participating in a worthwhile hobby. There are many benefits to maintaining an active interest in hobbies outside of work, from your emotional state to physical improvements to social support and so much more.
If you’re trying to raise aspects of your personal and professional life, a hobby might be exactly what you need. Here are a few options that may work for you as a doctor.
Hit The Open Sea
Boating, sailing, yachting, jet skiing – regardless of the vessel you choose, hit the open water on the weekends to unwind from your day job in sea-faring fashion. Whether you’re just cruising, island hopping or fishing, you’ll feel an escape into nature and a sense of adventure that makes for a great way to let go of professional stress.
Writing
At work, you spend most of your time jotting notes down regarding patient summaries, laboratory results, physician notes and other details of the job. Writing in your free time may make you hesitant since you already do so much day in and day out. But, there’s proof that there are benefits to this extracurricular hobby. Whether writing fan fiction or technical manuals, there’s no wrong way to go about participating in such an intellectually stimulating activity.
Meditation
Practicing mindfulness through the art of meditation can provide huge advantages for physicians of all types. It’s easy and free to do, and you can meditate wherever. Simply sit somewhere quiet, set a timer and focus on your breathing for several minutes. Allow your mind to wander and explore any thoughts that may be causing distractions at work or at home. It’s been shown that meditation gives you a sense of calm, increases inner peace, and creates a better emotional outlook.
6) Artistic Endeavors
Artistic practices have been shown to reduce the levels of cortisol in your brain, leading to a more relaxed state of mind. Drawing for just 45 minutes, for example, has been shown to reduce the negative effects of stress on the heart and digestive system. Other endeavors like learning an instrument can help with eye-hand coordination and fine motor skills, and lead to an increased happiness; all things that can certainly benefit any top-level physician or surgeon.
7) Golfing
Golfing may be one of the top doctor hobbies in the U.S., because it’s a great way to boost your mood while fighting depression, which is becoming more common among physicians. Getting out in the fresh air, moving your body and spending time with friends or colleagues releases endorphins while giving you an outlet to fulfill any sort of competitive drive you may have. Fun fact, the best golfers within the medical field were vascular, thoracic and orthopedic surgeons, beating out the next closest physician’s handicap – dermatologist – by a 15 percent margin.
8) Traveling The World
As a doctor, you likely have the means to travel to far-off destinations in order to unwind from your taxing work. Several studies highlight the importance of vacations and downtime as an essential component of reducing stress. Find new corners of the world and develop compassion for different cultures – many of these worldly experiences will reflect within the work you perform back at your office.
9) Get Extreme
If you have an interest in the more extreme side of life, there’s evidence that higher-risk sports release more of the pleasure-causing chemical dopamine in your brain. From water skiing to motocross to mountain biking or roller derby, there are a ton of fun physical activities that skew toward the dangerous. While you know your risks as a doctor, they may be outweighed by the benefits of letting go completely and immersing yourself in the present activity.
10) Learning To Fly
The perfect hobby for doctors is learning how to fly. Many top-earners decide to learn how to fly because it’s an activity that challenges your mental and physical abilities. At the same time, being a pilot gives you the freedom of traveling when, where and how you want. A private pilot’s license is a fairly simple process to complete – particularly for someone who’s used to undergoing years of training or schooling already. Fortunately, a pilot license can be attained in as little as a few weeks. Soon enough, you’ll be able to vacation on a whim, bringing family and friends along for the ride.
Do you want to try an adventurous hobby? Learn to fly at Inflight Pilot Training!
Learning to fly provides a number of benefits as a hobby, including the ability to explore the world, development of a unique skill set and a huge sense of accomplishment once you complete training. Plus, it’s a great investment in yourself and smart way to spend your money.
Get in touch with Inflight Pilot Training today to take-off in a new hobby. With a reputable team of highly qualified certified flight instructors, and proven programs designed around your learning