From the minute we start school, we are open to so many different ‘clubs’ and ‘after school classes’, ranging from sports to spelling. These clubs and classes spark interests, which become hobbies!
These can turn out to be only short term, or lifelong hobbies, and they are a brilliant way to take your mind off things, meet new people, and learn a new skill.
Having some form of hobby is essential for our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. They help you to unwind and relax after a long day, whilst also providing us with a sense of purpose and accomplishment.
With this being said, having a hobby outside of your apprenticeship is a great way to take your mind off of things for a couple hours and relax your brain, which is very important when you’re studying and working at the same time!
Doing an apprenticeship can be hard work – not only is it a full-time job, but you are also learning a new skill, as well as a qualification. Therefore, having a hobby is a great way to relax from the stress of workload, and university / college work.
Engaging in a hobby can also boost creativity, improve our cognitive abilities, and enhance problem solving which can all be used in day-to-day life – especially within your apprenticeship.
Hobbies are also a great team bonding task and can help build confidence and gain the ability in speaking / meeting new people.
In my personal experience, I grew up dancing in competitions all over Sussex, but sadly stopped this when I was 18. Saying this, I met so many amazing people travelling around Sussex for these competitions and gained so much confidence in speaking to different people and those older than me, that helped me so much when I started my apprenticeship.
As I was not dancing when I started my apprenticeship, the hobby I had that took my mind off work / college work was my graphic design business, where I had full creative control on design work for clients. I used to spend hours after work creating these designs, that my hobby became a little side hustle!
Fast forward 6 years, I have now completed my apprenticeship, and have started back at a dance class where I have met so many lovely people. Joining this dance class as an adult was such a huge change, but it made me realise how important it is to have an active hobby, instead of doing nothing sitting down all day, as I felt amazing after moving!
Going back to a dance class with no one I knew helped me build my confidence up more when it came to leaving my first job, and moving on with my career. I had to meet a whole new group of people and clients which felt like a breeze!
To this day I still go to my dance class, and there are new people who join each week!
