I tried Denmark No. 1 The secret of happiness for the year – it made me happier and confident

For more than four years I have been a professor of business schools of the University of Emora. Prior to that, I worked in the corporate world in organizations such as Coca-Cola and IBM.

Recently for the work I went to Denmark, one of the happiest countries in the worldTo teach a course called “Happiness”. Being there, I found that many learned before me: hobbies are an integral part Life in Denmark.

From bike to sewing I looked Danes find joy every day By work. When I came back to the US, I thought a hobby could be a response that would help me rest from the brain. Last year I decided to put this theory on the test.

I tried 17 hobbies for one year-pimple, cold immersion, collage, embroidery, golf, homemade riding, jewelry, mahjong, ornamentation, painting, saliner, pottery, rock climbing, sewing.

I left my experiment, stronger, brave and more sure. A year later, I was fundamentally changed. Here’s how:

1

To make a place for my hobby experiment, I had to find the time – what I thought I didn’t have a busy mom. Surprisingly, but everywhere there were pockets of time, especially when I gave up the evening habit of watching TV, half working and sits On the second screen.

If your hands are covered with flour while holding a brush or fixing a rock wall, your phone is just unavailable. I realized that I had more agency and less stress when I put my energy to study new skills rather than tightened to the algorithm on social media.

2. I learned to make a bookmark of my joy in the future

I loved woodworking, but it comes with a great launch price and is not compatible with young children under your feet. So, I list it. Ironically, a friend who heard about my experiment, invited me to his forest, and after a few months I gave another shot.

This time, instead of feeling broken, I realized that for me it is an “impassable” hobby. I can imagine the future where the children are older, we have accumulated the garage tools, and together we are building bookshelves for our dream library.

Try a hobby even if they do not match your current life season. You can book them for later.

3. I realized that the work of one person is stress

As a mother of two young children, one of the most caused questions in my life is “What are we eating?” For me, everything in the kitchen is considered a job.

But when I spent time with Sophie, the eldest in Emora, I found that each of us is stressed from different activities. For her, baking was the farthest that off work. It helped her decomala with the —with being a student.

Indeed, I also thought that baking was methodical and soothing. The activity was quiet in such a way that the preparation of my family dinner was not, and my efforts led to delicious pleasure at the end.

After I thought of hobbies in this light, I realized that Home Diy was a hobby for me, but it was a job for others. If you do something consistently and find in this joy, go forward and call it a hobby!

4. I changed my definition of “self”

5. I felt less lonely

America faces with Epidemic of loneliness. But I will tell you who is not alone: ​​the fans I met through my experiment.

When I was invited to try the riding riding, I saw how tight the barn community was being tightly. I was amazed, people of all ages were united by their love for horses. When I spent time with stones, I heard them change information about the route so that other climbers could be successful.

Each group of fans has a community and they are actively Formation of relationships and identity on the boundaries of work. There are about 20 moms in my tennis team. We have something like 53 children under the age of 13 between us.

Being with your teammates is always a reminder that I have time to engage in my hobbies.

6. I stopped afraid of small conversations

Login to Hobbies – This is the secret No. 1 to happiness and equilibrium

I hear too often from their former students what they are experiencing burnout. They tell me that as soon as they find a balance at work, they will join the hobby.

Unfortunately, the balance doesn’t work like that. This is not a brilliant pebble that you will find on the way to work. If you want a balance, a secret – get a hobby. Of course, you will be forced to define your boundaries: as a worker, as a father and as an individual.

My experiment is over, but the hobby is still an integral part of my life. I’m in a tennis team, I have a standing game Majjong, and I study golf with my children.

The other day, while lying in bed, my 7-year-old guy addressed me and said, “I have so many hobbies.” It was then that I, without a doubt, I knew I modeling something very correct.

Marina Bullets is an associate professor in the practice of marketing in the business school Goizueta Emory and P&D 40 to the 40 best MBA professors. She is the author of “Sumtack”Professor by service. “To get more of your ideas about the balance of work/life, find the marina in Instagram @Marinacooley.

Are you ready to buy a house? Take smarter than CNBC Make a new Internet Course How to buy your first house. Expert teachers will help you weigh the cost of the rental against the purchase, financial training and confidently imitate each step of the process – from the mortgage to the closing of the transaction. Sign up today And use the bird starting coupon for an introductory discount of a 30% discount of $ 97 (+taxes and fees) by July 15, 2025.

I spent $ 41,000 to repair the rental apartment in Italy



Source link