- Kara Dennison is an HR expert and the founder of Optimized Career Solutions
- The New Yorker addressed how to combat burnout in a recent TikTok video
- READ MORE: I’m a psychologist and this terrifying thing can cure your burnout
A career coach has opened up about the one change you can make outside of work to help reduce stress and avoid burnout.
Kara Dennison, founder of Optimized Career Solutions, has more than 45,000 followers on TikTok, where she shares tips on resume building, job hunting, and career advancement.
The New Yorker, who uses the handle @karadennisonsphr, kicked off the new year by addressing job burnout, a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion brought on by prolonged stress at work.
Dennison explained that constant tiredness, detachment from your job, and a drop in performance are all signs of burnout, but there is an easy way to combat the occupational phenomenon.
The expert said she ‘highly recommends implementing a hobby or an interest outside of work, something that gives your brain and yourself something to look forward to throughout that week.’
This could be gaming, surfing, knitting, painting, or any other activity that offers a creative escape and reduces stress.
A study published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine found that engaging in leisurely activities can improve your mood, reduce your stress, and lower your heart rate.
Dennison said having hobbies can be particularly beneficial for high-achievers, leaders, and workaholics like herself.
‘Sometimes all you do is think about work, especially if you’re an entrepreneur,’ she explained. ‘All you’re doing is thinking about work… and you can find that it consumes all of your life.’
‘So being able to redivert your attention into something that isn’t work that allows your brain to process in the background is actually going to allow you to be more innovative and creative.’
Another study published in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology suggested that employees who pursue creative hobbies outside of work perform better on the job.
Having leisurely pursuits that you are passionate about may also make you a better leader.
In 2018, Harvard Business Review identified dozens of S&P 500 CEOs who have ‘serious leisure’ interests that they invest time into.
Adena Friedman, CEO of Nasdaq, credited her success to practicing taekwondo in an interview with Fortune.
‘I really believe that taekwondo teaches you self-reliance. If you are looking about how to get better, it’s only on you to improve,’ she said. ‘And I think that self-reliance is an important skill for anyone navigating the corporate world.’
PayPal CEO Dan Schulman also believes that practicing martial arts has made him a better leader, saying it taught him to stay calm in a crisis and avoid unnecessary fights.
‘I’ve learned more about leadership from martial arts than I have from my formal education,’ he shared in his keynote address at Rutgers Business School.
Dennison reiterated in her video’s caption that hobbies are ‘vital for mental health’ and ‘perfect for workaholics and high achievers.’
‘Dive into your favorite pastime and discover how it boosts creativity and problem-solving,’ she advised.
‘When work gets too much, remember hobbies are your strategic ally in staying sharp and avoiding burnout.’
