The demanding nature of flight attendant work combined with frequent time away from home can contribute to feelings of stagnation if personal interests and growth are neglected. However, nurturing passions outside of the job is key to sustaining life satisfaction, reducing stress, and avoiding burnout long-term (Ludwig et al., 2019). Pursuing hobbies and continuous learning keeps the spark alive both professionally and personally.
Travel for pleasure. Turn occasional trips into mini-vacations by exploring new destinations beyond the airport. Unpack the tourist hat to immerse in local culture, history and natural beauty whenever schedules allow. Personal travel rekindles the initial travel bug that drew many to this career (Pearce, 2005).
Learn a language. Download language learning apps or books to make progress on the go. Review lessons during down time like flights or layovers. Being multilingual strengthens career options and cultural understanding over retirement years (Yang et al., 2018). Even beginners' skills impress locals abroad.
Volunteer. Look up opportunities through global organizations like Habitat for Humanity involving a few days of service locally or abroad. Giving back through short-term volunteer stints between trips provides purposeful adventures and feels personally fulfilling (Einolf, 2018).
Take online courses. Signature flight benefits open doors to endless informal education. Whether topics relate to future careers, general interest or personal growth, online courses challenge the mind and keep learning excitement alive despite irregular schedules (Cao et al., 2019).
Photography. Bring a camera to capture everyday scenes noticed through a traveler's eye. Learning photography techniques provides creative expression and the ability to visually document each new destination explored. Sharing polished photos on social media platforms also maintains connections with others (Sweet, 2018).
Read voraciously. Download books on any topic of interest to devour pages between destination changes. Audiobooks listened to during layovers also fuel curiosity. A passion for continuous learning and self-improvement maintains inspiration and zest for living despite time spent in transit (Ludwig et al., 2019).
By proactively sustaining passions outside work requirements, male flight attendants can reap mental, physical and emotional benefits to balance career demands. Nurturing interests keeps a sense of purpose, challenge and adventure alive that first attracted to the industry. Personal growth catalyzed through hobbies and continuous learning also lends greater well-being and longevity.
References
Cao, X., Yu, L., Liu, J., & Gong, Y. (2019). How does self-control influence academic procrastination? The mediating roles of learning self-efficacy and Task value. Educational Psychology, 39(3), 310-324. https://doi.org/10.1080/01443410.2018.1543855
Einolf, C. J. (2018). Will the Boomers volunteer during retirement? Comparing the Baby Boom, Silent, and Long Civic Cohorts. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 47(2), 299-320. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0899764017750823
Ludwig, F., Flemming, D., Luz, A., Pires, G., & Arantes, E. (2019). Burnout, physical activity and self-efficacy among physical education teachers. Motricidade, 15(1), 138-145. https://doi.org/10.6063/motricidade.14034
Pearce, P. L. (2005). Tourist behavior: Themes and conceptual schemes. Channel View Publications.
Sweet, M. J. (2018). Sharing photographs online: The intentions and practices of amateur photographers on Flickr. Information, Communication & Society, 21(2), 187-202. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2016.1254679
Yang, Y., Li, L., Hubbard, C., & Xi, J. (2018). Unpacking learners' motivation, engagement and intention to continue learning a less commonly taught language: A survey study of Chinese learners of Arabic. System, 77, 51-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2018.08.001
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