WEST LAFAYETTE — A Purdue University professor says hobbies may be doing more than helping you wind down after work — they could actually help you excel on the job. Kate Zipay, assistant professor of organizational behavior and human resources at Purdue’s Mitch Daniels School of Business, studies the concept of “leisure-work synergizing.”
Basically, it’s using your free time to build work-related skills.
For example, Zipay (pronounced zi-PAY) says instead of a historical novel, she might read a leadership book. Or take an improvisational class to sharpen classroom or presentation skills.
Zipay’s research shows that people who do this often feel more confident and energized at work — but only if it feels natural, not like extra work.
