Fun Things You Can Do Towards Your Career

Most of you have probably finished or are close to finishing all your final exams and papers. Although some may want to use the break to catch up on work or get ahead with readings for the new semester, it is important to have some fun. If you are having fun, your brain has time to refresh and allow for creative ideas to come into your work. Here are some fun things that you can do over the break to help you relax, but also to benefit your career.

Go for coffee

For the past few weeks, you might have been lacking social interaction because of all the studying you’ve been doing. Reward yourself and socialize by going out for coffee with someone. A challenge for you is to invite someone you haven’t spoken to in a while or someone who has an interesting job that you would like to learn more about. You can invite someone you already know, or you could use this coffee break to reach out to someone new and expand your network.

Read  

Reading might be the last thing on your mind, especially after doing so many textbook readings and researching. However, you can read for fun to keep up with current events and trending topics. Some online resources that I subscribe to are: Macleans, Global, CTV, Vancity Buzz, Mashable, Slate, and The Daily Muse. These sources are great for local, provincial, national, and international news and topics; The Daily Muse specifically focuses on career advice. If you would like to subscribe to these updates, you can use Feedly (similar to RSS feed) and while you’re at it, subscribe to the SFU’s Our Learning Community (OLC). The OLC is a website that has student-oriented blogs about volunteering, career, and co-op. If you enjoy writing, you can even apply to be a contributor of the OLC. For example, a student has written about her experience doing co-op in Australia. Aside from keeping up to date, you can browse your dream company’s website and read their blog (if they have one). If you prefer reading print material, Forbes has a list of the best career-boosting books in 2013.

Exercise

Exercising may not always seem fun, but it can be if you pair it with an activity that you enjoy. If you enjoy music and movement, try taking a dance or yoga class. If you love watching TV, it’s also something you can do while on the stationary bike or elliptical. Go to the gym with a friend or try an outdoor activity to pair it with other aspects of your life that you enjoy.

Studies show that exercising increases your productivity and energy, improves your mental health, and reduces depression and anxiety. If you’ve been addicted to caffeine and sugar during for finals, use this break to exercise and try to get a different habit in place for next semester. Exercising for as little as 20 minutes can instantly boost your mood, energize you, and can help you manage your stress so that you are able to focus. 

Social media

Do you spend your free time on Facebook or Twitter to stay updated with your friends and family? Why don’t you try using social media to develop a professional online presence? Spend some time going through your Facebook profile to ensure that you are reflected in a professional manner. You can also use your Twitter account to subscribe to the news updates of the various companies that were mentioned in the ‘Read’ section of this article. Further strengthen your online presence on Twitter by participating in our Twitter chats, which cover various career-related topics. The last step to developing a professional online presence is creating and maintaining a LinkedIn profile. This social network platform is fairly new, but it allows professionals to create an account and display their resume online, network, conduct job searches, research alumni and companies, and read career-related articles.

Play with your smartphone

In a technological world, most people do not leave the house without their smartphone and are then attached to it for the entire day. If you are one of these people, take some time away from responding to text messages and emails and try having fun exploring the applications on your phone. Apps like the alarm clock, calendar and to do-list can help you keep track of your daily tasks in an organized manner. Undercover Recruiter has a list of 20 career-enhancing iPhone apps that are worth checking out.

Remember, having fun is important. It can help you expand your network, stay updated within your industry, increase your productivity, develop a professional online presence, and can help you stay organized.  Have a great break!

Beyond the Article

• How to Succeed and Have Fun on the Job
• Why You Need to Have Fun to be Successful

Photo credit: opacity from flickr