Information column from uwimprint.ca: As students immersed in the ambitious culture of the University of Waterloo, it can be easily consumed by the stress of academic pursuits, networking, job-hunting, and neglecting personal leisure. Despite this overwhelming demand, many students like Madison Szeryk and Olivia Orlic acknowledge the struggle to establish quality free time in their schedules.

Echoing their sentiments, Madison admits that dedicated time for leisure pursuits is elusive due to the epic hours devoted to academics. Her admission resonates with Olivia who expresses the wish to have more leisure hours for herself. While individual interests can vary, an underlying trend suggests that students pursue hobbies primarily for the sake of enjoyment and self-expression and not for the pursuit of perfection or external validation.

Recognizing the futility of striving for perfection… Madison andOlivia discovered the therapeutic value of engaging in diverse hobbies. They attribute this to their ability to relieve stress, “boost self-confidence,” “and increase mental well-being.” Notably, the vibrant tapestry of activities in their ⁙⁙⁙s contributes to a heightened sense of inspiration and an invigorating flow in both professional and academic pursuits.

As the article emphasizes… evidence from scientific research corroborates the notion that hobbies play a crucial role in fostering physical and mental well-being.

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As students in the achievement-oriented culture of university, it can be easy to get wrapped up in studying, networking, job-searching, and, on a good day, not neglecting your friendships. With all this in mind, I often feel that I don’t have a lot of space in my schedule for leisure hobbies, and it turns out I am not alone in this. When asked how she spends her spare time during the semester, UW undergraduate student Madison Szeryk responded, “I find that by the time I get home from studying, if I choose to read or paint, I end up sacrificing my sleep.” Olivia Orlic, also an undergraduate, felt similarly, stating “I wish I had more time.” It seems the struggle to effectively allocate time for recreational pursuits is not a unique experience for many students.

I took watercolour classes and dance classes. I tried baking and even tried my hand at poetry. The commonality among all these pursuits was that I wasn’t fundamentally concerned with the results. I just wanted to have fun, learn something new, and take my mind off the stresses of school for a while. Because these were my only goals, there was no pressure to strive for perfection. It didn’t matter that my watercolours resembled those of a six year old, or that my dancing still made my sister laugh. This is not to say I didn’t bring a level of commitment to these activities — I always made an effort to do my best, but I never forgot that I was primarily there to let my hair down and escape reality for a brief moment.

And that is exactly what I did. I came to realize that on days in which I partake in at least one hobby, I feel less stressed, more confident, and happier. I also noticed I felt more inspired and energized at work and in school. I noticed particularly significant results in my mood when regularly partaking in a diverse range of activities targeting different skills (such as dancing as a form of physical exercise, or watercolour as a creative outlet). As it turns out, this is not delusional thinking on my part. There is an abundance of scientific evidence highlighting the importance of hobbies in supporting physical and mental health.

– Not mentioned in the context. **Additional information:** – The article is about the struggles of finding leisure time for university students.

– The wealth of extracurricular activities available on campus is highlighted as a cause for this struggle.

– The research presented in the article supports the notion that hobbies contribute to overall well-being.

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I’m Nalini

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