Beyond the title

"Just as there are two sides to every story, there are two sides to every person. One that we reveal to the world and another we keep hidden inside." Emily Thorne

 Nurses, whether practicing or not are endlessly fascinating individuals. We’re a diverse tapestry of creativity, drive, and dreams that society rarely gets to see. All too often, we’re boxed into one narrow identity: “the nurse” but that’s only a slice of who we are.

When we take on non-clinical roles bakers, writers, cat enthusiasts—they assume we’ve “left nursing” forever. That notion couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, we carry skills and values from our profession into our lives, but they don’t define the entirety of who we are. I am a nurse, yes but I’m also an awesome baker, I am also a writer and  I’m obsessed with cats. I’ve built a life around these passions and stories that deserve unpacking ( possibly at a different time  and forum). I bring richness to the table when we step outside rigid boxes and so do my colleagues and so if you're a nurse scared to explore what else you're good at  do not be because you’ll be amazed how much of your spark you’ll find again in this process.

Why Hobbies Matter for Nurses

Engaging in activities beyond work isn’t indulgent it’s essential.

Research shows that leisure activities reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and job burnout (Chang et al., 2007; Iwasaki, 2006; Chiu et al., 2020). In one study involving 176 nurses, a simple hospital-based leisure program led to improved well-being across five domains: detachment, mastery, autonomy, meaning, and social connection (Chen et al., 2022). Similarly, a large meta-analysis of over 93,000 adults found that engaging in hobbies was associated with significantly greater health, happiness, and life satisfaction, regardless of employment status or health background (Mak et al., 2023).

Intrinsic joy and fulfillment comes from having something just for you something that isn’t measured by clinical outcomes or patient satisfaction surveys.

Even nurses in the trenches find ways to keep their passions alive:

“I crochet… keeps me relaxed… clear my mind from things that aren’t work.” (Reddit user, as cited in Chang et al., 2007)
“I bake sourdough bread… maintaining the culture feeds my science‑y side.” (Reddit user, as cited in Iwasaki, 2006)

Hobbies aren’t distractions they’re lifelines.

How to Reclaim Your Identity (and Your Spark)

1. Start small – Ten minutes of baking, writing, knitting, or pet care can reset your emotional state (Mak et al., 2023).

2. Schedule it – Treat your hobby as an appointment, not an afterthought.

3. Seek mastery – Hobbies build confidence and activate your brain’s reward system (Chiu et al., 2020).

4. Share with peers – Whether crocheting in the staff room or sharing cupcakes, hobbies help reduce emotional exhaustion and foster connection (Chen et al., 2022).

A Call to Rediscover Yourself

Nursing isn’t your whole story, it’s the chapter you write, not the headline on your book cover. Stepping into the other parts of yourself isn’t betrayal. It’s liberation. So if you’re boxed in by expectations dare to break out. Bake. Write. Dance. Skate. Code. Serenade your plants if you want to (I won’t judge—my cats  and I do it). That spark you’ve dimmed? Watch it glow again because when nurses bring the full spectrum of who we are compassion and curiosity, limits and limitless selves then both we and those we care for shine brighter.

References

Chen, S., He, X., Xu, Y., Li, L., He, L., & Zhang, Y. (2022). Effects of a hospital-based leisure activities programme on nurses’ stress, burnout and well-being: A mixed-method study. Journal of Nursing Management, 30(3), 685–693. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13571

Chang, P. J., Wray, L., & Lin, Y. (2007). Social relationships, leisure activity, and health in older adults. Health Psychology, 26(4), 378–385. https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.26.4.378

Chiu, M., Lin, C., Wang, W., & Fang, C. (2020). The effects of leisure activities on mental health and life satisfaction among older adults. Aging & Mental Health, 24(8), 1260–1268. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2019.1590307

Iwasaki, Y. (2006). Leisure and quality of life in an international and multicultural context: What are major pathways linking leisure to quality of life? Social Indicators Research, 82(2), 233–264. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-006-9032-z

Mak, H. W., Fancourt, D., & Burton, A. (2023). Engagement in leisure activities and wellbeing across different age groups: A large-scale analysis in over 93,000 adults. Nature Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-023-02345-9

Remember "Your nurse skillset is powerful but who you are beyond the shift is your superpower.