NCJ Number
229176
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 36 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2009 Pages: 46,48,53
Date Published
October 2009
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article promotes police officers' pursuit of hobbies in their off-duty hours as a way of reducing stress, enjoying refreshing activities with family members, and perhaps developing an income-producing pursuit after retirement.
Abstract
The theme of the article is that the development of satisfying, challenging, and interesting hobbies outside of police work is important if not essential to the mental health of a police officer. Some examples of hobbies that officers have pursued include baking cookies and holding baking classes for other officers, glass blowing, making and flying kites with one's children, and making custom memorial wreaths for the families of officers and veterans who have died. If possible, family should be included in hobby activities. This involves not only the therapeutic effect of a refreshing activity but also the therapeutic effect of sharing time and interesting activities with family members. Some of the hobbies developed in off-duty hours lend themselves to becoming a business after retirement, or at the very least providing a challenging and enjoyable pursuit to relieve the boredom and restlessness many officers experience in retirement.