“Bringing the workplace home” may lead to exhaustion and workaholism, yet recent studies reveal unexpected advantages for individuals who incorporate a bit of their work into their leisure activities.

Recent findings from University of Georgia William Harry Willson Distinguished Chair and Professor Jessica Rodell indicate that individuals who utilize their free time listening to leadership podcasts or engaging in coffee discussions with a mentor can return to their jobs feeling as rejuvenated as those who completely disconnect. Furthermore, they report increased preparedness and comfort in their work environment.

Rodell, affiliated with UGA’s Terry College of Business Department of Management, along with her coauthor Katie Zipay, a former Terry Ph.D. student and currently an assistant professor of management at Purdue University, shared their insights in Have Your Cake and Eat It Too? Understanding Leisure-Work Synergizing and Its Impact on Employee Thriving. Their research was published in Organization Science in December 2024.

The article Leisure Hacking first appeared on UGA Today.