Your Life Outside the Flight Deck: Building an Identity Beyond Aviation

When you’re working towards a career in aviation, it can be easy for it to become your entire world. There is always something to study, a new skill to learn, an exam to prepare for, a licence to achieve or the next career milestone to work towards.

But what happens when you step away from the flight deck, the classroom or the airport?

Having interests outside aviation is more important than we sometimes realise. Not everything we do needs to contribute to our career, improve our CV or have a measurable outcome. Sometimes, it’s enough to simply enjoy something.

Find something that doesn't need to be perfect

One of the best ways to switch off is to try something where there is no pressure to be good at it.

Take up a pottery class. Learn to paint. Start running. Try photography, dancing, baking, gardening or learning a new language. Pick up an instrument you’ve always wanted to play, or join a book club or local sports group.

The important thing is that you don't need to be naturally talented at it.

In aviation, we're often focused on performance. We train, practise, get assessed and receive feedback. Outside of work, it's refreshing to have something where you can simply be a beginner.

You don't need to get a grade. You don't need to pass an exam. You don't even need to be particularly good.

You can just enjoy learning something new.

Give yourself permission to switch off

There is a tendency to think that our free time should be productive. If we're not studying, exercising, networking or working towards our next goal, we can feel as though we're wasting time.

But switching off isn't wasting time.

Doing something that doesn't "matter" on paper can be exactly what your mind needs. Hobbies give us the opportunity to focus on something completely different, creating a mental break from work and everyday responsibilities.

Sometimes, the most valuable activity of your day might be the one that has absolutely nothing to do with your career.

Build an identity beyond your career

Your job can be a huge part of who you are, particularly when you've worked incredibly hard to achieve it. But it doesn't have to be the whole picture.

You can be a pilot who loves photography. A cabin crew member who plays football every weekend. An engineer who paints. A student who loves cooking. An aviation enthusiast who also knows nothing about aircraft when they're off duty!

Our interests, friendships, passions and experiences outside work all contribute to who we are.

And having a life outside aviation doesn't make you less ambitious. If anything, it can give you a healthier relationship with your career.

Not sure where to start?

Think back to the things you've always wanted to try but never had the time for. Look at what's available locally, join a beginner's class or ask a friend to try something with you.

And don't worry if you don't love the first thing you try. Finding a hobby is a process. Try something, decide it's not for you, and try something else.

The goal isn't to find another thing to be good at.

It's to find something that makes you feel you.