Finding a job is all about the money, right? If you receive two job offers, one that pays you ₹50,000 a month, and another that pays ₹60,000 a month, you’re most likely to take the latter. Well, it turns out, not really! Generation Z will account for 27 per cent of the workforce by 2025 and this adage doesn’t hold good anymore for them. Of course, salary is still the key driving factor for every generation, but it turns out they value money lesser than the generations before them. Instead, they want jobs that promote work-life balance, skill development, inspiration, diversity and inclusion, and most importantly – the promise of good health. Careers that promote good health are on the rise and in demand. Along with this, conventional careers and workplaces are also focussing on the health and wellness of employees instead of just salaries and bonuses. If women want to pursue a career for good health, what are some of the careers they should focus on?
Yoga Or Fitness Instructor
Being a fitness instructor has more than one benefit; it is extremely lucrative. As per Burnlab.co, the total revenue from the health and fitness industry in India is expected to have a CAGR of 6.14 per cent from 2022 to 2026, or an estimated market value of USD 59.17 million. “Although the general consensus is that men make for better, stronger and tougher trainers than women, this isn’t always true,” says Yagna Srihari, personal coach and nutritionist. “Yoga, Zumba and Pilates are areas where women instructors demonstrate greater flexibility and mastery and are more sought-after as instructors. Also, more women are into strength training now than ever before and actively seek out women coaches and personal trainers who can relate to and understand their body’s unique needs. Make sure you are properly trained and certified before you offer services – this adds to your credibility. Needless to say, we are able to keep fit and abreast of knowledge and accreditations alongside, which allows us to gain perspective of our own health and wellness needs. A job in fitness can be extremely satisfying and is no longer looked down upon. You also have the option to become an entrepreneur and your own boss, determining your hours of work, timings and the kind of training you want to offer.”
Botany & Agriculture
Sons of the soil may have plenty to offer, but women do much more at the grassroots level. The agricultural sector in India employs 85 per cent of rural women in some way or the other, but they don’t get the due they so rightfully deserve. Being in managerial or supervisory positions can help change that. Women and botany have always had an affinity with one another, right from Queen Charlotte in the early 1800s to India’s pioneering botanist Janaki Ammal. Historically, it has been one of the more attainable STEM fields for women, and now we know the benefits of being surrounded by plants. Being around plants and fields is great for mental and emotional well-being. It boosts the mood, generates happiness, reduces stress and improves concentration. In addition, activities like gardening, being a florist and agriculture also offer scope for movement and exercise. In fact, there’s a reason that gardening has therapeutic properties! Indirect benefits of pursuing botany and agriculture include exposure to Vitamin D, environmental consciousness, accelerated healing and pleasing visual stimulation. Natural surroundings also enhance energy levels, performance and improve relationships.
Marine Scientist
Yet another STEM field that promotes health and wellness is marine biology. This combines a love for science with a passion for nature and the outdoors. You will have to study maths and biology – there’s no escaping that; but you can also be a certified scuba diver, pursue marine eco-tourism, advocate for marine conservation and animal welfare, conduct community outreach programmes, dabble aquaculture, or work for not-for-profit establishments. The list is endless. Working in the close confines of an ocean environment has proven health benefits such as better sleep, calmness and better mental health. There is also job satisfaction from having made a significant impact on the environment. And we’re not even considering the physical benefits that go with activities surrounding the ocean. What’s more, women have made strides in the marine sciences more than other STEM fields. There is a smaller gender gap with 38 per cent of marine scientists being women. As early as 1983, oceanographer Dr Aditi Pant became the first Indian woman to visit Antarctica to study its oceanography. Being a marine biologist also helps you feel fulfilled and maximise your potential. You learn to use cutting-edge technology, have opportunities to travel and leave your comfort zone, can help frame policy decisions and also give you exposure to diverse work environments.
Artist & Artiste
An artiste is quite different from an artist. The former is in the field of performing arts, while the latter paints, sculpts or creates a work of art. “Art and the performing arts have both got self-care benefits,” says art therapist and counsellor Patrick Rajan. “In fact, the concept of art therapy has been around as long as the 1940s. It can enhance the quality of life and even keep Parkinson’s and dementia at bay. For those who practice art as a profession – whether it is dancing, playing an instrument, writing or sculpting – it can double up as a tool for self-expression, self-esteem and healing. Even photography and needlework are good examples of professions that promote these traits. When you are an artiste/artiste, it also activates the reward centre of your brain, making the experience and outcome more pleasurable than in lesser creative fields.”
Along with these careers, it is possible to practice good health no matter what profession you choose to get into. Climb the stairs, take frequent places, look for an employer who also provides health insurance, work-life balance and nutritious cafeteria food. Choosing both jobs and careers that focus on your health, will help optimise your own potential and quality of life!