Prof Off Duty | Marina Cooley | Substack

hobby

How to Ruin a Hobby in 10 Simple Ways

A masterclass in overthinking, optimizing, and accidentally destroying the things you love

May 6 • Marina Cooley

Is bad WiFi going to keep him from Olympic Gold?

From Olympians to mere mortals: Choosing the right hobby to offset stress

Feb 19 • Marina Cooley

Happiness Blueprint #5

Designing a joyful, analog life—one hobby at a time

Jan 28 • Marina Cooley

In a world that profits from our distraction, hobbies are the ultimate act of rebellion

Going “Off Duty” made 2025 my most successful year ever

Dec 17, 2025 • Marina Cooley

life

26 Things I Want My 2026 Graduating Students to Know

About work, love, money, friendship, and building a meaningful life

May 13 • Marina Cooley

When Everything Sounds Fun, But You Can’t Do It All

7 things I got asked and the thought process behind each yes/no

Apr 22 • Marina Cooley

17 "Self-Care" Rituals That Aren't Worth My Time or Money

Because the best self-care I’ve found is having a hobby

Mar 11 • Marina Cooley

Office Hours #2

Dividing childcare, keeping hobbies from becoming work, why being a beginner feels awful, time management, and low-maintenance hair

Feb 11 • Marina Cooley

Happiness Blueprint #2: Home Systems & Budget

A masterclass on home systems & budget to reduce mental load

Jan 7 • Marina Cooley

Happiness Blueprint #1: Goal Setting

A masterclass on building a values-driven life

Jan 1 • Marina Cooley

11 Things I’m Shockingly Bad At

In case you thought this 42-year-old professor had it together

Dec 10, 2025 • Marina Cooley

17 things I'm saying yes to this holiday season

plus a culled down list of real sales

Nov 19, 2025 • Marina Cooley

workhorsesonly

Summer Staple Workhorses in the Wild

Workhorses Only, Edition #64

Jun 13 • Marina Cooley

Father's Day Gift Guide

Curated by my husband, so we aren't guessing.

Jun 8 • Marina Cooley

24 Summer Staples Every Closet Depends On

Workhorses Only, Edition #63

Jun 6 • Marina Cooley

May Dean's List: bestsellers, most worn, and things that make travel smoother

Workhorses Only, Edition #62

May 30 • Marina Cooley

A Curated List of Every Workhorse Now on Sale

Workhorses Only, Edition #61

May 23 • Marina Cooley

What Our Gingham Obsession Says About Culture Right Now

Workhorses Only, Edition #60

May 16 • Marina Cooley

37 Summer Dresses that Pass the Workhorse Test

Workhorses Only, Edition #59

May 9 • Marina Cooley

April Dean's List: Polka-dots, one-piece suits, and systems that stick

Workhorses Only, Edition #58

May 2 • Marina Cooley

work

How I grew my Substack from 0 to 10,000 subscribers in 12 months

On choosing Door #2 and betting on yourself

Mar 4 • Marina Cooley

Happiness Blueprint #4: Work

A masterclass in building an intentional career

Jan 22 • Marina Cooley

5 lessons from my first year writing on Substack

On the compounding rewards of sticking with something—and what’s next

Dec 31, 2025 • Marina Cooley

Teaching in the age of AI

A semester of navigating AI, attention, and the real purpose of education

Dec 3, 2025 • Marina Cooley