A culture that continuously pushes us to do something constructive makes lounging around ludicrous and pointless. In five minutes, we check our email; in many hours, we do housework. The desire to be busy affects both job and personal life: we rarely take time for ourselves and stop.
It's impossible to be productive 24/7. We need free time for mental and physical health.
“Free time, although underestimated, is composed of meaningful activities that promote social inclusion and self-expression.”
Clara Inocencio, a University of Kent social psychology PhD student, highlights the value of leisure time.
Although free time is vital to our health, we feel guilty, as if every minute should be used and a to-do list must be kept. For what? We could use it for more productive tasks.
So we spend too much time at work, eat in front of the computer or on a train to save time, or shorten our lunch break because we have too much to do. Does this increase productivity? No, we'll be exhausted and frustrated.
We feel terrible for being unproductive, but that's wrong. We should not feel like failures or good-for-nothings if we miss a deadline. We should consider of ourselves as human beings who need rest and are undoubtedly overworked. What we think is up to us.
Free time usage? According to the psychologist, three techniques to enjoy oneself might reduce stress:
Running or walking are examples of palliative free time. These hobbies relieve stress and organise thoughts;
spare time to increase your mood: this includes watching a hilarious movie or comedy show;
We plainly mean time spent with others, like a family supper or a drink with friends.
There's no better way to spend your time than with others, but the psychologist advises doing something active rather than watching TV. For instance, contemplating art reduces tension and improves mood.
Recreation also decreases stress and anxiety, lowering the chance of dementia or Alzheimer's. Physical activity increases health advantages, as is obvious.
We usually get the best ideas while showering or strolling. Is this coincidence? No, since we avoided an issue or activity that was bothering us. This illustrates that free time boosts creativity and that its absence causes creative barriers.
Have you ever failed at something because you focused too much? Our brain senses changes, therefore paying too much attention over time will impair task completion. Thus, small mental breaks are beneficial, especially when solving creative problems.
Dr. Clara Inocencio explains that we may overcome the hardest difficulties when we rest: we think we must stay concentrated all the time, but we need to step away from what we're doing and return later.
Remember that everything has its time. We need time for work and productivity, but also for ourselves. So why us? Our favourite pastimes!