The Science of Leisure
In 1986, Owen Paul sang “My Favorite Waste of Time” in his only ever chart entry. Yet what he didn’t account for when writing the track, was that wasting time is not a waste at all. In fact, the science of leisure has several benefits that are mental, physical, social, and economic.
There has long been a connection between leisure activities and positive mental health and it is now it is backed by science. Taking part in these activities is known to boost mood through the release of serotonin and dopamine. The former is the body’s chemical messenger, responsible for functions like regulating sleep, and digesting food, and is key in memory and learning. The latter is a similar messenger that is released when you are rewarded. Crucially, both help boost your mood for the better. As well as leisure activities, you can release them by eating the right foods. Read on as we discuss why your downtime is so important.
What Is Leisure?
Leisure is defined as a time period when an individual is not working or occupied. It is a general term applied to free time, which is time used for doing something an individual finds enjoyable. It has a branch of social sciences, of which there are generally three subcategories. These include sport and recreation, tourism, and general leisure. Underneath these is a whole other selection of subgenres.
Sport and recreation account for most of these. This could be anything from playing team games such as football, to running, going to the gym, swimming, and playing games. Then there’s travelling: UN Tourism defines tourism as an activity that visitors of another country partake in. This could be walking to a local museum, or getting a plane across the world. Anything else will fall under general leisure, and this may include mentally fulfilling activities like meditation, the arts, and nature.
Leisure in the Modern Age
With the rise of the digital ever-connected society, leisure has undergone a shift. It previously took additional time to do a leisure activity. You would have to travel out of the house to visit a cinema or go to someone’s house to play games. However, with devices and the internet, leisure has undergone some major changes and the future of leisure looks slightly different – we’re seeing the types of outdoor gyms that HAGS UK builds cropping up more and more frequently.
The main change is that leisure is increasingly becoming activities that are done at home. While you still need to go out and play sports activities or hike, many activities such as games can be done from the comfort of your sofa. For example, people watch Netflix now instead of traveling to a cinema. The casino industry is a prime example of an industry that has embraced ease of access, adapting from physical locations to online ones. These operators house a range of casual games on their website that can be played at any time, anywhere, and for any time frame. Operators like Chumba Casino have a wide range of game types for this, from slots to bingo, all activities that can be played from home or anywhere with an internet connection.
The Future of Leisure
In the past, leisure was generally confined to the upper echelons of society, who had money and did not have to work. Yet in the modern age, generally the post-World War era, leisure has become more prominent. In this society, people had disposable incomes, and a five-day working week gave them two days to spend on leisure activities.
People are increasingly finding constraints placed on their time, and we may see a shift back to this model. This shows in the increased desire for casual gaming, where people are putting leisure into smaller, more convenient blocks. With less time, it makes it even more important we spend our leisure time as we would like, using it to maintain the right work-life balance.
The Takeaway?
It is important to rest in order to do your best! So next time you feel bad about taking a break, don’t! Your body and mind will thank you and you will realize that you are happier and healthier – which will lead to more success overall!
