Self-Mastery Tip: Using Leisure Time in Satisfying Ways

by Dr. Brian Higley

January 6th, 2010

Being able to truly “relax and recharge” during leisure time is often so important to feeling good about one’s life, both personal and professional.  Using our leisure time well can result in increased energy, better moods, fewer illnesses and enhanced creativity.  It can also result in more feelings of optimism, self-esteem and enjoyment.  All too often, we either set aside little to no time for leisure or choose to utilize the leisure time we do have in ways that drain (rather than recharge) us.

Leisure time can be used in more satisfying ways by understanding how important this is and committing to doing so regularly.  Here are some ways people have been able to use their leisure time to truly recharge themselves:

• Decrease time spent in dissatisfying leisure activities. Very often, it can seem as though we do not have enough time to engage in satisfying leisure time.  However, it is frequently the case that we do have this time; it is just often spent in dissatisfying ways.  It can be helpful to identify 2-3 of the most time-consuming leisure activities that take up our time that do not truly recharge and/or relax us and seek to minimize time spent in those activities.  Some common examples of such activities are channel or internet surfing, spending time with draining/dissatisfying people, or worrying about things that we have no control over.  Decreasing time spent in activities that we do not truly love to engage in often opens up more time for the things we really want to do.
• Increase time spent in satisfying leisure activities. Once we have minimized dissatisfying leisure activities, it is often the case that 5, 10 or even 20 more hours are available to us every week for satisfying leisure time.  It can be helpful to identify 2-3 activities that we really enjoy doing to replace the old, dissatisfying activities.  Some examples of such activities can be reading, spending time in our favorite places, engaging in a class just for the enjoyment of it or just catching up on some sleep from time to time.  Becoming clear about what truly satisfies us makes it more likely that we will use our leisure time well.
• Recruit “satisfying leisure social support.” Some of us can find ourselves in social circles that do not understand or value the power of satisfying leisure time.  Some people falsely believe that spending time in satisfying ways is “bad” or “lazy.”  It can be important to find people who are supportive of our satisfying leisure commitment, rather than dismissive of it.  Finding others who recognize how important it is to relax and recharge on a regular basis can make it more likely that we continue to do so.

NOTE TO THOSE USING THE MISSION FULFILLMENT SYSTEM: You can move toward more satisfying leisure time by adding a new Objective to your system by using the “Add New Item” link (for example, “Use my leisure time in satisfying ways”).  You can then develop a SMART Goal related to that new Objective by using the “Add Subitem” link to the far right of the new Objective (for example, “Identify activities that truly relax and recharge me and perform them for at least 30-60 minutes per day for 4-7 days a week.”).

FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT ON THE MISSION FULFILLMENT SYSTEM: Click here to for more information and click here to sign up.

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Article Filed under: Self-Mastery Tips