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How to Improve the Quality of Your Free Time

leisure, free timeYou may dream about having all the free time in the world. Yet, according to research by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, most people are actually happier when they’re at work than during their off-time.

This surprising revelation is not so surprising when you consider that unstructured leisure time can lead to boredom and apathy. And many people, when faced with a truly free day, feel like a fish out of water, not knowing quite how to make the most of their coveted day off.

Well, this article from Lifehack has got some great suggestions. My favorites include:

  1. Get a Hobby: Pick something that you enjoy doing, but doesn’t have the looming deadlines or to-do lists common to your workplace.

  2. Learn a Skill: Learning can be incredibly enjoyable when there are no letter grades.

  3. Write Your Book: Maybe now is the time to start working on your first draft.

  4. Exercise: Exercising releases hormones that improve your mood, among many other benefits.

  5. Always Have a Book: Light reading can be a great way to stay engaged.

  6. Use Your Social Circle: Conversing with friends is actually a fairly complex mental task.

  7. Play Games: Learning and playing a game can provide a stress-free engaging environment.

  8. Create Something: Pick something small, but meaningful.

For those of you who are wondering, “Free time? What free time?” -- I can relate. In fact, not long ago it wasn’t unusual for me to work over 100 hours a week. I knew that I couldn’t keep this up forever, but I didn’t want to sacrifice any of my goals and passions. Well, I came across what I can now confidently say is one of the BEST resources on productivity and time management: Tim Ferriss’ The Four-Hour Work Week.

If you follow Tim’s advice, you will find out how to balance your life so that you can follow your passions, achieve your goals, AND have time off to do whatever it is that you please.

If your problem is just pure procrastination then you might want to read this article.


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Comment on This Article Community Comments (11)
 
 
Posted On Apr 12, 2008

"Unstructured leisure time can lead to boredom and apathy. And many people, when faced with a truly free day, feel like a fish out of water, not knowing quite how to make the most of their coveted day off." AHHHHAA HAHHAHA! Sure, if you've been brainwashed by the doctrine of workaholism and productivity. I suspect the statements I have quoted apply primarily to North Americans. Why on earth this feeling that one must "make the most of" time off? Making the most of something is a concept for the work realm. Making the most of time off isn't time off at all, it's just more work. I, for one, quite enjoy doing absolutely NOTHING.


 
Corvidae
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 12/2007
Corvidae  
Replied

tulip valley
Novice User Novice User Joined On 4/2008
tulip valley  
 
Posted On Apr 12, 2008

I agree with you all the way!!!



xyzsch
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 10/2006
xyzsch  
 
Posted On Apr 14, 2008

I guess we must be different, Corvidae. When the currect school year is over, my wife and I plan to cycle from the west coast to Wyoming. This will take us three weeks. At least I can argue it does not accomplish anything in a traditional "work" sense. I prefer to stay active on my time off, but I do not work very hard during the school year...certainly not 100 hours per week.

People are different, and I applaud you for taking a day off to do nothing. Don't let anybody tell you you are wasting time. But be sure to waste a perfectly good hour listening to Click and Clack on NPR.  



beachlover
Novice User Novice User Joined On 6/2006
beachlover  
 
Posted On Apr 14, 2008

You hit the nail on the head... Even the self-help gurus are telling us to do something with our free time (or face a melt-down!)  Here's one of the questions from NYT best-seller Debbie Ford's "Self Sabotage Scale":

The last time you found yourself with a block of unexpected free time,

what did you do?

A. Squandered it by catalog shopping, watching TV or surfing the internet

B. Used the opportunity to move forward on an important project

C. Relaxed and rejuvenated yourself by taking a nap, meditating or reading

D. Your life is so hectic that you can’t recall an occasion when you had

an unexpected block of free time

Just the word "squandered" in answer 'A' made me dismiss the whole questionaire.


 
 
 
Posted On Mar 24, 2008
I would agree with these suggestions, and add one, start each day with prayer or meditation, it helps you stay focused.

Mary

 
mmc88121
Moderator User Moderator User, Joined On 11/2006
mmc88121  
 
 
 
Posted On Mar 25, 2008
I like to spend more time making meals, playing games with my sister and our kids (they live 5 doors down), going for walks, and hanging out on the St. Clair River.  Oh, and family naps are pretty cool too.

 
SpartyOn
Apprentice User Apprentice User, Joined On 6/2006
SpartyOn  
 
 
 
Posted On Mar 25, 2008
If anyone has some free time to spare, I could sure use some. I'm at school at 7 am most mornings & at work until midnight. On weekends, I study. My breaks between classes & on weekends are going to church, taking naps, rubbing chihuahua tummies, & reading VitalVotes.

Oh well, school can't last forever. It just seems like it when you have exams 5 days in a row.

 
qualitygeek
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 10/2007
qualitygeek  
 
 
 
Posted On Mar 25, 2008
Excellent ideas!  I agree with you ,Mary.  Beginning the day with prayer or meditation helps me to focus on the rest of the day.  Many times, I ask God what He wants me to get done with the day, and PLEASE help me get it done!

 
curlilox
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 8/2007
curlilox  
 
 
 
 
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