We explain what free time is, its relationship with productivity and leisure. Also, what to do during our free time.
What is free time?
When we talk about free time, in general, we mean the amount of time we have left after we have satisfied our duties and needs (personal, professional, domestic, etc.), that is, the time that we can freely dispose of. It is common to use this term as a synonym for leisure or recreation, but they are not the same.
The way we understand free time in society can be very different, and can often be problematic. Its name itself already reveals that under a certain idea of production, free time would be unproductive time, that is, wasted time, in which “nothing is being done.” But we all know that this is far from true: free time can be full of activities of different kinds .
However, free time management is an entirely personal and individual matter. One can choose to invest it in leisure and recreation, or in the development of talents not linked to our professional activity, or even in study; So, deep down, the border between what is free time and what is not, often becomes arbitrary, conventional, if not subjective.
In our modern societies, free time is both a necessity, vital to be able to rest and clear ourselves from productive tasks and an opportunity, since by dedicating ourselves to recreational or other activities, we consume goods and services that also mobilize the economy of society. Thus, while we have our free time, others are immersed in productive time, and vice versa.
Free time and leisure
As we said before, free time and leisure are not exactly the same. Leisure is the time dedicated to recreational, free and voluntary activities whose purpose is recreation, rest and distraction. leisure takes place in free time of each person, that is, in the time available after the satisfaction of duties and needs, but not every activity carried out in our free time is a leisure activity.
On the other hand, leisure is characterized by a certain attitude of the person regarding the activity being carried out. Generally, leisure time is experienced voluntarily and disinterestedly, that is, without expecting anything in return and without having any greater commitment than recreation and meeting oneself, or socialization and contact with loved ones.
Unproductive, recreational and free-time activities may occur, which are not idle . For example, extending recreational activities well beyond healthy time, such as spending an entire day hooked on a video game; or competitive activities that involve a final reward, such as participating in a sports tournament, are not exactly forms of leisure, although they must always be carried out in each person's free time.
On the other hand, watching a television program, going to the movies with friends, playing a sport or engaging in a hobby are forms of leisure, whose only satisfaction is the activity itself and the distraction they provide. In conclusion: the difference between free time and leisure time is how we have it.
What to do with our free time?
Free time can be spent through a truly multitude of activities, such as:
- Do sports and physical activities alone or as part of a group.
- Visit museums, theaters and movie theaters to consume exhibitions, works and shows.
- read books of a topic of our interest or passion: literature, history, popularization, etc.
- Entertain yourself through video games on different platforms, or simply watch television .
- Sign up for new language classes or learn to play a musical instrument.
- Acquire and exercise a hobby : models to assemble, painting on canvas, bird watching, etc.
- Practice the meditation or some type of mystical-religious rites.
- Visit our friends or to our relatives.
- go for a walk to eat out, or go dancing at a nightclub.
- Volunteer in ecological, social or community activities.
- Travel .
References
- “Leisure” on Wikipedia.
- “And what do you think? Free time” in the Confederation of Adolescence and Youth of Ibero-America and the Caribbean.
- “Concept of leisure and free time” in Dynamic Dissemination.
- “Free time” in Physical Education Glossary.
