Introduction
Leisure is an essential part of a person’s time that can include a variety of activities. However, as will be discussed in the following paragraphs, some people in the US prefer to accrue their vacation days or use them by accumulation as much sightseeing as possible, which is not beneficial. It is due to the fact that leisure impacts the development and wellbeing of an individual. This paper aims to examine the three definitions of leisure – quantitative, qualitative, and holistic, as well as provide information regarding personal history and future leisure vistas.
Definition of Leisure
In general, this notion can be defined as the time during which a person is not engaged in specific activities, although it is essential to understand that leisure does not refer to not doing anything at all. Thus, different perspectives and viewpoints that examine this notion exist. Firstly, the quantitative approach aims to take into account the amount of time one spends on doing various things in his or her free time because “the study of leisure has predominantly been data-driven” (Tapps and Wells 48).
However, it should be noted that not all the time that an individual has after work or classes can be dedicated to leisure. Thus, this model helps clearly define the exact number of hours providing a clear and measurable understanding of leisure. Therefore, it can be concluded that the notion implies taking action, for instance, going on vacation or visiting a new city, and the quantitative method helps to identify the exact time that is dedicated to these activities.
The quantitative definition of leisure implies a combination of different elements, such as emotions or values. According to Tapps and Wells, the focus is on “understanding the lived leisure experiences” (49). From this perspective, the importance of leisure to a person is in its ability to facilitate positive emotions and help develop as an individual. Qualitative approach values not only the choices one makes regarding specific activities but also the result of them (Sirakaya-Turk et al. 40). It provides an implication for engaging in tasks that would enable enhancement of personal well-being, both physical and mental.
According to the holistic approach, the notion defines the selection one makes in regards to his or her free time. Mikalauskas and Kasparienė state that “leisure time is a time in which we can make personal choices” (723).
Therefore, what a person does with time they have that is not part of their work or studies is crucial from the holistic viewpoint. This model also implies that leisure is affected by several factors, such as social connections or physical health (Mikalauskas and Kasparienė 723). This model is more inclusive in terms of elements that contribute to proper leisure. Thus, this perspective can be used to investigate the topic in a more in-depth manner. This definition implies that people’s lives can be divided into specific domains and one has to prioritize the attention that each of those requirements.
Personal History
Although leisure has an essential meaning to each person’s life and personal development, throughout my life, I have not dedicated enough time to it. Primary the issue is a decision to focus on studying or work, which obstructs from participating in other activities. According to Osif, “studies show that many Americans don’t take all their vacation time and those who do don’t necessarily vacation” (110). However, it can be argued that although it was limited, leisure did contribute to my personal development.
For instance, a leisure activity that I was engaged in and that helped my growth as a person is during elementary timeframe was playing sports. Due to the nature of this occupation, it helped me enhance my physical health. Among the more common leisure choices, I can cite visiting movies for various films, which I was especially fond of during junior high school years. According to the statistics, over 11% of the citizens in the US choose this as their favorite pastime (“Most popular leisure activities among adults in the United States”).
While most of the films have an entertainment purpose, some have taught me more about human interactions. Therefore, it can be concluded that leisure helped me enhance my understanding of the world and well-being.
Additionally, visiting different cities in my high school and college years allowed me to view the lives of other people. It is especially fascinating to go to other countries and examine the culture and habits of people that differ from those that I know. This particular leisure had a significant impact on my life because it broadened my understanding of the world and people.
Future Prospects
Based on the information that was discussed above it can be concluded that I should dedicate more time and attention to leisure activities because they have multiple benefits. According to Mikalauskas and Kasparienė, “leisure contributes to the social, cultural and economic development of individuals, communities, cities, and countries and enhances the human condition while contributing to a variety of human experiences” (723).
Due to the fact that the concept implies choosing what to do, it is easy to neglect the possibility to try out a new sport or visit a historic location. However, one should understand the implication of such an approach for personal development. Thus, my present relationship with leisure should be improved through the inclusion of better activities. The necessary changes are the inclusion of sports as well as assurance that each vacation period is planned correctly.
I should create a list of specific activities to facilitate this plan. In the next five years, I plan on trying a different sport, for instance, tennis or squash to enhance my physical health. Moreover, I can incorporate this into my weekly routine for better results. In the next ten years, I would like to visit the most well-known countries in Europe, for example, France or Italy, and spend enough time there to understand the local culture.
This would require both sufficient timeframe and visitation of locations that have historical value. Finally, in fifteen years I want to plan more family oriented vacations to ensure proper spending of time. This plan considers physical, mental, and emotional components, which makes it beneficial for my development.
Conclusion
Overall, the notion of leisure is a complex structure of activities and emotions of an individual. The evidence presented in this paper provides an understanding of the fact that leisure should not be confused with free time because it requires performing some activities. The examination of my past leisure presents a conclusion that more attention should be dedicated to it due to the beneficial effects of proper pastime. Thus, a plan for the next fifteen years was developed to incorporate different elements of leisure.
Works Cited
Mikalauskas, Rimantas and Kasparienė, Jurgita. “Holistic approach about leisure industry.” Transformations in Business & Economics, vol. 15, no. 2B, 2016, pp. 723-740. Web.
“Most popular leisure activities among adults in the United States as of September 2013.” Statista, 2019. Web.
Osif, Bonnie. “Manager’s bookshelf: Leisure.” Library of Leadership & Management, vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 110-115, 2010. Web.
Sirakaya-Turk, Ercan et al., editors. Research Methods for Leisure, Recreation and Tourism. 2nd ed., CABI, 2017.
Tapps, Tyler, and Wells, Mary Sara. Introduction to Recreation and Leisure. 3rd ed., Pearson, 2019.